But neither side was willing to give too much away in a Vodkat North West Counties League encounter which ended goal-less.

Peter Corvino tested Bootle keeper Mark Mawdsley early on with an inswinging free kick which the home shot stopper did well to punch away.

But that was as close as Padiham went to breaking the deadlock despite plenty of possession and numerous goalmouth incidents.

Bootle, on the other hand, created their best first half chance eight minutes from the break.

Another dead ball move saw Carl Dale's free kick find Jamie Hay unmarked only for the Merseyside forward to head over the crossbar.

Padiham started the second half on top and were unlucky when a Martin Fletcher shot from the edge of the box was deflected just wide and a Mark Derbyshire header went narrowly over the bar.

Bottle got up a head of steam in the dying minutes of the game and, following a series of corners, Daniel O'Connor gave the Storks a scare when he squeezed in a header which flew just wide.