Stretford Paddock bounced back from their first defeat of the season, with a 2-0 victory against Hartford FC.
Following last week’s unfortunate abandonment of our trip to Moore United, Paddock returned home to the Butchers Arms Ground which they lost to Mersey Valley the last time out.
The opening stages of the game saw Paddock dominate the ball and play through the wings with quick interchanges, despite this they failed to create any clear cut chances.
The dominance of the ball soon came to fruition as Paddock opened the scoring on the stroke of the ten-minute mark.
Gavin Salmon with his back to goal in the box was looking to create a space and as the striker was tackled, the ball fell kindly to full back Mikey Burke on the edge of the area. an audacious effort with a right footed strike saw the ball rifle into the top right corner of the net.
Midway through the first half, Paddock had a penalty claim turned down as winger Ronaldo Brown surged down the left side, before angling his run inside towards the goal. Only to be tackled by the Hartford centre half and any appeals immediately waved away.
A last-minute change to the starting line-up saw 18-year-old Ellis Pacer come into the XI for a full debut.
The debutant, who won man of the match, impressed in the first half controlling possession and building play from midfield.
Following a quick interchange with Salmon on the right side, the young midfielder picked out Ronaldo on the edge of the box with a cut back to the edge of the box. His shot was parried by the Hartford keeper and with Pacer rushing for a rebound the ball ricocheted off his shin agonisingly wide.
With three minutes to go before the break, Hartford was reduced to ten men with a player sin binned following dissent towards the referee.
Paddock looked to capitalise on a man advantage and double their lead. Although, when the ball fell to Pacer outside the box his low strike was well blocked out for a corner.
Half Time: Stretford Paddock 1-0 Hartford FC
At the start of the second half still with a man advantage, quick passing saw a chance open up for Joao De Andrade on the edge of the area, however his right footed strike flew well over the crossbar.
On the hour mark Joao picked up the ball on the left side and drove into the box before being brought down, giving paddock the chance to double their lead.
Following second half substitutions Pacer was moved to right back, where he played for 20 minutes before being subbed off, the debutant almost helped himself to an assist with a sumptuous through ball towards Salmon although the stiker blasted his shot straight at the keeper on a narrow angle.
Gabriel Fernando came on late in the second half for his for his debut in his second spell at the club. In the closing stages the striker nearly sealed off the win as Ronaldo fed him in on the left his shot drifted over.
Gabby then had one final chance when Burke flashed a cross in front of goal to the far post and the striker couldn’t reach it to tap in.
