Crewe Alexandra 0 Stockport County 2 ( Football League 2 ) Tuesday 24 October 2023

This was a terrific County win one set off by rousing choruses of `Tanto`s On Fire` pre game, and with the away blocks excelling themselves in the game`s later stages with chorus after glorious chorus of same as County sealed the win with Tanto bringing the songs every word to life in a thrilling performance.

The game had been billed as a top of the table clash between the divisions two top performers.

Crewe were having an exceptional season after a few in the doldrums and were the divisions heaviest scorers so not everyone gave County more than an even chance of winning- a point we were told was the best we could hope for.

Not so…as County confounded the faint hearted with a rousing 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Kyle Wootton and Tanto Olaofe, stamping their class on proceedings sending their excellent travelling support home deliriously happy.

I have to say it was a win of real quality and hewn from adversity as Barry took no part in proceedings after 25 minutes having picked up a worrying injury. His replacement Kyle Wootton, as mentioned earlier, nicked a goal – an important goal- the opener, but the worry remains as Louie is a vital cog in the County promotion wheel.

Having said that though it is difficult to find anyone in this starting 11 and those on the perimeter of same, who is not an important cog in said wheel, but I guess you take my point!

Last night`s performance was top draw – wearing their opponents down in the first 45 minutes in which they were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty ( of which more later), to emerge in the second half to dominate the game ,punish their Cheshire rivals with 2 emphatic goals, and then see the latter stages out comfortably as Crewe did their best to get something from the game.

They failed, County were a cut above and were fully deserving of the points won and accolades that came with them!

Did anyone in blue rate a special mention?

Well I thought Sarcevic again stood out with another classy performance and defensively I liked Wright`s input getting to most 50/50`s when needed and with no bloopers, and Pye and Southam- Hales whose form has been so good this season continue to do well, and of course then there`s Tanto, but again, as usual, no one in blue shirked a shift !

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Immediately before the game an emotional minutes applause for Bobby Charlton was beautifully observed with County supporters in lusty good voice- a touching moment! Thanks to Michael Shoard for this image…..

The game opened with County attacking and Crewe largely content to put their boot through the ball- my creaking ageing neck was under threat again with the game minutes old!

Tanto brought Crewe down to earth abruptly forcing them into error, briefly combining with Barry before Crewe re-grouped and cleared their lines.

The game was less than 5 minutes old and already a great supportive noise was coming from the Whitby Morrisson Away Stand – noise that abated not as Baker- Richardson sneaked a cheap free -kick, but Powell played this wide for our hosts and Bailey swept the ball clear as the cheering rose to a crescendo in response.

Wright was getting in some timely and important headers, one such seeing the neatest of one/ two`s twixt Collar and Tanto win us a free kick as the former was fouled as he cut inside only for Referee Martin Woods and the depressingly unresponsive nearside liner content themselves with an unbelievable Crewe free-kick.

Crewe were not entirely docile indeed Horsfall did well earning applause for good work containing Tracey as he charged through down the right.

But mostly Crewe were defending, and they had 2 men on Barry early doors.

It mattered not meanwhile however many they had on Sarcevic , he was in his element his break , on 12 minutes, allowing Southam-Hales to test the home side`s resolve with a run and cross.

From 15 until around the 20^th minute Crewe mounted a spirited reply but win corners…..sneak free kicks as they would and there was just no way through the immovable object that was the County defence.

Nothing at all emerged from these set pieces not even the one on 18 minutes which saw Offord go down in instalments to nick another free kick- it flew harmlessly out!

Back came the blues on 20 minutes- Collar winning a corner after Tanto battled passed Demetrious , but the short corner went nowhere.

On it went with Pye coming to our rescue as Horsfall was beaten wide right.

Not long after, Barry had to be substituted having taken a knock earlier , his place taken up by Kyle Wootton .

An all too familiar feeling of frustration was creeping over me at this point- the Referee was giving us nothing at all -the latest examples – corner won by Southam-Hales ( goal kick given), Collar penalised for chesting the ball down in an attacking position.

My mood was lifted somewhat by a great tackle by Ethan Pye on Tracey that thoroughly filleted the wide man`s lively run.

Oh, have I said that Tanto was looking mega interested?

Powell headed a corner out that he won with a powerful run but it was another glimpse of what could be around the corner.

But Crewe hit back via Chris Long and I was buoyed to see Pye stop his run with a beautifully executed tackle and then less so to see Long make a post tackle meal of the situation and distort reality again by getting a free kick for it!

The kick went nowhere as I fumed on!

This stung the blues and Sarcevic was millimetres away from reaching Tanto`s neat headed flick on.

