Author: Liam Sheasby

DEBUT SEASON PROMOTION FOR PADDOCK WOMEN

30 April 2026
Liam Sheasby
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Categories: News, Report

Reddish North End Women Pinks 0-2 Stretford Paddock Women

By Liam Sheasby

Stretford Paddock Women have been promoted in their debut season, having beaten Reddish North End 2-0 on the last day of the campaign in a must-win fixture. It was only last summer that the women’s team was launched under the Paddock banner, but one year later and the Greater Manchester WFL Premier Division awaits.

The team needed all three points to be in with a chance of promotion, with rivals AFC Oldham 2005 and Wilmslow Albion also in contention for the title and the second automatic promotion spot, and a tricky grass pitch at North Reddish Park threatened to hinder the Paddock style of play and make for a scrappy affair.

The game started brightly enough, with Paddock playing out from the back via full backs Beth Greenhalgh and Katie Brooks, but the bobbly pitch was keeping any passing short range, putting a lot of pressure on midfielders Grace Byrne and Olivia Wakefield as receivers whilst the forward line waited their turn. This forced Abbie Wright and Meg Stapleton to drop deeper to get involved and limited Paddock’s attacking efforts to the odd driving run from Amelia Jennings and Aalish Atkinson.

Paddock eventually found their footing – quite literally – and began to settle into the game and make better use of the space and their intended formation, with Atkinson, Jennings and Stapleton all having efforts on goal, but no sooner had they begun to generate some momentum as the half ended.

Substitute Shan Morgan came on up front early in the second half and the change soon paid off, with the forward getting on the end of a low pass across the box to tap home for her 19th goal of the season. That was enough of a confidence booster to put Paddock firmly in the driving seat, and between Atkinson, Jennings, Stapleton, Morgan, Wakefield and substitute Alex Cash, the visitors kept Reddish penned back for large spells of the half.

Paddock’s pressure told in the 77th minute, with Aalish Atkinson (pictured below) cutting in from the right wing and fizzing an effort into the net to double the lead and all but confirm the result. Further chances would fall to Morgan and Jennings but were narrowly wide or saved in tidy fashion by the North End keeper, but the damage was done and Paddock came away with all three points.

The result, in combination with Wilmslow’s 0-0 draw at home to Manchester Laces, ensured automatic promotion for the girls – though they had to wait a week before finding out if they’d won the title. A stunning end to the season for Oldham saw them win 8-1 over Salford United Juniors that same weekend and 11-0 over Eccles United last weekend; an emphatic finale to crown themselves as league champions.

Paddock did come away with one accolade though – top goalscorer went to Shannon Morgan, whose 19 goals in 17 appearances just edged out AFC Oldham’s Freya Hill, who scored 19 in 18 games.

Speaking about her achievement, Shan said: “Getting promoted in our debut season is class, and being top scorer for the team and the league is the cherry on top. This is just the beginning though as far as we’re concerned – we’re just getting warmed up.”

Talismanic forward Meg Stapleton also took to social media to talk about the highs and lows of her season, but ended on a positive: “Finishing second in the league in our debut season is some good going and we’re going to look for another promotion next season because our hard work won’t be stopping here.”

 

Check our the matchday photography below, and make sure to follow Stretford Paddock Women on Instagram for the latest news and updates.

 

Clinical Paddock hit St Helens for 6

29 April 2026
Liam Sheasby
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Categories: Uncategorized

St Helens Town AFC 1-6 Stretford Paddock

By Liam Sheasby

Stretford Paddock put on one of their best performances of the season against promotion-hopefuls St Helens, denting their chances of going up to the Cheshire League Premier Division.

It started all too familiarly – Paddock failed to deal with a ball in the box and St Helens’ no7, Ethan Wetton, hit a smart backheel past keeper Mason Taylor to give the home side the lead after just six minutes.

The visitors kept their heads up though and found an equaliser courtesy of forward Kiefer Cole, with the starlet hitting a peach of a free-kick off the underside of the crossbar and in to level the tie. The tragedy is that his goal came too late to be included in this season’s Goal of the Season awards, and it might have been better than his previous stunning set piece versus Clay Brow.

Six minutes later and a foul on midfielder Dylan Wilson in the box, directly in front of the referee, earned Paddock a penalty. Captain Joao De Andrade coolly dispatched into the bottom right corner in the 32nd minute, and from there the boys in red and black didn’t look like losing, with Joao popping up again in stoppage time at the back post to tap home Paddock’s third after a darting run and a sharp cross from Kiefer Cole down the right wing.

