Prescot Cables 3 Padiham 0 

AFTER three wins and a draw in Padiham's first four games in December the Storks travelled to Prescot Cables confident of maintaining their unbeaten run through the month.

But injuries, suspensions and player unavailability meant the Storks were shorthanded and it showed as they went down 3-0 at Valerie Park.

However, the result could have been so much different had Padiham taken their early chances as Prescot’s former Manchester United and QPR keeper Nick Culkin not saved from Keiron Pickup and Rob Flint in the opening stages of the game.

Those saves gave the home side the confidence and platform they needed to go and win the game with Phil Bannister grabbing a hat-trick.

Bannister’s first came thanks to a heavily deflected opener on 34 minutes before he added two second-half effort secured the points.

Padiham had half chances but they couldn't claim anything from what was a poor game for the neutral.