Stretford Paddock extended their winning run to six games with a professional second half performance enough to overcome a resilient Maine Road Reserves.
Paddock went into the game with just one change from the previous game, with the welcome return of Omar Sinclair to the starting line up, joining Walker, Adewale and Olatunji in the back line.
Maine Road Reserves – today’s visitors to the Project Solar Stadium – were familiar opposition having faced Paddock just four weeks ago in the return fixture. Paddock took the win and the three points on that occasion, coming from 1-0 down to narrowly claim the win by two goals to one. They were hoping to repeat that haul again this afternoon.
The game kicked off with fourth placed Paddock taking the early initiative against their City rivals who started the day down in 11th. The importance of a good start was no secret following the previous game in which Maine Road started fast and took the lead after just ten minutes.
The first chance to steal the opening goal fell to Claudio Costa after just six minutes after great work by Joao wide on the right, his low cut back to Costa who blazed over from six yards when it looked easier to score!
Despite the early Paddock pressure, Maine Road to their credit kept the chances to a minimum and began to get into the game and earn their fair share of control and possession. This resulted in a game of minimal clear cut chances for both sides restricted to speculative shots from distance. Both sides looked a threat going forward but lacked the quality of service as both sides strived to win the midfield battle and cancelled each other out. As the clock hit 45, and the managers began thinking about prepping their men for the second half – this all changed.
Firstly, Paddock’s number 9 Sam Pratt (going into the game with 5 goals from 5 appearances) had a chance to open the scoring. He was expertly played through on goal by Joao De Andrade, but the Maine Road stopper was out fast to intercept after Pratt took a heavy first touch, taking a knock in the process. Just moments later, Maine Road had their best chance of the game with a clever 1-2 on the edge of the Paddock penalty area giving their man a left footed strike at goal, but the shot at goal was weak and easy to gather for Selacanu. But it wasn’t over, Selacanu’s long punt upfield was retrieved by the Maine Road defence who gave the ball away on the edge of their own box. Pratt regained possession and rolled the ball to De Andrade who raced into the box before hitting a low shot at the feet of the Maine Road keeper. Three big chances in three minutes – none taken.
Goalless at half-time and neither side really showing enough quality in front of goal to claim they deserved otherwise.
The second half kicked off and the vocal crowd were curious if the next 45 minutes would mimic the drab low quality affair of the first 44 minutes, or the action packed three minutes of first half injury time. The answer was provided by the returning Omar Sinclair after just 90 seconds. He picked up the ball thirty yards from goal, squeezed between two men who only half-heartedly challenged to leave him with a clean strike on goal which he dispatched in the bottom corner of the net. A great strike, a perfect way to start the second half for Paddock, but for all their resilience in the first half, Maine Road must be bitterly disappointed with the defending to concede so early.
With the lead established, the game opened up and Paddock maintained an excellent shape and took control of the midfield area which eluded them in the first 45. The next chance fell to the opening goal scorer Sinclair when a Paddock overhit cross was retrieved and recycled to the edge of the box. But Sinclair couldn’t find the target and his shot sailed wide.
With just over an hour played Paddock won a free kick on the edge of the Maine Road penalty area, the challenge on Sam Pratt was enough for Paddock to win a set piece but also enough to end the game for the Paddock front man who sustained a knee injury. He was replaced by Damani Hall who took just five minutes to make his impact on the game. A (hopeful) looping ball forward from Michael Olatunji was won by Hall who shrugged off his man, to find himself free inside the box. He took one touch away from the onrushing keeper and used his second to dispatch the ball into the net to double Paddock’s lead.
The second goal seemed to clinch the game for Paddock with many in attendance sensing the two goal lead would be enough to secure the win. It only took a further five minutes for the busy Joao De Andrade to make absolutely sure. The midfield completely opened up and Joe Coleman found himself in possession with a lot of space to run into. He carried the ball forward before playing a slide rule pass into the path of De Andrade who picked the ball up and made no mistake from close range to add the third goal of the game.
If the third goal of the game was the icing on the cake. The cherry on the icing would’ve been a first goal of the season for long-term absentee Ellis Pacer who is still getting up to speed after a serious injury. The chance came in the 87th minute but he could only fire wide. The Paddock fans (and one former Maine Road player) watching the stream from around the world on the live stream expected the net to bulge but the chance was squandered.
The final whistle blew, no cherry for Stretford Paddock, but a very welcome three points that keeps them very much in the promotion conversation heading into next week’s county cup quarter final.
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