Into the second half and St Helens looked a little brighter, but still a way off their usual intensity or focus – especially damning considering their 10-1 win over Wythenshawe Reserves the Saturday previous. Their woes deepened when De Andrade picked up on a loose ball and drove at the St Helens defence 2v3, passing to striker Helder Pires on his left who controlled neatly and hit a bobbling shot under the keeper’s arm for 4-1

An awful sideways pass at the back allowed Kiefer Cole to intercept, skip round the intended target, and smash one home over the keeper’s head to double his tally and make it 5-1, and substitute forward Leland Irvine continued his top form with a sixth in the 94th minute; a thunderous 60+ yard ball from Cam Watters near the Paddock box upfield for the young forward to chase. Irvine’s pace allowed him to beat outrushing keeper Lewis Jenkinson to the ball and round him to side foot home from 25 yards out.

The official Man of the Match award went to young centre-back Christian Junior Bembo, but the efforts of Joao De Andrade, Kiefer Cole, Dylan Wilson and Cam Watters could have seen any of them awarded the accolade without complaints.

The win means Paddock have taken six points from six against St Helens this season, but it serves as a reminder that while this has been a rocky season for the squad and some players individually, the talent and potential is there within the side and we can do better. One game remains now – Sandbach away on May 16th. Make sure to tune in!

The perfect response – Paddock hit MV for 4 after shock defeat

5 April 2026
Liam Sheasby
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Categories: Report

Stretford Paddock 4 – 0 Mersey Valley

By Liam Sheasby

With no VEO camera, Stretford Paddock FC was graced by a rare appearance of yours truly – this time behind the camera rather than on the mic. My record? 2 games attended, 2 wins. That became 3/3 with yesterday’s performance.

Paddock took an early lead thanks to a Mike Taylor free-kick. A dangerous ball aimed at the far post was met with miscommunication in the Mersey Valley defence, allowing the ball to bounce its way in to the net in almost comically slow-mo fashion. Despite that stroke of luck, Howson’s tricky reds were fully deserving of the lead. Pressing was eager, positioning was sensible, and possession was tight, with the defence recycling the ball smartly and alternating between driving runs into midfield or long balls aimed at centre-forward Helder Pires.

The combination of progressive actions kept MV guessing, but they had their own chances to break on Paddock, with their number 9 skipping past Michael Olatunji and Sam Walker in one scary moment to thankfully shoot wide.

Into the second half and Paddock kept up the pressure. The side looked in control of the match the entire time, though there were a couple of flashpoint moments both on the field when Kiefer Cole clashed with two Valley players, and in the dugout when one of the senior MV coaches took umbridge with a Paddock youngster.

That youngster was Leland Irvine, dubbed a ‘crackhead’ by his manager. Irvine was subbed on late for wide forward Cole, and whilst it’ll have been frustrating for Kiefer to come off – having had a solid performance on the right flank, the combination of captain Joao De Andrade’s dribbling and a deep cross from the left pitched a perfect ball backpost for Irvine to head home in the 88th minute and double Paddock’s lead. Where Kiefer is a flair wide forward, Leland is a classic striker in the box. The dazzling setup from Joao was peachy, but too many times this season Paddock have just needed a forward in the right spot at the right time, and Irvine certainly has that nous.

Mersey Valley tried to push back against Paddock’s momentum and the game began to move more end-to-end, but some scrappy dribbling and a fizzing shot from Cam Watters made it 3-0 Stretford Paddock in the 90th minute, sealing victory and a valuable three points to help keep Paddock nearer the top end of the table than the middle.

Four minutes later and Leland Irvine bagged his second of the game, just before the final whistle. A throw on Mersey Valley’s right flank went back to their centre-back but was completely misjudged, forcing the keeper to rush out but not soon enough. Irvine collected the ball, rounded the oncoming keeper, and side-footed home to double his tally and make it a storming home win.

The result was the perfect bounce-back from the Paddock team, having capitulated in woeful style against Winstanley last weekend. The lads will now be hoping to carry this confidence and momentum into next weekend’s home tie against Wythenshawe Reserves, with Premier League winner Danny Simpson expected back in the squad after his debut outing a few weeks ago against Cheadle Heath Nomads Reserves.

