STRETFORD PADDOCK 5, DENTON TOWN 2
For the second week in a row, Stretford Paddock hammered five goals past their opponents at home but this time, to secure their spot in the quarter finals of the Manchester FA Saturday Challenge Trophy.
Paddock faced Denton Town, the team that knocked them out of last year’s competition, and you could tell that both sides were up for it from kick off.
The match started with great intensity at Paddock’s temporary home at Manchester Enterprise Academy, yet Denton began the better team, and it took them only four minutes to break the deadlock.
After winning the ball through a quick press, Denton’s wide attacker whipped the ball across goal, just glancing the crossbar. The ball, fortunately, fell to the feet of his attacking counterpart. He did well to get the ball out of his feet and find the corner.
Paddock responded in a quick and efficient manner. After winning a free kick just to the right of the Denton penalty area, Mikey Burke delivered one of his trademark crosses which was elegantly guided past the keeper by Dom Molloy’s header.
Paddock, however, couldn’t hold onto their lead. A Denton corner was badly cleared and, again, fell to the feet of a Denton attacker who finished well.
But Paddock again responded, this time it was Kieron Molloy. In the 30th minute, a return pass with Tom Jones released Molloy down the wing. He beat Denton’s full back with pace and hammered it past the keeper to make it 2-2 at the beak.
The second half started less fiercely and that allowed Paddock to assert some dominance. In the 57th minute, Paddock took the lead. A pass from Dom Molloy made its way right into the path of his brother Kieron’s run. Now in on goal, all Kieron had to do was lift the ball over Denton’s keeper.
With 20 minutes to go, it was 4-2. A clearance from Denton was tame and landed at the feet of Joao De Andrade on the edge of the box. A beautiful finish from De Andrade all but put to bed the tie against their higher league opposition.
Substitute Cam Watters, only minutes later, got Paddock’s fifth. The midfielder calmly controlled a bobbling ball inside the box and then scooped it past a defender. A half volley goalward was too much for the keeper and Paddock were on their way to the next round.
Stretford Paddock: Victor Gimenez, Michael Burke, Will Hobson, James Oatt, Kayode Adewale, Nosa Iyamu (Omar Sinclair 46), Dom Molloy (Cameron Watters 59), Jainiero Salmon-Harris (Jon Ogo 81), Joao De Andrade (Tom Jones 85), Tom Jones (Ryan Pickering 46), Kieron Molloy (Ronaldo Brown 59).
- Paddock will face Atherton Laburnum Rovers U23s away at Crilly Park in the league, kick off 2pm.
By Andre La Barbera