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 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!
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