 

Paddock in Pictures: Matchday photography versus Mersey Valley

The Howsons - Craig & SteThe Howsons - Craig & Ste
GafferGaffer
Mike Sanders and Stu HarrowingMike Sanders and Stu Harrowing
TeamTeam
Cam WattersCam Watters
Zak BellZak Bell
Joe McGuinnessJoe McGuinness
Joao De AndradeJoao De Andrade
Helder PiresHelder Pires
Dylan WilsonDylan Wilson
1-0 Mike Taylor1-0 Mike Taylor
Helder PiresHelder Pires
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Joao De AndradeJoao De Andrade
Michael OlatunjiMichael Olatunji
Joe McGuinnessJoe McGuinness
Zak BellZak Bell
Sam WalkerSam Walker
Sam WalkerSam Walker
Dylan WilsonDylan Wilson
Sam WalkerSam Walker
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Sam WalkerSam Walker
Helder PiresHelder Pires
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Michael OlatunjiMichael Olatunji
Helder PiresHelder Pires
Zak BellZak Bell
Helder PiresHelder Pires
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Helder PiresHelder Pires
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Cam WattersCam Watters
Helder PiresHelder Pires
Joao De AndradeJoao De Andrade
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Kiefer ColeKiefer Cole
Aftermath of clashing heads with Michael OAftermath of clashing heads with Michael O
Leland IrvineLeland Irvine
Cam WattersCam Watters
3-0 Cam Watters3-0 Cam Watters
Cam WattersCam Watters
Cam WattersCam Watters
Cam Watters & Leland IrvineCam Watters & Leland Irvine
4949
Phoenix LawtonPhoenix Lawton
Leland IrvineLeland Irvine
Leland IrvineLeland Irvine
Phoenix LawtonPhoenix Lawton
Cam WattersCam Watters

Paddock Women survive late scare to stay second

17 February 2026
Liam Sheasby
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Categories: Report

Stretford Paddock Women 2 – 1 Eccles United Women

By Liam Sheasby

Stretford Paddock Women secured a crucial three points at home to Eccles United Women to help keep their promotion hopes alive, with the team now sitting just four points off league leaders Wilmslow Albion and four points clear of AFC Oldham Women.

Both teams entered Sunday’s fixture at the Openshaw Campus strapped for player availability through injury, registering just one substitute apiece, which led to a closer game on paper than initially expected given that Eccles are sat at the bottom of Division One.

The first half was (quite literally) dampened by adverse weather conditions, with torrential rain hindering a chance of free flowing, open football. Paddock never really looked too troubled at the back, but the team’s attacking play didn’t quite click and saw some promising moves end with tame shots or frustrating wayward passes that broke down attacking momentum.

Strong wide play down Paddock’s right flank through Amelia Jennings was a notable bright spot in the first 45, but the likes of club top-scorer Shan Morgan and Meg Stapleton will feel aggrieved that play from midfield or the wings couldn’t put them in with better chances on goal when pursuing Wilmslow’s +26 goal difference in the league.

Half Time: Stretford Paddock Women 0-0 Eccles United Women

The second half saw an end to the rain and the start of Paddock finding their groove, led heavily by the work of both Kitty Wittaker (later named Player of the Match) and Megan Kielty at the back. Their driving movement through the middle of the pitch and the associated intensity allowed for Paddock to push Eccles back and cause dilemmas, with players unsure who to mark and where to stand.

This created far more opportunities than the first half, and Abbie Wright almost opened the goalscoring just five minutes into the half, missing a sitter at the backpost after getting her feet tangled, but the attacker would make up for it soon after with a close range first goal and an absolute belter finish from distance across the goal that’s a potential Goal of the Season candidate.

Paddock had further chances through Shan Morgan, Amelia Jennings, and Alex Cash, as well as one spectacular rugby conversion that blazed over the bar from Meg Stapleton.

A late leg injury for Eccles United and a prior knock to a subbed player meant that the visitors played the last 10 minutes of the game with 10 players, but United kept focused and managed to force a corner – whether through Paddock errors or fatigue – which they then scrambled past young keeper Sienna Cusack, who frustratingly had been untroubled all game.

Full Time: Stretford Paddock Women 2-1 Eccles United Women

 

Sunday’s result helps solidify Paddock in second place in the league, though Wilmslow Albion Women have a game in hand and are currently undefeated, and AFC Oldham have two games in hand to jump us. Their next game though… Wilmslow Albion. And Paddock still have both teams to play once more this season, ending at home to AFC Oldham.

