Big Fudge`s Look Back at 2013-14 Season





With season 2013-14 fast fading from our minds, as we think of holidays at the beach.... in the bar ...or perhaps following County in China, the blog is grateful to Big Fudge and County Heaven for the chance to repeat his article from that worthy source.
The words here on out are  those of Big Fudge.........


I thought I'd have a look back at the season just gone so we can relive some of the lows and lowers of the year.

July
County's Summer got off to a nice start with Rodger Wylde's testimonial against Sheffield Wednesday. In the first half the County legends were powerless to resist Wednesday's first team who were 3-0 up early on. We did settle into the game a little more as time went on but couldn't grab a goal. The second half saw the legends go off and the first team take to the field to play out a very credible 0-0 45 minutes against the Championship outfit.


Scott Duxbury.

 

The first proper game of pre-season saw County travel to Flixton to take on the nomadic Northwich Victoria. The glorious Mancunian Sunshine was nice, but Kristian Dennis' opening goal was nicer, as a calm hit on the volley saw the ball sail into the net. That's as good as it got for Ian Bogie's side as in the 2nd half much of the team was replaced with trialists as County surrendered 2 goals and lost 2-1.



We weren't waiting much longer for the first win of pre-season as just 3 days later we played Stopfordian neighbours Cheadle Town. County dominated the game and were deservedly 2-0 up through 2 quick fire goals from Kristian Dennis. Despite the heavy pressure from County, the hosts did pull a goal back with 5 minutes left to play, but County comfortably held out for the first win of the Summer. This was followed by a loss at Nantwich Town. A 7 goal thriller in County's favour at Ramsbottom. The Development Squad were thumped at Radcliffe Borough.

Action v Ramsbottom.

Pre-Season finally came to Edgeley Park with Scottish League Cup winners and SPL Side St. Mirren making the trip South of the border. Despite a very credible performance against our more illustrious opponents the visitors did snatch the win very late on, very harsh on County who really did perform above expectation in the game. This was followed a few days later by another home game, a 2-0 win over FC United with James Tunnicliffe and Kristian Dennis getting the goals. The month ended with a development side travelling to Blackpool to take on Squires Gate and getting thumped.

Tuesday 9th - Stockport County XI 0-3 Sheffield Wednesday.
Saturday 13th - Northwich Victoria 2-1 Stockport County (Dennis)
Wednesday 17th - Cheadle Town 1-2 Stockport County (Dennis x2)
Saturday 20th - Nantwich Town 1-0 Stockport County
Tuesday 23rd - Ramsbottom 3-4 Stockport County (Jevons, Turner, Dennis x2)
Wednesday 24th - Radcliffe Borough 3-0 Stockport County XI
Saturday 27th - Stockport County 0-1 St. Mirren
Tuesday 30th - Stockport County 2-0 FC United of Manchester (Tunnicliffe, Dennis)
Wednesday 31st - Squires Gate 3-0 Stockport County

First half action at the Shay.

August
The first Saturday of August saw what was probably County's most impressive result of the Summer with a great 3-1 win away at Conference Side and promotion hopefuls Halifax Town. County's goals coming courtesy of a Kristian Dennis double and a goal from (unsuccessful) trialist Kayde Coppin.

 
Bolton Wanderers at Edgeley Park.

 This was followed by our last home game of pre-season against Bolton Wanderers Reserves, despite a plucky performance from County it was the Trotters who won the game 2-1. The final 2 games of pre-season saw County make the short trip to Cheadle Heath Nomads with County routing the hosts and finally a solid 2-0 win at Skelmersdale United.


This scene ( at Skem)would be repeated a time or two during 2013-14
Adriano Moke signs for Peter and his son.

Finally it was time for the big kick-off, a home opener against fellow former Football League Side Boston United. A horrible game for County. Boston went 1-0 up before Dennis restored parity from the spot. After half-time however Boston dominated the entire half to score a further 3 goals and get County's season off to the worst possible start. The first point of the season was only a few days away as Iain Howard got County level against Workington. This was followed by defeats at Altrincham and at home to Colwyn Bay.


