Match Report. Padiham FC (H). 19/04/25

Stockport Town pulled off a fantastic second-half comeback to end the season with a draw against confirmed playoff side Padiham FC.  

The Lions were able to avoid defeat on the final day of the season by drawing 2-2 against The Storkes, with the goals coming from Adam Owen and Captain Sam Hare. 

After 10 minutes, Town looked the more dominate side having controlled the possession up until the 11th minute when Jamie Walsh’s pass was intercepted allowing Padiham to advance on goal, and at the edge of the box, Brownhill received the ball before firing it past Schofield making It 1-0 to the away side.  

Town although 1-0 down, were applying pressure on Padiham, and Rhys Ferguson picked the lose ball up in the Padiham half and quickly dispatched a shot on goal, it was on target but the Padiham Goalkeeper collected. 

Shortly after Joel Brownhills opener in the 11th minute, Jack Price capitalised on another lose ball and fired home the aways side second. 

In the 27th minute, the Storkes had multiple chances on goal. Their first chance on goal ended up narrowly hitting Schofields crossbar, another chance was blocked by Keane Barugh, and their final shot was excellently saved by Schofield in the Lions goal. 

After these multiple chances, neither side had another chance until the 35th minute when Padiham were able to get through the Town back line and put the ball into the back of the net, making it 3-0 until the Referee blew for offside, keeping the game at 2-0 to the away side.  

In the 39th minute, Padiham had another great chance through a counterattack until Keane Barugh brilliantly cleared the ball away just as the Padiham winger was about to put a cross into the box.  

Just before the end of the half, Padiham almost found the back of the net again, but Schofield was able to make a great save to keep the ball out of the net, keeping the game at 2-0 as the ref blew the whistle.  

The Lions made a double substitution at halftime. This saw Jamie Walsh and Rhys Ferguson replaced by Adam Owen and Kylan Depeiaza. As Town Manager Paul Turnbull looked for a response from his team, and in the opening moments of the second half he definitely saw this. 

In the 49th minute, Padiham gave away a freekick for Town just outside of the box, and substitute Adam Owen would take the free kick from a tight angle on the right hand corner of the penalty box, he curled a beautiful effort towards goal and into the top left corner, a great goal to make the score 2-1. 

In the 56th minute, the strong Kylan Depeiaza was taken down in the box and the assistant referee awarded a penalty, up stepped Captain fantastic Sam Hare and he made no mistake by slotting home Town’s equaliser and sending Padiham Matthew Hamnett the wrong way.  

After the equaliser Town were on top of the game and attacking with every chance, it was a game definitely of two halves as Town looked dangerous with every venuture forward. 

Between the 64th and 70th minute, Padiham made two changes. This saw Hyun Seol and Bradley Knox replace Kieran Sherlock and Willem Tomlinson.  

In the 76th minute, Hare was booked after a poor but accidental challenge on a Padiham player as he attempted to volley the ball up the pitch but instead caught the Padiham player. After this incident, Padiham made another change, and this saw Jakub Hebda come off for Lewis Ayres  

In the 81st minute, Harley Monaghan and Keane Barugh were replaced by Terry Benson-Brewer and Callum Gardner. Padiham once again made another change in the 83rd minute and this saw Joel Melia come on for Joshua Briggs.  

Once again the lively Kylan Depeiaza was causing issues in behind the Padiham defence but they stood strong. 

In the 93rd minute, Town made their final change and this saw Oliver Kvaternik come off for Alex Harvey.  

After a really impressive second half from Town, the referee blew for Full Time, to big applause from the crowd in Stockport Sports Village who witnessed an excellent game of Football. 

This result saw Stockport Town finish in 10th place in the club's first ever season in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.  

Good Luck to all teams in the North West Counties Premier Division Play Offs. 

Lineups:  

Stockport Town: Schofield, Padden, Walsh (45’ Owen), Atkinson, Lomakin-Rogers, Kvaternik(90+3’ Harvey), Monaghan (81’ Benson-Brewer), Hare, Ferguson (45’ Depeiaza), Ehimamiegho, Barugh (81’ Gardner) 

Subs not Used: 

Padiham FC: Hamnett, Sherlock (64’ Seol), Jenkins, Tomlinson (70’ Knox), Morton, Pugh, Machell, Hebda (77’ Ayres), Bowrnhill, Briggs (83’ Melia) 

Subs not Used: Hoskin