It’s going to be a tight contest as we race towards the conclusion of the season. Come and support the girls at home at the Openshaw Campus in Manchester and see if we can’t steal the league title at the death. It’s in our hands, and what a debut season that would be!

Fine margins as Paddock push league leaders Egerton all the way

10 January 2026
Liam Sheasby
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Categories: Report

Stretford Paddock 0 – 1 Egerton

By Lloyd Griffin

Stretford Paddock were left with a sense of frustration after a narrow 1–0 defeat to table toppers Egerton, in a contest where we more than matched the best side in the division for large periods, particularly in a dominant opening phase.

Paddock FC started the match on the front foot and nearly took the lead inside the opening moments. Slick wing play created space for Ronaldo Brown, whose early effort crashed against the crossbar. Moments later, more dangerous work down the left saw Cam Watters cut inside, forcing a save from the goalkeeper before the rebound effort again struck the woodwork. It was a frantic, high-tempo opening five minutes that set the tone – but a spell that Paddock would later regret not capitalising on.

Set up with the surprise return of Martin Flanagan in goal, he was protected by a back four of Danny Hugo, Zak Bell, Kayode Adewale, and Lawrence O’Donoghue. The two Joes, Coleman and McGuinness, along with young prospect Dylan Wilson anchored midfield, while a fluid front three of Cam Watters, Ronaldo Brown, and captain Joao De Andrade rotated intelligently, causing constant problems.

Paddock pressed aggressively from the outset, and the lads continued to press high throughout the first half; harassing Egerton’s back line and keeping the middle compact.Out of possession, we dropped into a disciplined 4-5-1, remaining compact and well drilled in a mid-block.

A misplaced pass allowed Brown to intercept in a promising position, though his tight-angle effort was saved despite options arriving in support. At the other end, a moment of overconfidence nearly cost us when Adewale was caught in possession, but Flanagan stood firm to deny the striker with a crucial one-on-one save. Egerton’s main threat came from wide areas. A ball in behind allowed their winger to skip past Hugo and cut inside, and once again Flanagan was equal to it, saving low with his foot at the near post.

As the half wore on, our early intensity began to dip, with a few long balls failing to find their target. We still carved out an opening when De Andrade was slipped in behind, but his effort was smothered by the goalkeeper. Against the run of play, Egerton struck in the 39th minute. After patient build-up around the edge of our defensive shape, they eventually found a ball through the defensive line and in behind, which was calmly finished past Flanagan to take the lead. It was a harsh blow after a well-managed defensive display, but a very well worked goal.

Paddock responded positively, increasing the pressure immediately from the restart. On the brink of half-time, tricky wing play from Cam Watters saw the forward felled in the box and strong shouts for a penalty, though the referee waved appeals away, much to the audible frustration of manager Stephen Howson and the Paddock fans alike.

Half-time: Stretford Paddock 0–1 Egerton

The second half proved more attritional. Paddock started brightly but found it increasingly difficult to break Egerton down as they controlled possession and pinned us back for spells. Chasing the ball began to take its toll, with fatigue creeping in and a lack of quality evident on both sides.

Egerton continued to threaten down the flanks, releasing their wingers once more, but Flanagan remained alert, producing another sharp save at his near post. Despite that, chances were limited as both teams struggled to find rhythm.

Paddock maintained our high press and work rate, forcing Egerton into defending deep. Brown, Hugo and Watters reached crossing positions more frequently, though too often the final action saw attackers trying to do too much individually rather than capitalising collectively.

Right at the death, our relentless pressing almost paid off. Captain Joao De Andrade intercepted possession and with a tidy 1-2 found himself clean through on goal, but his effort was fired straight at the goalkeeper – a moment that summed up Paddock’s afternoon.

Photo courtesy of MTR Shots

 

Full-time: Stretford Paddock 0–1 Egerton

The team left the pitch feeling they deserved at least a point, particularly after an impressive first-half showing against the league leaders. While the second half saw us fade and lose momentum, it was nonetheless a valiant performance full of intensity, organisation, and commitment against the top side in the league – and a huge improvement compared to the last time we faced Egerton.

We showed we can compete at the highest level, even with significant absences through injury and illness, and performances like this will stand us in good stead as we strive to climb up the table.

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