PADIHAM striker Ian Pilkington has been as surprised as anybody about the good start to the season the Storks have made.

The side had a terrible pre-season and with top strike pair Dean Stowe and Lee Chambers on the sidelines though injury, few gave the North West Counties Division Two side much hope this season.

But they raced out of the blocks and went unbeaten in 14 games. The manager, Graham Howarth, has spoken of his surprise at the club's position and Pilkington feels the same.

"I think it has taken us all by surprise," said the striker, who was part of the Clitheroe side that reached the FA Vase final in 1996, although he didn't play because of injury.

"The weird thing is we haven't really changed the side that much in the last couple of years.

"Apart from young Martin Taylor up front, it is the same team that did quite well in our first season back in the North West Counties League but then struggled a little bit last season.

"Over the last couple of years we have had spells where we have played well and looked a really good side one week, and then the next week we have been beaten by someone not even in our league in terms of football.

"This year we seem to have put that behind us, we have played well against poor sides and then played well against good sides as well.

"Everyone is confident now. No one thinks we are going to get beat.

"We just seem to be gelling more this year and everyone is confident now. No one thinks we are going to get beat."

The Storks are third in Division Two, two points behind leaders Maine Road with five games in hand.

Their first defeat was a 3-1 reverse to local rivals Nelson at the end of October.

"Everyone was gutted when we got beat but no one goes through the season unbeaten and if you lose one in 15 all year you haven't done badly."

The injuries to Stowe and Chambers were a blow but 'Pilky' and his strike partner, 17-year-old Thompson, have filled their boots more than adequately.

"Lee (Chambers) is a one-man goal machine," said Pilkington, the 'old man' of the side at 33. "He came back from injury a few weeks ago for 15 minutes, did his knee in again and then scored before going off but that just goes to show what a goalscorer he is.

"He is a big loss to any side but touch wood we are not missing him too much at the moment."

Pilkington scored 27 goals last season and has scored 14 already this year - it would have been 17 if Stand hadn't resigned from the league - and Thompson has chipped in with nine.

"The difference between this season and last is that we have started scoring goals straight away. Last year it took 14 or 15 games before we started hitting the back of the net," he said.

If the side get through the Christmas period and are still up there they have every chance of finishing in the top two and gaining promotion - if their ground gets the necessary grading.

Major works at the Arbories are due to begin in the new year, with new floodlights the major addition.

It is hoped the work will be completed by April so the club will be eligible to go up if they finish in the top two.

"When we did so well in our first season people thought we would romp it last year but it doesn't work like that," said Pilkington. "And it is difficult to compete against other clubs who pay out big money.

"But it would be a great achievement to get promotion."

PADIHAM are in action at home to Leek CSOB tomorrow (kick off 2pm).