IN a tough cup-tie against one of their main promotion rivals, Winsford dominated the early exchanges, lost their way a little in the second half, but came back strongly in the closing stages.

Rick Arnold had one of those games when he could do everything but put the ball in the net and as early as the third minute he had a great chance, but he put Stuart Wellstead's pass over the bar.

Winsford piled on the pressure in the early stages and took a deserved lead on 16 minutes.

Craig Robinson's perfectly placed pass fell to Rob Hanley and his turn and shot was saved by Rob Batty in the visitor's goal, but Hanley connected with the rebound and hooked the ball high into the net.

Robinson was involved in the next goal-threatening move when his pass found Hanley on the right and a cross was volleyed waist high by Arnold who saw his shot go straight to Batty.

There were further efforts by Wellstead and Arnold before Padiham had there first serious effort on 29 minutes when a long shot by Craig Chadwick saw Blues keeper Craig Clare scrambling to push it around the post.

Padiham came out for the second period in a more determined mood and began to take control.

For a while the Winsford defence was under pressure and this led to an equalising goal on 57 minutes when danger man Gareth Seddon threaded his way into the area and his pass to Paul Fildes saw the opponents top scorer slot the ball home.

For a while the visitors called the shots, but as the game progressed the Blues began to take control with most of the danger coming from left back Iain Stanton.

On 74 minutes Polish debutant Mariusz Balcerzak set him up for a 25-yard shot that just skimmed the post.

Padiham had a great chance to tie things up on 89 minutes when Mark Derbyshire looked to have an easy header from close range, but his effort went wide of the target.

Extra time saw Winsford take complete control and the visitors looked a very tired side, even so it came as a bit of a shock when the deciding goal came.

There looked to be little danger when Stanton collected the ball on the left, but he spotted a gap and his 25-yard drive found the far corner of the net.

WINSFORD UNITED: Clare, Robinson (Booth 84), Stanton, Chambers, Marsh, Hughes, Topping (Balcerzak 70), Quinn, Arnold, Wellstead (Sweeney 83), Hanley.

Attendance: 114. Man of the Match: Iain Stanton.