Stockport County 1 Bradford City 1 ( Football League 2) Tuesday 15 August 2023
County took us on another roller coaster ride at Edgeley Park last night where a highly charged face off with Bradford City saw them come back from one down to share the points in a 1-1 draw.
In many ways it was a re-run of what has gone before this season as the blues set about tearing Mark Hughes’ side apart from the off, but despite looking on for a goal or two their overwhelming dominance faded after 20 minutes in now familiar style.
It was 0-0 at the break so still all to play for, but poor County defending made their task that much more difficult as City took the lead via an Alex Pattison goal.
The input of Referee Sebastian Stocksbridge and his Danny Stand liner did not help County`s attempts to respond as 2 solid penalty appeals were spurned by the official and a clutch of dubious offside calls kept City ahead until 10 minutes from the end of normal time when substitute Isaac Olaofe equalised from close in for the blues.
In the end we settled for a point which was better than it might have been if Ben Hichliffe hadn`t contributed 2 stupendous saves to the night`s entertainment to keep County afloat as the Yorkshire side threatened to claim the points against the run of play.
Cody Johnson took the M.O.M award and I was not displeased with that after he played well showing great control and accuracy of pass for the full 90 odd minutes rewarding Dave Challinor`s faith in him, but Ben`s match saving contribution was well appreciated too by County supporters who gave him a fine ovation after the end of the game.
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There was good support for the team as the game got underway in front of another crowd of over 9000 with over 1300 boisterous Yorkshire folk adding to the tension of the occasion.
County needed an improved performance though, and it was good, in this respect, to see Cody Johnson starting again along with Will Collar and Connor Evans.
CJ was quickly centre stage, working hard and impressing with his neat pinpoint passing. Evans was in the mix too and he was unlucky to see Barry`s pass to him intercepted at the last gasp by Ciaran Kelly.
County shaded the first 6 or 7 minutes but 2 corners in quick succession after this signalled Bradford`s interest in proceedings .
The corners were defended well by County and any slight unease I might have been feeling at that point was considerably eased by a confident catch by Hinchliffe.
Horsfall and CJ made a telling contribution also to steadying County`s ship but a way through the visitors defences looked difficult to sort.
Then Southam- Hales showed us how this might be done- his pace upsetting the Yorkshiremen down the right- his cross was good, but Collar could not force the ball home- keeper Harry Lewis holding onto the resultant header with some confidence.
On the other flank Barry was showing a turn of pace too, his pass sending Madden clear, but he was brought down in the box triggering our first Sebastian Stocksbridge orientated disappointment of the evening as County`s claims for a penalty were studiously ignored by the official.
County were busy after this, dominating possession, but their best efforts received no reward- Barry twice going close – a run seeing him lift his shot over the bar on 15 minutes – another that looked even better ending with the ball cleared off the line by a harassed defender with a goal very much on the cards.
By now County were in charge for sure, but where was the luck, and….alarmingly the precise finishing ?
Madden had no luck to show as his first time lob from Hinchliffe`s long searching ball, had the keeper scrambling back to claw the ball out off the line next!
On it went with County pressing through Southam- Hales but he was felled illegally as he cut inside beyond 2 defenders. We got a free kick of course but promptly sent this straight down keeper Lewis`s throat to end the threat to the Bantam`s peace of mind.
We were beyond 20 minutes now and I found myself hoping that Saturday`s turnaround at this point would not be repeated, but I wasn`t greatly encouraged in this as Knoyle managed to handle the ball right under the referee`s nose earning a booking and putting us under pressure from the free kick. In the event Hinchliffe saved Andy Cook`s header but the foul and booking were needlessly conceded, and we needed to tighten up in this regard if we were to prosper tonight.
But instead City looked to be encouraged by an alarming show of hesitancy at the back by the blues that allowed the dangerous Tyler Smith a run in the box. It could have been worse, but it was a corner and more alarm surfaced as Cook got his head to it. The ball flew harmlessly out but that was not great for the BP at all!
I was more tranquil however next with the sight of Smith firing one in from distance for City as Hinchliffe made short work of making the required save.
County replied, working hard for 5 minutes but the much needed finish was missing instead Knoyle disappointed with a tame effort when well set, and Madden missed the target with a shot that cleared the bar.
If it was mainly County doing the attacking , Bradford did manage nonetheless to engineer a definite chance with half time nearing and it fell to leading scorer Cook . He really should have done better in rather splendid isolation at the back post- instead he put the ball wide from Gilliead`s cross.
We went into added time with County pressing for that elusive opening goal but showing no great sign that they would square this irritating Yorkshire circle any time soon- wasting good approach play with powder puff finishing – the half ending with Touray shooting wide and thus wasting another County free kick.
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You demanded more top-quality half-time entertainment, and hedgegrower heard you…….
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Back to business then, and the second half opened with Southam-Hales deep inside the City last third- Knoyle unlucky up in support on the burst.
I was suitably lulled by that when calamity hit us at the other end where County`s defensive nous took a brief holiday as Cook stole possession off Touray to slip the ball on to Pattison who beat Hinchliffe with a cool finish in front of a Railway End packed with cheering City fans.
