Two debut goals from substitute Tayo Tek ensured Paddock took all three points against Newton Athletic Doves in their first midweek game of the season.
The floodlights of the Project Solar Stadium – and the occasional bolt of lightning – were lighting up the Manchester sky as heavy rain welcomed two unbeaten sides to the field.
After relegation from Division One last season, Newton had made a positive start to life in Division Two. With a return of seven points – and 13 goals – from their opening three games, they began the day sitting in second place behind early pacesetters St Helens Town.
Midweek games are often the bane of grass roots football clubs, with player availabilities limited by work and family commitments. Paddock were not spared this fate on this occasion.
-Off the pitch, Manager Ste Howson was forced into a number of changes to the side that faced Warrington Rylands ten days ago. He was also forced to watch the game on Twitch with 120 fellow Paddock supporters (and 1 Newton supporter) as he served the final day of this touchline ban.
-On the pitch, there was no place for the unavailable trio of Kayode Adewale, Joao De Andrade and Janeiro Salmon-Harris. Josh Mbala, Victor Iyumva and Michael Olatunji were given an opportunity to replace them and make the red and black jersey their own.
The opening exchanges of the game were as miserable as the conditions. Both sides really struggling to string a significant number of passes together. Newton were trying to force mistakes from the Paddock rearguard by dropping the ball over their heads and competing for the second ball. It was a viable tactic with the wet pitch and slippy conditions offering them opportunities to reclaim possession in dangerous areas and Newton forced five corners in the first half alone.
Paddock were getting most of their success down the wings as Ronaldo Brown, Victor Iyumva and the overlapping Alex Black found space in behind the compact Newton defence. However the success of the wide areas didn’t transition into the middle as Paddock struggled to get players into the box to support the attacks and add the final touch. When the balls belatedly arrived, the Newton defence had more than enough to stop the moves in their infancy. Besides a number of (overly) ambitious shots from distance and hopeful crosses fizzed across goal, Paddock didn’t manage to create anything to trouble the adventurous Newton Athletic keeper who seemed eager to sweep up on behalf of his defence.
With the half sleepwalking towards an end, Newton pounced. The Doves midfielder picked up the ball 35 yards from goal, skipped inside his man before clipping a ball between a static Paddock defence left appealing for offside. The Newton forward raced towards goal to meet the ball and strike it left footed – but saw his shot smothered by the onrushing Florian Salceanu. A brave piece of goalkeeping from the new Paddock number one who is quickly becoming a fans favourite at the club.
Goalless at the break. Both defences on top and both sides failing to create clear chances. It has to be said that both defences were not enjoying the offside decisions without the benefits of an Assistant Referee on the night. Another bane of grass roots football clubs.
Changes were needed and changes were made. Forward Tayo Tek came on to replace Josh Mbala on the right wing and Paddock started the second half with intent, with more purpose to their passing and more patience in possession. The mistakes were limited, the possession started to have purpose but it had resulted in very few opportunities. Paddock fans were starting to question if the possession alone would be enough to breach this organised and resilient Newton defence. Shortly afterwards debutant Tayo Tek provided them an answer.
With 54 minutes played, Sam Walker picked up the ball in central defence and carried it unchallenged towards the centre circle as Newton forwards backed off. From within his own half, Walker rolled a pass along the 5G turf between two defenders as Tayo Tek raced onto the ambitious through ball. As the Newton keeper flew out of his penalty area to intercept, Tek reached the ball first, touched it inside the advancing keeper before firing off balance into the empty net. Paddock had the lead. It was a dream debut goal for the youngster who had only been on the pitch for 9 minutes. An impressive finish, an excellently weighted pass by Walker, but the keeper will no doubt be disappointed to misjudge his attempted interception.
With 60 minutes on the clock, the lead doubled. Michael Olatunji found Victor Iyumva in space on the left hand side near the half way line. He carried the ball with pace to the Newton penalty area, cut inside onto his right foot and dispatched his shot across goal. The shot was parried by the keeper but the rebound fell into the path of new boy Tayo Tek who reacted fast to slam the ball into the unguarded net to score his second of the night. A dream start to life at Stratford Paddock for the substitute.
At 2-0 Paddock were heading for three points and the confidence was finally flowing after a fairly tepid first half display. This is the moment where typically the losing side open up to chase the game and team with the advantage pick them off on the break and extend their lead. Not on this occasion. As Paddock pressed on for more goals, with a high defensive line and a more creative (and risky) passing approach – the major beneficiaries were their opponents. Newton had chances in the closing stages and some good chances too. The first half tactic of dropping passes between defender and keeper was largely ineffective in the first half. But with the Paddock high line, it worked well as the game was nearing its end. Paddock stopper Salceanu was forced into two crucial one-on-one saves in the final moments. Newton were enjoying the better of the play as they attempted to salvage a point from the game.
To their great credit, Salceanu and his defenders held on to secure a much sought after clean sheet and claim all three points. Far from an easy task against a Newton side that still offered a significant threat to Paddock once they found their rhythm in the second half. The Doves will undoubtably leave Manchester frustrated that they didn’t find this rythmn at 0-0 which may have altered the trajectory of the game. However, with two wins in two games, Stratford Paddock’s trajectory is now upwards, as they leapfrog Newton Athletic to sit second in the Division Two table.
