Padiham 2-0 Cheadle Town

A strange penalty decision and a goal with the last kick of the game were enough for Padiham to condemn Cheadle to an opening day defeat at The Arbories.

Given Cheadle's passages of play and the way they approached this game, no way was there going to be a repeat of the five-nil drubbing they received at the same ground last season. In fact, Cheadle could have come away with a share of the spoils had Michael Myers not squandered two gilt-edged opportunities to get Cheadle's league tally up and running. On 67 minutes he had the ball at his feet with only the 'keeper to beat but could only blast it against his body and then on 80 minutes somehow spooned an easy chance over the bar. Both of those opportunities would have made it 1-1 at the time.

The way in which Padiham went ahead on the 19 minute mark was surrounded by controversy. Six minutes previously Cheadle's McDonagh had read a wayward backpass and was 50-50 with the Padiham 'keeper for the ball. McDonagh seemed to get to the ball first but was then upended - no penalty given, a furious Cheadle bench and Coach Tommo sent off.

Padiham then had a penalty claim waved away by the referee, only to be overruled by the linesman. Cue another angry Cheadle bench, but also cue converted penalty. Padiham almost had a second on the 26 minute mark as a header crashed from underside the crossbar and onto the goal-line. 1-0 to Padiham at half-time.

Cheadle garnered themselves more chances in the second half and had the lion's share of possession but not without letting Padiham have their decent chances and all; Mellor was called into action at least twice with excellent saves. Alas he could do nothing about the goal that wrapped things up. He had already made an excellent stop but was still prostrate as the ball was slammed into his net.

It's a defeat but I'm not at all concerned about what the rest of the season holds for Cheadle Town; it is only the first game of the season after all. If the lads continue to play like they did today, then the wins will come. I don't normally make a habit of picking players out for recognition but I must give right-back Scott Clarke a shout as he had an outstanding game today and barely put a foot wrong.

Onto Wednesday.......

Photos can be seen by clicking here

TEAM: Mellor, Clarke, Hussain, Cotterill, A Roberts (Logan), Brocklehurst, Riley, MacDonald, McDonagh (Morgan), Myers, Carpenter. Subs: Flanagan, Logan, Morgan