Stockport County XI 0 Sheffield Wednesday 3

With County fielding 22 substitutes throughout the game and Sheffield Wednesday upwards of 12, there was fat chance of the 2083 spectators who made it to Edgeley Park last night, then making it back home before the milkman it seemed, as Stockport  County and their supporters paid homage to the Clubs long serving physiotherapist Rodger Wylde, at his EP Testimonial match last night! Thankfully the referee, the excellent Uriah Rennie, not for the first time in an illustrious career, used his common sense and largely ignored added time thus sparing those on site the wrath of her( or him) indoors! The game, was a low key affair, with a skilful Sheffield Wednesday side largely in command,  but the pre match formalities more than compensated, with a plethora of blasts from County ,and Rodgers, past delighting us with their presence. On the lush Edgeley Park field of play they came, each to a fine reception....Rodger ( greeted warmly by the crowd which included a fine turn out from Sheffield )......Dave Jones  and  Brendan Elwood must have been buoyed by the response of the 2083 spectators . Yes......you guessed it.....it was a game of two halves.....the first saw County field a team of legends including Wembley heroes Conrad Logan and Liam Dickinson  along with the rather esoteric mix of Tommy Rowe, Adam Proudlock and Carlton Palmer. Despite David Perkins being in typical `workaholic mode` the younger Sheffield side generally had the edge on speed and movement. The County legends did well enough but it took a string of fine saves from Logan to keep the score down. As it was 3 went in at the `wrong end` in the first half as the impressive Michael Antonio netted within 2 minutes capitalising on confusion at the back from County, followed by a powerful header from `bites yer legs’ Martin Taylor and finally a penalty on the stroke of half time when the otherwise brilliant Jamie Spencer upended his man in the box. At 3 down I rather expected a rout in the second half but it never materialised as Ian Bogie took over from Carlton Palmer and introduced us to his new boys, and the part timers did well shutting Wednesday out , keeping the score at 0-3 whilst looking organised. Bogie opted for a back three of Charnock, Tunnicliffe and Fagbola allowing O`Halloran and Jacobs to get forward down the flanks a tad. Jacobs did particularly well and looks one to watch this season. Of the keepers used I thought King impressed the most with his clean handling and confident lively approach, whilst we saw 15 minutes or so of Rhys Thomas and Brandon Windsor that whetted the appetite late on. So...... a great night for Rodger, and a useful one for Ian Bogie, as he prepares for the coming season. County line ups: First Half. Logan( Spencer 30), Briggs( Gibbs 30), Griffin, Palmer, Clare( Mc Nulty 20), McSweeney( Poole 30), Perkins( Gleeson 26), Dicker, Proudlock( Moore 26),Dickinson( Becket 40),Rowe T( Hamshaw 30). Second half: Ormson( King 76), Jacobs, O`Halloran, Fagbola,Tunnicliffe, Charnock, Hand (trialist), Craney, Jevens( Windsor 76), Dennis( Turner 76), Howard. Attendance ; 2083

Ian Brown