By Casey Evans
Stretford Paddock FC unfortunately fell to a 2-0 defeat to Newton FC in their first of their three consecutive home fixtures but will be hoping to bounce back with a win on the 17th October against Hadfield Athletic AFC.
Missed chances were the order of the day for Paddock in their first loss of the season, they created multiple chances to get back into the game after suffering two goals in the first half, the second of which being a freak deflection which hit the post then went in off the back of Hart. However, Paddock were unable to convert any of these shots and that is something they will be hoping to improve on, against Hadfield.
Hadfield on the other hand are coming into this game on the back of a win against Signol Old Boys, where they dished out a 6-2 defeat to the away side. They currently sit just above Stretford Paddock in the table in 3rd, with one more goal difference than Stephen Howson’s side.
A win for either side could see them move up into the top spot in the table, so it will be a tough fixture for Paddock.
Manager Stephen Howson said: “It’s good to be back in the dugout this weekend after my brief stint in isolation, for the visit of Hadfield Athletic, looking at their results so far this season, it looks like they’ll be a formidable opposition. It seems like the game is going ahead despite the talk of Manchester heading towards a Tier 3 lockdown.
“We’ve been asked to discourage people from attending, but those who do, are able to do so in a socially distanced and safe manner as there is plenty of space around the pitch.
“I was extremely disappointed with the failure of the team to convert chances in to goals last weekend, and I’ve had the lads working hard on rectifying that in training this week. Bouncing back from a defeat is important. The ability to do that shows resolve and character and I believe in this group to do just that.
“We’re still without several key players due to injury and suspension, but we also have newly registered players who will be making their debuts this weekend, too. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes at the club to be excited about. I’d like what happens on the pitch to start reflecting the work of the players and staff, too.”
To echo the words of the manager, we ask that if you or anyone in your household is suffering from COVID symptoms, please do not attend the ground so we can continue to operate safely in these uncertain times.
We also ask that you have the NHS Track and Trace app downloaded on your phone, as we will be scanning them on entry.
