For the 4th week on the bounce, Stretford Paddock lost in the Cheshire League to further damage their charge for promotion. For only the 5th time this season, Paddock failed to score a single goal in their 4-0 hammering against Haydock FC. It was a scoreline which mirrored the reverse fixture earlier in the season and also a performance which drew many simialrities.

The game started in the fashion in which it would continue – dominance from the home side. Haydock started with great intensity and hunger and had Paddock on the back foot from the get go. It was in the 16th minute however, where Haydock took the lead. A miss timed tackle from Paddock’s centre half, Thomas MacFarlane resulted in the referee pointing to the spot. What followed was a nicely slotted penalty into the bottom corner.

Paddock remained on the back foot for the majority of the first half however, looked dangerous at times on the counter attack. The away side almost did enough to only be one goal down at the break however, in the 43rd minute, the hosts doubled their lead.

Stretford Paddock were enjoying a spell of sustained pressure over their opponents before giving the ball away cheaply. Haydock’s quick counter attack exposed Paddock’s high defensive line and their striker found himself one on one with Vic Gimenez in net. Gimenez came out off of his line to put pressure on the Haydock forward but the quick forward’s instincts helped him knock the ball past Vic and slot the ball home.

Things went from bad to worse. Before Paddock could be saved by the referee’s whistle, they were 3 goals behind. Seconds after the restart from the second goal, a through ball down the right touch line fell to the feet of Haydock’s winger. A few big touches and pace got the attacker in a nice one and one position, his finish into the back of the net mustn’t be overlooked, however.

HT: Haydock 3-0 Stretford Paddock

It took Haydock only 7 minutes to make it 4-0 after the second began. Another ball over the top meant Paddock’s keeper, Gimenez, had to gamble. Vic failed to get to the ball before Haydock’s forward and his key touch on the ball bounced goalwards and crossed the line. Just like back in August, Paddock were 4-0 to Haydock once again.

This goal killed the tempo of the game. Stretford Paddock, showed glimpses of positivity in the second half through sustained periods of possession but the muddy, torn up pitch as well as the current scoreline made things difficult for them. Haydock were quite happy to defend when required and make things difficult for Paddock, especially the away side’s forwards who had a quiet game.

FT: Haydock 4-0 Stretford Paddock

Stretford Paddock: Victor Gimenez, Michael Burke, James Oatt (C), Thomas MacFarlane, Callum Kilroe, Nosa Iyamu, Joe Coleman, Kayode Adewale, Aftab Jan, Daniel Bakare, Joao De Andrade

Subs: Paulo Dos Santos, Nasser Shakoor