Two goals by marquee signing Paddy Madden helped in-form Stockport to a 4-0 victory over lowly King’s Lynn on Tuesday evening, as Simon Rusk’s promotion-chasing side made it nine games unbeaten in the National League.
Madden almost opened the scoring himself inside the opening quarter of an hour, when the former Fleetwood Town forward met Tom Walker’s cross and powered a header at goal, which was superbly tipped onto the crossbar by Linnets stopper Theo Richardson.
But just a minute later, Madden turned provider as he looped a volley goalward for the man in form, Alex Reid, to instinctively glance a header over a helpless Richardson.
For the remainder of the first half, the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession and played some easy on the eye football without really testing Ben Hinchliffe in the County goal – with a penalty appeal waved away late on in the half following a James Jennings challenge on striker Michael Gash.
The Hatters spurned a glorious chance to potentially put the game to bed on the hour mark when Macauley Southam-Hales was felled inside the area by former County trialist Ethan Coleman – referee Simon Mather pointed to the spot, but John Rooney saw his low penalty saved by the legs of Richardson.
The hosts continued to see good chances come and go as James Jennings headed over and Paddy Madden fired wide via a deflection, however just five minutes after Rooney’s penalty miss, the County maestro made amends in superb fashion.
Linnets ‘keeper Richardson skewed a clearance straight to Rooney around thirty yards from goal, with the former Barrow midfielder thundering an unstoppable effort past the helpless Richardson to double County’s lead.
Things got even better moments later when Madden grabbed his second goal in County colours, as the experienced frontman nodded home James Jennings’ pinpoint delivery.
Madden got his third for the club, and second of the night, late on when he headed home Walker’s back post cross as County ran riot, securing a fourth win in six games for Rusk’s in-form side.