All to play for at Harrogate......


The final game of the month saw County travel to Harrogate and despite a decent performance a nightmare 5 minutes cost County the game, despite a Howard goal it wasn't enough to see County salvage anything. The biggest shock came about 30 minutes after the game as Ian Bogie resigned from his position as manager with Alan Lord taking over as caretaker.

Alan Lord...the man for the job!


Saturday 3rd - FC Halifax Town 1-3 Stockport County (Dennis x2, Coppin)
Monday 5th - Stockport County 1-2 Bolton Wanderers XI (Dennis)
Wednesday 7th - Cheadle Heath Nomads 1-8 Stockport County (Windsor x4, Verma, Howard, Lofthouse, Dennis)
Saturday 10th - Skelmersdale United 0-2 Stockport County (Dennis x2)
Saturday 17th - Stockport County 1-4 Boston United (Dennis)
Tuesday 20th - Workington 1-1 Stockport County (Howard)
Saturday 24th - Altrincham 3-0 Stockport County
Monday 26th - Stockport County 0-1 Colwyn Bay
Saturday 31st - Harrogate Town 3-1 Stockport County (Howard)

September
County finally got their first win of the season in Alan Lord's first game in charge at home to Gainsborough Trinity. Kristian Dennis putting County in the lead with Jevons overcoming a slow start to the season to get a goal to double County's lead. Trinity did pull one back but in the last minute Jevons was fouled, a penalty was awarded and Jevons stepped up to complete his double from the spot. This was followed by a point against Leamington before Lordy was dealt his first loss as manager of Stockport County, a 2-1 reverse at Vauxhall Motors.

Part of County following at Staly.....


A healthy following of County fans made the trip to Tameside as County played out a 0-0 draw with Stalybridge Celtic before the FA Cup campaign got underway the following Saturday in the 2nd Qualifying Round. County managed to secure a win against Brighouse Town despite a few scares.

Commendable pressure from Brighouse Town.....


Saturday 7th - Stockport County 3-1 Gainsborough Trinity (Dennis, Jevons x2)
Saturday 14th - Stockport County 1-1 Leamington (Jevons)
Tuesday 17th - Vauxhall Motors 2-1 Stockport County (Jevons)
Saturday 21st - Stalybridge Celtic 0-0 Stockport County
Saturday 28th - Stockport County 1-0 Brighouse Town [FA Cup 2QR] (Jacobs)

October
The month started brilliantly for County as they recorded a thumping 4-0 win over Worcester City at Edgeley Park before travelling to Barrow the following Tuesday and getting the first away win of the season. Rhys Turner and Phil Jevons continuing their great form with 2 goals each to put County 4-0 up, Barrow did pull 2 back but County held on for the win.

Rushall supporters before the game.


County's FA Cup campaign came to an embarrassing end as Northern Premier League side Rushall Olympic secured a 1-0 win at Edgeley Park. There was disappointment as County surrendered a 2 goal lead in their next league game at home to Gloucester City to draw 2-2. The month ended with a disappointing defeat at Histon as once again County surrendered a lead, this time losing 2-1.

Saturday 5th - Stockport County 4-0 Worcester City (Jacobs, Turner, Jevons x2)
Tuesday 8th - Barrow 2-4 Stockport County (Turner x2, Jevons x2)
Saturday 12th - Stockport County 0-1 Rushall Olympic
Saturday 19th - Stockport County 2-2 Gloucester City (Turner x2)
Saturday 26th - Histon 2-1 Stockport County (Duxbury)

November
The month started perfectly as County got a huge win at home against eventual champions, Telford United. Rhys Turner opened the scoring before Telford got level and Kieran Charnock scored his first goal of the season to help County re-take the lead. County continued to pressure and James Tunnicliffe superbly bulleted a header past the keeper to make it 3-1 County before Kristian Dennis scored his 3rd goal of the season to make it 4-1. Despite Telford pulling one goal back the game finished 4-2 comfortably in County's favour.

Liam Dickinson `s first show for County 2013-14.


