Paddock coming off the back of a 3-1 away win at promotion chasing Winsford Town as they looked to kick on after a disappointing cup defeat at the end of February.
Paddock played a mostly unchanged side with Michael Olatunji replacing Eddie at CB.
The opening minutes of the game were all Pilkington applying early pressure with a shot straight at the keeper in the opening 2 minutes.
Paddock began to finally start playing after ten minutes with Ryan Katumba weak shot rolled straight through to their keeper.
But the early pressure would pay off with Pilkington U23s number 12 flicking the ball over the defender and smashing it into the bottom corner giving Taylor in goal no chance and giving the hosts a deserved lead.
But Paddock resurgence would only last a little bit with a wayward cross smacking the bar and 2 more shots just before the end of the half going just wide.
Half Time: Pilkington U23s 1-0 Stretford Paddock
Paddock would come out for the second half the same way Pilkington came out for the first with some nice early pressure sadly not turning into a needed equaliser.
But the wait for the equaliser would only last 2 minutes as Ryan Katumba would head in Mikey Burke free kick to level the tie 3 minutes after the restart.
Paddock would continue to build after the equaliser as Ronaldo excellent wing play would allow him to cut it back to Joao who can only send the shot over the bar.
Pilkington U23s would have to wait until after the hour mark for any chance on the Streford goal with a powerful free kick stinging the hands of Taylor as he ended up spilling the ball into the path of the Pilkington striker and allowing the hosts to regain their lead.
Only a few minutes later Paddock would begin to push for an equaliser as Joao shot would be saved by the Pilkington keeper after intricate play by Paddock on the edge of the box.
It would take almost 20 minutes for Paddock to have another crack at the goal after nice passing sees the resulting shot fly over the bar from the edge of the box.
Paddock continues to apply pressure and that was amplified as Mbala came on for Burke to add an extra attacking threat as we entered the closing stages.
The extra threat would show to be effective as Ronaldo brown would drag a shot just wide after successfully regaining the ball from Pilkington just outside their box.
The result could’ve been worse for Paddock in the final few seconds as a flick on saw Pilkington go through on goal, but the resulting shot would end up closer to the corner flag than the Paddock goal.
Full Time: Pilkington U23s 2-1 Stretford Paddock
WRITTEN BY JAMES RICHARDSON
