PADIHAM produced a poor performance on a tricky playing surface following heavy rain the previous day.
Jon Lawless fired Formby in front on 16 minutes, curling in a free kick.
Chris Ridehalgh had two great chances to equalise before the break but fired straight at keeper Adam Judge, then pulled his shot wide.
Formby doubled their lead when Tom Bowden headed beyond Sean Davis.
Padiham pulled a goal back on 70 minutes when Robert Grimes tucked away a cross from Paul Walker.
Padiham had chances to level late on but Grimes and Lee Morris were foiled by Judge and Ridehalgh shot wide in injury time.
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