Stockport County 0 Tranmere Rovers 2 ( Cheshire Senior Cup) Tuesday 26 September 2023

 

 

 

 

County exited this year`s Cheshire Senior Cup at the first hurdle, losing to Tranmere Rovers 2-0 last night at Edgeley Park.

In truth, despite rallying with Josh Papoola`s introduction in the second half, County were always second best to a Rovers side that played with a precision and zest that the blues just could not quite replicate.

They did strike the woodwork twice midst the Papoola inspired resurgence but when the ball stayed out so County`s impetus gradually faded and, in the end they were indebted to keeper Jordan Smith whose late saves kept the score line respectable.

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Back at 7.30 it was good to see us back in Cheshire Senior Cup action after the `unfortunate ` way we treated a competition founded in 1879 and a host of our Cheshire neighbours who compete in it by absenting ourselves from the same last season- the first reigning Champions to do so.

A crowd of under 1000 greeted the teams at 7.30.

 

 

 County had a relatively experienced side out with a back 4 of Richardson, Wright, Pond and trialist Matt Lowton in front of keeper Jordan Smith (who had a fine game and was arguably M.O.M) in a starting 11 captained by Cody Johnson with Paddy Madden on a roving commission up the park.

However, much of the early action was in County`s half a blooper by Wright(not  a representative example of  his game particularly in the first half)almost set ex Hatter Kristian Dennis up for an early goal -he was thwarted by Smith`s quick response.

The early pressure by Tranmere continued  CJ recovering after being bullied off the ball to stop the dangerous Rob Apter in full flight on goal.

And it went on in similar vein for 6 or 7 minutes – Wright doing well to keep a cross by Saunders out of harms way- Pond doing similar to foil Apter with 10 minutes gone.

A pattern was emerging for Rovers as the pressure was largely orchestrated by Saunders on the right and Apter on the left at this point and Wright again did well to keep the latter out as he burst through – a foul on Pond easing County`s pain as they then struggled to clear their lines.

The first clear cut chance did not come until the 18th minute and it fell to Apter who scythed his was through County`s cover like a heated knife would butter before pinging a neat ball on to Dennis who again looked likely to do us a damage. He was in the box in a trice, but he had Richardson for company and the two came together, Dennis going down. I have seen those given, many a time in fact, but George Eaton the Referee declined to point to the spot – that was a real let off, could we make the most of our good fortune though?

Wright continued to do well under pressure for County negating Apter`s latest move with good cool play, but at the other end of the park , with Belahoun and Hockenhull ensuring the back door was locked for Tranmere , County struggled to make headway.

Richardson was showing promise down the right, but , gifted the ball, Camps then overhit his pass for Madden to chase and the glimmer of a chance sadly faded away.

Camps was freely giving free kicks away as well and that did nothing to improve matters for the blues who as a consequence were under the cosh-     Wright having to again work hard to keep the threat out- Cotterill running the ball clear.

After the half hour Norton did have the ball in the net for County but he was clearly offside on the end of an interesting link up involving Camps and Mee.

Cue more good work at the back by Wright who was aided by Cotterill with Apter and Dennis threatening.

The small contingent in the away blocks of the Pop Side  must have been pleased with the way their team was shaping up , but mightily disappointed to see a terrific raking run by Apter end with a powerful shot that the diving Smith tipped over the bar at the last gasp with just over 5 minutes left of the first half.

County tried, via Richardson, to hit back but without success and it took a fine tackle from CJ to stop the rampaging Connor Wood with the break in sight.

But County failed to clear their lines following that action and it came back to bite them next  as Dennis picked the predatory Harvey Saunders out nicely and he blasted the ball into the net sending County in 1-0 down at the break.

 

 

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And, in Half Time Entertainment, no blues this time something lighter from a  band I thought I liked a year or so back……

https://youtu.be/AkM5Ax1fuCM?si=ORVWSG-302-s65PK

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Saunders was on fire when the game resumed after half time and only a terrific save by Smith kept him out as he filleted County`s flimsy cover.

Richardson meanwhile continued to be more or less our only attacking outlet but without support there was nothing on the end of it.

That said, Norton was distinctly unlucky with an offside ruling and then a perceived foul on substitute Joe Starbuck but really as an attacking force we were not showing up, and only Tranmere`s final ball was preventing them adding to their lead.

It was not that we didn`t attack, we did- but Wright`s header was covered comfortably by keeper Joe Murphy, and Camps ambitious dive in the box rather spoiled a decent run by him- Mee wasting a great ball from Pond on 55 minutes to compound matters.

Papoola was on for Mee 2 minutes later and he was to have a definite impact, but not before Rovers had doubled their advantage with a second goal.

The visitors had just won 2 corners – Smith saving well from Hughes aided by Pond moments later in pushing an Apter effort onto a post. That was valiant work, but Apter would not be denied, and his follow up effort gave Smith no chance- it was 2-0 to Rovers and County were looking an early exit from the competition squarely in the face!

Papoola did excellent work to attempt to resuscitate the County forward momentum winning a corner, almost setting Cotterill up with a smart pass.

Madden joined in winning a corner and twice in rapid succession Hockenhull did good work heading clear under some pressure for Tranmere.

It was perhaps County`s best period but they needed to nick one- but their luck was out. Richardson thought he had squared the circle going down in the box under pressure from Wood, but the Referee waved away penalty appeals and he was probably correct.

Meanwhile Papoola was creating havoc down the left with his tricky runs and the next couple of minutes saw this writ large as he teed up Norton whose thunderous drive thudded into the crossbar shaking it to its very foundations- but crucially it stayed out, but the ball then ran on to Richardson who repeated the Norton recipe crashing a mighty effort goalward seeing the ball smash into the woodwork with Murphy a bemused spectator.

The ball again stayed out and it stayed 2-0 and County`s light rather faded from that point on as Tranmere upped the pressure on the blues significantly bringing Smith more and more into it for County- the County keeper doing brilliantly to keep Saunders’ shot out on the end of a run that left Smith perilously exposed.

There were 2 on Josh Papoola by this point which began to limit his chances, but he confirmed my impression of him which is entirely favourable- he looks to be a lad we can use for sure!

The games dying embers saw Tranmere still seeking another goal and Smith again left cruelly exposed in the face of determined pressure from Rovers- his answer was another fine save as he somehow clawed a goal bound effort from Saunders out keeping it at 2-0 which was a fair reflection of how things went in my opinion .

Here`s to next season then and another tilt at this competition!

 

Stockport County line up:-

Smith , Richardson , Wright , Pond , Lowton , C Johnson , Cotterill , Camps, Madden , Norton , Mee ( Papoola 57).

Subs not used ; Jones , McMahon , Fligg , Partington.

 

Tranmere Rovers line up :-

Murphy , O`Connor ( Starbuck 46) , Hockenhull , Belehouan , Merrie , Hughes , Norris ( Bentley 73), Wood , Dennis , Apter , Saunders .

Subs not used : Davies , Robson , Mikulski.

Attendance : 756 ( 63)

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