The month didn't get as good as that again as County surrendered an early lead to lose at lowly Oxford City. Then the FA Trophy campaign got underway with County travelling to Barrow in the Final Qualifying Round. County fell behind twice but battled back both times to equalise and force a replay at Edgeley Park 3 days later. The replay saw County's FA Trophy campaign come to an early end as they again blew the lead and crashed out of the competition.

The resumption of league football didn't really go much better. A convincing 2-1 win for North Ferriby at Edgeley Park left a very low mood around Edgeley. The month did have a cup high with County winning in the Cheshire Cup Preliminary Round at Edgeley Park against Witton Albion with Kristian Dennis getting the goal. Sadly however County were kicked out of the cup for fielding an ineligible player. There was also a Friendly arranged at Bishop's Stortford with County losing 5-2.

Familiar & un familiar faces at Bishop Stortford !


Saturday 2nd - Stockport County 4-2 Telford United (Turner, Charnock, Tunnicliffe, Dennis)
Saturday 9th - Oxford City 4-1 Stockport County (Dennis)
Saturday 16th - Barrow 2-2 Stockport County [FA Trophy 3QR] (Jevons, Fagbola)
Tuesday 19th - Stockport County 2-3 Barrow [FA Trophy 3QR Replay] (Jevons, Howard)
Saturday 23rd - Stockport County 1-2 North Ferriby United (Jevons)
Tuesday 26th - Stockport County 1-0 Witton Albion [Cheshire Senior Cup Prelim. Round] (Dennis)
Saturday 29th - Bishop's Stortford 5-2 Stockport County [Friendly] (Dennis, Lees)

December
The festive month started with another friendly as County made the short trip to Mossley. The hosts were 1-0 up before Ian Craney scored a face saving equaliser in stoppage time. Finally 3 weeks after the last league game County did play competitive football again, they'll probably wish they didn't as Brackley came to Edgeley Park and picked up a very easy 3 points with County looking particularly bad.



 
Passion not fashion , as County lose to Brackley !

Thankfully a week later County gave the long suffering supporters an early Christmas present as they beat Oxford City at Edgeley Park in the last game before Christmas. Boxing day saw County  beat Bradford Park Avenue with Liam Dickinson scoring his only goal of his second spell with us. This was followed up with a slightly disappointing home draw with Workington to give County a healthy 7 points from 12 in December.

Tuesday 3rd [Friendly] - Mossley 1-1 Stockport County (Craney)
Saturday 14th - Stockport County 0-2 Brackley
Saturday 21st - Stockport County 2-0 Oxford City (Howard x2)
Thursday 26th - Stockport County 4-1 Bradford Park Avenue (Dickinson, Turner, Howard, Jevons)
Saturday 28th - Stockport County 1-1 Workington (Jevons)

 
Pre match at Gainsgorough.......

January
The good form from the back end of 2013 continued in 2014 as the first game of the year saw County absolutely stuff Gainsborough Trinity, the team who gave us our first win of the season with Dennis getting his first hat-trick as a County player and Churchman scored his first as well. 


 
County following at rain swept Hednesford !

The next game saw County lose their first game in 5 as they fell at Hednesford after having Tunji Moses sent off. It was back to business as usual the following game though as Histon were the visitors to Cheshire with County grinding out a 1-0 win with Nicky Platt getting his first goal as a County player.
Tunji Moses....off at Hednesford.


The final game of the month was a fitting marker for how far County had come since the first game of the season as they travelled to Boston and earned a very good 0-0 draw with a huge helping hand from Ian Ormson who saved a penalty in the game.

Saturday 4th - Gainsborough Trinity 1-5 Stockport County (Dennis x3, Howard, Churchman)
Tuesday 14th - Hednesford Town 3-1 Stockport County (Dennis)
Saturday 25th - Stockport County 1-0 Histon (Platt)
Tuesday 28th - Boston United 0-0 Stockport County

February
The great form continued into February as County made amends for the last minute horror show in September as they thumped Vauxhall Motors 4-1. This was continued with a derby win over Stalybridge with the County fans taking particular delight in McConville's inept display that saw him produce nothing before being stupidly sent off. 

