Padiham were determined to put their LFA Trophy midweek hammering at the hands of Kendal Town firmly behind them.

And they did just that, with their cause helped by league leaders AFC Liverpool suffering only their second defeat of the season.

The Storks sit 10 points behind the league newcomers with two games in hand, ahead of the two teams coming face to face on Saturday (kick-off 3 p.m.).

A bright start at Pershall Park saw the Storks blitz the home defence, forcing a series of corners and seeing one Robert Grimes effort cleared off the line.

However, as so often happens, Eccleshall were the side that almost took the lead as Luke Askey fired a close range shot wide following a corner.

The visitors went close on the quarter hour when a cleverly worked Tom Bradley free kick ended with Danny Sharples shooting wide.

Fildes then shot over from long range, before Chris Ridehalgh saw a shot saved by Dean Latham and Martin Parkes headed a Fildes corner just over at the back post.

The Storks then survived an almighty goalmouth scramble, making two goal-line clearances and a number of last ditch challenges to prevent their hosts going in front.

After the break, Padiham had another lucky escape as Sean Davis looked to have misjudged a ball into the box, but despite scoring what seemed a perfectly good goal, Eccleshall had the effort ruled out for an infringement.

The Storks' shaky start to the second period continued as a poor clearance resulted in a great chance for Dwayne Spence being wasted when he shot straight at Davis.

Oliver Leaver and Jack Watson also went close for the home side, before Josh Whitmore somehow hit the frame of the goal when unmarked at the back post.

Fildes had Padiham's first shot of the half when he cut inside and fired just over, but the Storks were reduced to 10 men when Grimes received a second yellow card for a foul on the keeper.

However, within minutes, Padiham had the lead as Robbie Smith fired home after a foul on Ridehalgh.

Eccleshall then found themselves down to 10 men as Spence picked up a second yellow card, with Padiham making sure of the points with Fildes' late strike after his deflected shot looped over Latham.