PADIHAM 0 SALFORD CITY 6

FORMER Accrington Stanley striker Danny Webber was at the double as rock bottom Padiham were hit for six by Evo-Stik First Division North leaders Salford.

Ex-Storks striker Gareth Seddon also came back to haunt his old club by making one and scoring one.

The scoreline could have been even more comprehensive had it not been for some fine second-half saves from goalkeeper Sean Davis.

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Padiham sensed it would be a busy afternoon as Salford hit the post straight from the kick-off. But the deadlock was broken in the sixth minute when Philip Dean slid the ball across the goalkeeper Sean Davis from Seddon’s lay-off.

Steve Wilkes’ side struggled to get out of their half but got men behind the ball to defend resolutely as they came under sustained pressure.

Seddon delivered a sumptuous back heel to winger Dean, but the cross was well cut out at the near post to prevent a second, while Seddon had a goal ruled out for offside.

To their credit, Padiham tried to play passing football when they did have possession, but ultimately had to resort to long balls to try to get forward. But centre half Steven Howson got his head to every ball to to provide the platform for Salford to build on their advantage.

Webber obliged midway through the first half when an attempted clearance struck Adam Morning, who carried the ball forward. Goalkeeper Davis committed himself, and in doing so forced Morning wide, but Webber came up in support to take the pass and skilfully worked a yard of space for himself to fire home.

Seddon hit the side netting from a tight angle a minute later, then turned provider was Webber glanced a header from the striker’s cross narrowly wide.

A half-time scoreline of 2-0 would have been respectable for the Storks in the circumstances, but Webber added a third when he was the first to react to Dean’s left wing delivery.

The former Manchester United and Sheffield United forward should have completed his hat-trick in the second half, after Seddon finished well for Salford’s fourth.

The ‘Hapton Hitman’ was denied by the post soon after, but the fifth was not far away as substitute Jordan Hulme scored from close range soon after his introduction.

Davis produced two superb saves in quick succession, but having advanced off his line was lobbed by substitute Sam Madeley for the sixth late on.

Elsewhere, Clitheroe were pegged back by Kendal Town in a 2-2 draw.

All the goals came in the second half after Kendal took the lead through a Jordan Connerton penalty.

Cory Bent levelled, for Simon Garner’s side 20 minutes from time and Ryan Cattermole looked to have won it for the Blues in the 84th minute. But Clitheroe’s lead lasted just two minutes before Connerton equalised two minutes later.