MATCH REPORT: Squires Gate 1 Padiham 0

Gate were missing key striker Gary Pett, who picked up an injury in Saturday's 4-4 FA Cup draw at Droylsden, while defender Dave Rossall took a knock in the warm-up which ruled him out.

Gate looked to threaten early on against a Padiham side who started the day above them in the table but the home side's bad luck continued when captain Joe Booth took a nasty knock which ended his game after only seven minutes, Jordan Salthouse replacing him.

Gate had the first chance of note on 23 minutes, when Brett Dawson found Ric Seear in the box but the striker’s header was deflected away for a corner.

But the hosts took the lead from that set-piece a moment later, Ben Reader celebrating his late call-up to the starting 11 by rising highest to head home Adam Sumner's cross.

Sumner also set up a second on the half-hour, when his long ball caught the defence out and reached Seear, whose attempted chip was saved by the keeper.

Gate held their lead until half-time but suffered a setback 10 minutes after the restart, when midfielder Matty Kay was sent off for a second bookableoffence.

Gate had to adjust in their bid to see the game out and they were grateful to alert keeper Ben Fletcher on 66 minutes.

But Gate continued to test the Padiham keeper too as he denied Dawson, Seear and substitute Salthouse by staying big.

Gate aim to continue their strong start to the season at home to 1874 Northwich on Saturday.

Gate: Fletcher, Richards, Reader, Sumner, Kay, Gray, Ing, Booth, Riley, Dawson, Seear; subs: Salthouse, Clarkson, Jones, Bamba, Rossall.