Phil Jevons.
The best night of the month saw County run out 2-0 winners over Bradford Park Avenue, late goals from Phil Jevons and Iain Howard in front of a huge and noisy travelling support gave County one of those classic nights that we all remember so fondly.

County's great run of 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in the last 10 games came to a disappointing end as Telford won 2-0 in front of a huge County following, sadly this would see County go on a horrible run that wouldn't see them win for a long time. The month was rounded off with County surrendering a lead very late on to allow Solihull to grab a point at Edgeley Park in a game where Jevons could well have won the goal of the season award with a beautiful lob from distance.

Tuesday 4th - Stockport County 4-1 Vauxhall Motors (Dennis x2, Howard, Jevons)
Saturday 8th - Stockport County 2-0 Stalybridge Celtic (Dennis, Duxbury)
Monday 10th - Bradford Park Avenue 0-2 Stockport County (Jevons, Howard)
Saturday 15th - Telford United 2-0 Stockport County
Saturday 22nd - Stockport County 2-2 Solihull Moors (Jevons, Battersbea)

March


Gloucester action.
 
A very busy month for County started poorly with a loss away at Leamington. This was followed by County blowing a 2 goal lead at home to Barrow and only draw. A 2-0 loss away at Gloucester, before another disappointing loss just a few days later away at Guiseley. However the following Saturday saw Guiseley make the trip to Stockport and play out the most exciting games of the season. The visitors took the lead before Phil Jevons equalised for County. Later in the game Guiseley were 2-1 up and then not much later 3-1 up as the game looked beyond County. Cue Phil Jevons who scored a beautiful goal late on in the game to pull County back within one, this was followed by relentless County pressure that saw County get a late free-kick that Milligan smashed into the hands of a visiting defender in the 96th minute as County were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Phil Jevons to complete his hat-trick and help County salvage a point out of absolutely nothing.

 
County happy with their work v Guiseley( home)

Sadly this was followed by one of the flattest performances of the season as County lost 1-0 at Solihull in a truly horrendous game for spectators. The next game saw County fare a little better as the travelled to Aggborough the scene of one of the worst moments in County's history and get a scoreless draw with Worcester City, a team who they put to the sword 4-0 back in October. The month ended with a disappointing loss at home to Hednesford, County's first home loss in 9 games.

Saturday 1st - Leamington 2-1 Stockport County (Howard)
Tuesday 4th - Stockport County 2-2 Barrow (Lofthouse, Oates)
Saturday 8th - Gloucester City 2-0 Stockport County
Tuesday 11th - Guiseley 2-0 Stockport County
Saturday 15th - Stockport County 3-3 Guiseley (Jevons x3)
Saturday 22nd - Solihull Moors 1-0 Stockport County
Tuesday 25th - Worcester City 0-0 Stockport County
Saturday 29th - Stockport County 0-1 Hednesford Town

April
April started better than March ended with County travelling to league leaders, North Ferriby. Despite predictions of a heavy defeat for the Hatters they played very well and came away with a good 0-0 draw, a score line that would become all too familiar in the next few weeks. Another away trip to another promotion contender, Brackley Town, again saw County get a 0-0 draw, whilst frustrating to have not scored in 5 games it would have to go down as another good point.

 
Action v Brackley.

Altrincham were the Good Friday visitors as we once again saw County playing under the floodlights another 0-0 draw ensued, the third consecutive 0-0 draw against promotion contenders. Frustrating but again very hard to complain. The final away game of the season saw County travel to Colwyn Bay, a lovely day and a great atmosphere saw County again get a 0-0 draw, this time it was a bit harsh on County as they had 2 great chances that could have easily been given.

 
County defend against Alty !

The last game of the season and of Phil Jevons career saw County fall behind to a spectacular goal but parity was soon restored as Jevons scored an equaliser a goal he celebrated passionately. Duxbury gave County the lead before Jevons capped his career off with another goal as County finally got that elusive win in a very mixed season.

 
Phew....its finally all over for the season !



County finished 14th.

Big Fudge
County Heaven

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