Perfect Paddy has Hatters happy

PADDY MADDEN is enjoying life at Stock-port County – and is setting his sights back on the Football League.

- Kelly Gilchrist

The 31-year-old – a high-profile signing from Fleetwood Town last month – played his most vital role yet as his solitary goal continued Stockport’s title push at the expense of play-off chasing FC Halifax Town.

Madden latched onto a poor-headed clearance from Niall Maher to bag the only goal of an otherwise close encounter a minute before the break to keep Simon Rusk’s side just five points adrift of National League leaders.

Madden’s strike also sealed a third win on the spin for Rusk’s men, without a goal being conceded.

As for FC Halifax Town, defeat keeps them in fifth but now just three points inside the play-off places with rivals bearing down.