Still shell-shocked from that last action, more threatened to increase our angst as one time County target Smith burst clear in the box, but I agonised unnecessarily as the Pop Side liner had his flag up and the moment passed!
Phew…..we needed a response from the blues now but when it came via Rydell , Lewis was on top of his form twixt the sticks for Bantams with the finest of saves to keep his side in front.
The ball was still in play from that action however, and Barry had it and City looked toast as he picked Madden out at the back post .The County skipper could not force the ball home however but it mattered not as the liner`s hair triggered flag was up signalling offside ( he was probably correct on this occasion as Paddy had nipped back from an O/S position).
Time next for Hinchliffe to trump Lewis saving a speculative shot from Smith with his legs.
But County were seriously trying to put matters right now and thought that they had made a start at doing so 8 minutes into the half as a CJ/ Madden move set Knoyle up to win a corner. Rydel`s kick was a belter and fell nicely for Madden who was promptly sent crashing to earth by Harry Platt who quickly scurried for cover near the touchline with County`s following howling for a penalty. It was a no brainer…a clear spot kick but Mr S inflamed the situation by waving penalty claims away!
That was rank bad reffing- par for SS but rank bad nevertheless!
County were suitably infused with fury at this, but we needed a calm approach if we were to sort matters but a series of corners saw us go close again and again but without anything on the end of it except more chagrin at the sight of the Danny Stand liner`s flag asking us to believe that Madden was offside having finally received the ball on the break.
County were revving the effort up now - Stubbs responding suitably by finding Hardcastle Road in extremis midst some borderline mayhem in the visitors` box.
Beyond the hour and it went on in the same vein with Barry blazing a real chance over the bar when set up by Knoyle.
It was at this point that Tanto came on for Evans, and within a minute of coming on his blinding pace unsettled City so much that Platt could do no other than lean on him in the box bringing him down.
Need I say penalty ? Well it was….but of course it wasn`t was it at least in the referee`s mind . I am not sure what part if any the sterling display of RADA type antics that Platt exhibited at this point played in the decision making but Mr S had decided and now the whole C/E agreed with my assessment of the ref telling him so in no uncertain manner.
The offensive continued from County but with no reward – Madden heading wide one minute, Barry flagged offside the next following more good work from CJ and Madden in the build-up.
For all their dominance County had to keep the back door securely bolted. Thankfully Bradford`s forwards did not look to be the liveliest around , even so the odd chance kept surfacing for Bantams- the latest with 20 minutes left falling to Pattison- Hinchliffe made the save but we had again been warned!
Unfortunately a County corner won by Barry, saw one plonker in the Cheadle End choose to continue ( he or she had done so earlier)to use a laser pen on Bradford players – stupid behaviour not wanted at EP and it did not served to aid County`s cause one jot!
Southam- Hales gave way to Crankshaw shortly after, as County piled into City again. It went on for a while- corner won but not capitalised on.
Then at last a breakthrough as County hit paydirt via their latest corner won by Barry. Crankshaw took this and panic set in for City but Lewis managed to save Horsfall`s header. He did this without making a clean catch however and Tanto pounced to send the ball home for the equaliser!
Then in a variation of my `corner/ free kick` thoughts of the last game, straight from the re-start we were in deep doo doo as Touray upended Pattison to give Mr S the simple task of awarding the visitors a penalty.
Crest fallen was hardly the word to use but angst was abroad in large quantities throughout 3 of the 4 stands as Cook ran up to take the spot kick but cometh the moment cometh the man and it was Ben Hinchliffe who hurled himself to his right to pull off a stupendous save to keep County alive!
EP , or circa 84% of it, went suitably AS at that superb moment.
With Croasdale on for Collar late on County continued looking for the winner but their luck was still out – Barry flagged offside from a free kick after Tanto had been hauled down by Stubbs- I was speechless I was!
Then I regained the use of my vocal chords as another exhibition of brilliance by Hinchliffe saved County again at the last gasp . We looked to be again in Calamity City as Cook scythed his way effortlessly through County`s defences to go one on one with Ben. It was a shoo in really….he was going to score wasn`t he? But wait on …what`s this? Ben put his body on the line superbly to pull off another fantastic last ditch save of the highest quality to prevent a certain goal!
There was time still for Crankshaw to dart clear narrowly missing out with his lob but County thoughts were still on Hinchliffe`s wonder display as Mr S blew for time.
County`s display could easily draw criticism but at this point I take heart from the point gained, leave it at that, and look to an improvement against Barrow on Saturday.
See you there.
Stockport County line up:-
Hinchliffe , Knoyle , Horsfall , Touray, Southam -Hales ( Crankshaw 72) , Rydel , C Johnson , Collar ( Croasdale 84) , Evans ( Olaofe 63) , Madden , Barry .
Subs not used : Smith , Wright , Byrne, Pye.
Bradford City line up ;-
Lewis , Platt , Smallwood ( Osabede 83) , Cook , Pattison , Gilliead , Odour ( Mc Donald 72) , Smith ( Derbyshire 83) , Stubbs , Kelly , Oyegoke .
Subs not used: Doyle , Halliday , Ridehalgh , Pointon.
Attendance : 9296 (1331)
hedgegrower
some images via hedgegrower`s phone.......
and some from Andrew Machin......
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