Doncaster Rovers 1 Stockport County 5 ( Football League 2) Saturday 27 January 2024

It`s yonks since we did anything worth writing home about either playing at Belle Vue or Doncaster Rovers current stadium- in fact since the Auto Windshields win in 96, zilch has come our way except hard knocks (think last season) and ill fortune (think last season), so it was a great pleasure to see County put all last season`s ill`s behind them big style going nap today to win 5-1 and thoroughly trounce a hugely outclassed Doncaster Rovers side to maintain their hegemony at the top of the League 2 pile!

It was a superb performance that simply oozed class and quality goals- that saw them 5-0 up 10 minutes into the second half.

Inevitably we then saw personnel changes and with them a relaxation of the pressure exerted by the blues on our hosts who were then able to nick a goal back, County content to cruise in with another outstanding away win that consolidated their position 5 points clear of Wrexham.

If today`s top marks go to Madden, Evans and chief provider Powell, kudos also go to Wright and Horsfall who oversaw what should have been another County shut out, and it was brilliant to see Southam- Hales start after so many injury issues and do so well laying on the goal of the game for Madden!

Lots of positives to point to then, and I have not even mentioned that Sarcevic and Hippolyte had minutes on the park as did Rico Richards. The game had gone well and truly off the boil by that time though, so no weighty conclusions are necessary or possible, but the appearance of all 3 was good to see!

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It was bitterly cold as the game kicked off with County looking in tip top nick as Evans burst through down the right only kept out by a terrific save by Rovers` keeper Louis Jones at his near post.

Madden was next to show for the blues but his run saw Powell`s shot pushed out for a corner. This was the first indication we got of just what it was that Grant McCann`s side would be practising on Monday as Madden rose in splendid isolation towards the back post to head the kick home.

Five minutes gone….Rovers 0 County 1

Credit to our hosts, they shaped to reply only for Wright to snuff out Ironsides best work!

The Yorkshire side were not quite done either and were no doubt disappointed to see Owen Bailey`s glancing header fly wide 10 minutes in.

But that was as good as it got for Rovers indeed it got distinctly worse mainly due to Powell`s input as a brilliant ball from him sent Evans darting to the by-line where his pull back saw the ball fly in the net off a defender.

We were 2-0 up and looking to have more goals in us!

A foul on Powell then ushered in a free kick and more pressure on the home side, but Madden`s shot was cleared off the line midst a blizzard of attacking by County from this.

Rovers responded through Owen Bailey, but Bristow did well to ensure the header that followed went wide of goal.

Then Hurst had a half chance, and should have done better, for Rovers, putting his shot wide when well placed.

Back came County – Camps seeing a shot deflected for a corner, from which Powell headed wide.

Twice in the first half hour, Mr Rock (who had an exceptional game)had occasion to caution Rovers for late challenges, the latest free kick resulting from these happenings saw some payback . Not immediately as Tanto`s run following the kick resulted in a corner, but Bristow`s delivery from the flag was perfect, and with Grant McCann no doubt writing furiously in the margin now ,Evans rose to apply an unchallenged finish in fine style!

It was 3-0 and we still had about 15 minutes left of the half and loads of potential to score more!

We certainly worked to add to that lead- Southam- Hales run ending with Evans poleaxed on the edge of the box. The defender was carded, Bailey`s kick was ushered for a corner which came to nothing.

The pressure continued from County- Evans and Madden much to the fore of the action- Evans hustling possession from nothing, Madden unlucky to see a shot charged down.

Half chances came and went in what remained of the half, Powell hitting the woodwork at one point without any addition to the score , the teams going in at half time with County still leading 3-0.

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For Half Time Entertainment Today -a bit of a toe tapper !……

https://youtu.be/Wv4Gr98pjKU?si=4YOqpK3rYfceP0uE

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Then, anyone who stayed on to drain the last dregs from that half time pint, would have been mightily disappointed to miss what went down straight from the re-start as Southam- Hales set the away ends fuse fizzing with a sizzling run down the right that left 2 red/ white shirts trailing helplessly in his wake. Reaching the by-line, the Welsh wizard then delivered a cross of infinite subtlety into the path of the onrushing Paddy Madden whose header keeper Jones got a hand to but could not stop.

That was a glorious goal, best of the day for me, and it was 4-0 and the away end was in full celebration mode now!

County however were taking matters seriously still – Tanto unable to nick a fifth goal from a neat pass from Powell- Bailey also going close.

Rovers had made 4 substitutions at the re-start and I did notice they successfully ushered County`s first corner of the second half clear thanks to good work by Owen Bailey, and Mc Grath did really well to halt a promising run by Madden 9 minutes into the half.

But unfortunately for Rovers the wheels were about to come off again and Evans was instrumental in this, his pacy run brushing aside a series of challenges en-route. The ball on from Evans was full of ill intent as far as County opponents were concerned and boy did they make a mess of dealing with it- Tanto didn`t adding his two pennyworth to make it 5-0 and trigger the first airing of “ Tanto`s on Fire” from the away end.

Tanto couldn`t add to his tally running onto Madden`s intuitive through ball just after the hour.

It all rather started to go off the boil at this point as Biggins nicked one back for Rovers and both sides started to ring more changes .

It was good to see Sarcevic and Hippolyte back in action after so much trauma and good to see Richards given over 25 minutes on the park also, but the earlier cohesion was inevitably sacrificed for totally understandable tactical reasons.

As a consequence, Rovers enjoyed more of the ball in the last 20 minutes or so if without ever really looking likely to disturb Hinchliffe unduly.

In the end we were able to enjoy and celebrate a fine win at a venue that has been less than kind to us in times past.

So, celebrate we did and will and deservedly so!

As the team seek to add to today`s win, they will need the kind of staunch and loyal support they received today starting at Edgeley Park next Saturday against Harrogate.

See you all there then!

Doncaster Rovers line up:-

Jones , Olowu , Molyneux ( Carty 46 ), Rowe ( Maxwell 72) , Nixon , Bailey , Ironside ( Waters 46 ) , Hurst ( Adelakun 46) , Mc Grath , Close , Craig ( Biggins 46).

Subs not used : Bottomley , Wood.

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Southam -Hales , Wright , Horsfall , Bristow ( Touray 72), Camps , Evans ( Richards 67) , Bailey ( Croasdale 91) , Powell ( Hippolyte 67) , Madden , Olaofe ( Sarcevic 72).

Subs not used : Smith , Byrne.

Attendance : 7469 ( 1625)

hedgegrower

First some images from hedgegrower`s phone......