County were certainly having the lions share of what attacking possession was going and more so as, with 5 minutes left of the half Southam-Hales and Sarcevic tore great swathes out of the home cover with a sweeping run down the right that saw Sarcevic surge inside in the box where he was hauled down crudely by the defender- penalty for sure, but no the referee thought otherwise which I thought was absolutely disgraceful!

The rest of the half saw County somehow keep their cool whilst launching attacks.

Tanto was unlucky being thwarted by Crewe keeper Harvey Davies into added time but the teams went in with the score still 0-0.

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Half Time Entertainment has included the odd track from the excellent Graham Parker but here`s something from his long time backing band The Rumour- superb stuff …enjoy….please

https://youtu.be/0wVHEfH0fVM?si=BUrVDmdWizxI8qZu

Ok….that`s all I could find of The Rumour so here they are with GP giving us a great track from the first album of theirs I bought..

https://youtu.be/9AmEXhwvuv4?si=8B1JgV0JufzvlrPg

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There was dogs abuse in the air for ref and near side liner as the second half started, and I was soon seething again as Collar was given some `overly robust `treatment by Demetriou and Offord- to absolutely no sanction from Mr Woods.

No matter, County were taking the game to Crewe and looking menacing doing so- home keeper Davies doing well to keep Bailey out after Sarcevic had turned the red shirted defenders hither and thither with some style.

It went on without remission with Bailey shooting wide following great hold up play from Wootton.

The County momentum was growing by the second now Southam- Hales and Collar both unlucky on runs that needed Davies`s very best to contain them.

But the next action was decisively uncontainable – started with more Sarcevic magic that saw Davies spill the ball for a County corner. Then the place went wild with excitement, well our part of it did, as with half of Cheshire looking to get a foot to the kick Wootton reminded us of some golden yesterdays by doing what great strikers do forcing the ball home from Bailey`s cushoned cross before heading towards the corner flag in celebration.

We had a 1-0 lead, and it was well deserved based on the balance of play.

It took Crewe until 20 minutes from time to reply but not with any great result as substitute Elliott Nevitt`s header flew over the bar.

Shilow Tracey looked a possibility for Crewe but a tasty run by him was put to bed nicely by a fine intervention from the diligent Ethan Pye.

Meanwhile I was reminded of the ` I must get Kyle Wootton`s shirt` fetish of last season -Connor O`Riordan really…really wanted it but he was not alone as Kyle was suddenly aware that he was back in first team action!

Cue more superb defending from Pye this time to subdue Baker- Richardson on 77 minutes.

County should have had a second goal 2 minutes later as Southam- Hales shredded the Crewe cover to ping an immaculate ball over that seemed a shoo-in for Tanto who was almost on the line and free as a bird. Somehow,, he lifted the ball over the bar-County`s excellent support responding brilliantly by singing his praises!

Crewe replied but found Pye there to snuff their efforts out with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

Knoyle was on for Bailey by this point working from an attacking position wide left and doing ok in the role.

Crewe continued to look to have a go but with limited access granted by a parsimonious County team that refused to consider conceding a goal-Hinchliffe applauded loudly after claiming the ball from Offord`s lofted effort from a home corner with 6 minutes left.

Another 3 minutes and Hippolyte was on for Sarcevic, and within another 2 County had doubled their advantage brilliantly through Tanto.

Crewe were as jittery as h@@l at this late juncture and loose balls were heading off all over the place with County attacking with a passion backed by their excellent fans.

Soon enough one fell at Tantos feet and he was off and unstoppable, the ball far from glued to his feet but nevertheless being flicked from one pin to another as the resultant shot sped sweetly …low into the far corner of the Crewe net.

What a goal and what a response as County supporters went wild with delight.

This less than brilliantly put together video captures the moment and I hope gives some flavour of how it was- it was impressive!

Tanto was on fire and how the world was told!

We had our 2-0 lead and it was thoroughly deserved.

Crewe did try hard to wrench something back from the wreckage of their game but Croasdale came into his own in almost 10 minutes added time ( 8 were called) as County defended with a skill worthy of the occasion.

County had their win, their 10^th in 10 – a superb achievement by Dave Challinor`s team.

I cannot think of the last time that I enjoyed a performance so much – it was truly epic.

Well done County – see you Saturday at Edgeley Park for the visit of Tranmere Rovers!

Crewe Alexandra line up :-

Davies , Adensi ( Nevitt 70) , Williams ( Cooney 70), Demetrious , Offord , Long , Baker- Richardson , Tracey , O`Riordan , Powell ( Holicek 58), White.

Subs not used: Booth , Thomas , Colkett , Rowe.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe , Southam -Hales , Wright , Horsfall , Pye , Croasdale , Sarcevic ( Hippolyte 87), Bailey ( Knoyle 73) , Collar, Olaofe , Barry ( Wootton 25).

Subs not used: Smith , Madden , Pond , Richardson.

Attendance : 6634( 2141)

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