Stockport County 1 Kidderminster Harriers 2( Vanarama National League- North) 28 October 2017
The weather
was vile, and matters did not improve on the park today where County served up
a dire performance to lose a game against Kidderminster Harriers that they
looked to have won.
Heard this
before? Yes....for sure, and it was all the more painful bearing in mind the
abysmal showing that the visitors put up in the first 45 minutes. County were
the better side before the break, but totally failed to test Brandon Hall ,between
the sticks, for Harriers.
It was no
classic then, in fact the football from both sides was distinctly uninspiring, to
the extent that surprise probably outweighed relief when Warburton popped up to take
advantage of an error by Hall to give County a half time lead.
That should
have been that...shut up shop...keep 'em out.......play good attacking football
...win it in style...either way would have done, but instead County's lackadaisical
approach to possession retention ( Gary
Stopforth apart) undid them, allowing Harriers into a game they should have
been long gone in.
M.O.M Gary Stopforth caught by Andrew Machin. |
If I am entirely honest.....it was not all County's short
comings that ushered in two latish
Harriers goals and won them the match...I thought that the introduction of
Declan Weeks had a lot to do with it too- the equalising goal coming just 5
minutes after the diminutive midfielder's arrival on the scene, and his energetic
input was a vital element in Harriers' unlikely recovery.
To lose via
a late late goal was disappointing to say the least, but by the time that one
went in we were sleep walking to defeat any way , and in the end it was
difficult to deny Harriers the points.
Look like you want to win...and
probably you will do so, and that , at least looked to be the difference between the teams. I am
sure County wanted to win, as much as the visitors, but at times it did not
look like it!
Two shots from Andrew Machin, of the teams. |
Mc Kenna for
Walker was the only change as County took the field to the accompaniment of an
irritating drizzle that offered up the prospect of a problematic afternoon
with the slither factor high on a
relatively heavy playing surface.
County were
not only first out of the blocks, but they stayed in attacking mode for quite
some time. I counted 2 corners to County in the first 5 minutes, the first won
via a deep ball delivered to the back of the box by Michael Clarke.
County press.... |
Warburton
was unlucky with that one and the same lack of good fortune accompanied the
second flag kick .
More County pressure. |
County continued
in the same vein, O' Halloran winning another corner with a sprightly bit of
work down the left.
O'Halloran, lively early on ( Andrew Machin ) |
Something might have come of this kick, had not referee Ricky Wooton ( an
overly fussy cove) seen `something' and eased the Harriers grief with a free
kick.
He likes a chat does Mr W( Andrew Machin ) |
More of the
same followed, O'Halloran combining with Duxbury to usher in corner number 4.
There was no intervention from the referee this time, but Oswell's downward
header bounced up and over Hall's bar.
That Oswell header ( Andrew Machin ) |
It was the
fifteenth minute before anything of substance came back from the Visitors, but
their first sortie into opposition territory ended in disappointment as James
McQuilkin sent his header soaring over the top.
Another
minute and County might have been celebrating a goal, they weren't because
Duxbury's well struck shot came back out off a defender on the line.
Harriers under pressure. |
Warburton,
McKenna and Stopforth all had efforts charged down after this, and
1....2....3... more corners came and went for the blues with their opponents
apparently unable to mount a counter attack.
County press. |
and another view of that from Andrew Machin.... |
I say
that....but 23 minutes in Elton Ngwatala
did get a shot in, but this was a particularly poor effort bearing in
mind how he had been set up by Emanuel Sonupe after a blooper by Smalley, and
Ormson in the County goal was not tested.
Sam Austin
did give us a small hint of what was to come next with a couple of runs that
took him beyond O' Halloran and into the danger zone. The second of these saw
Smalley almost slice the ball into his own net but fortunately , with 31
minutes gone, the score was still 0-0.
A foul on
McKenna by Wright only served to increase the pressure on Harriers, but Warburton's
short free kick only brought a corner, and when O'Halloran lifted his effort
into the Bung Car Park any chance was gone.
Warburton- man with a plan ! |
Ngwatala sprayed his shot wide thus ruining what had
been a decent move from the Worcestershire side, almost on the stroke of half
time, but from that bit of excitement more flowed as County went long forcing
Hall to ponder `staying or coming' as the ball headed his way with Warburton
showing interest. He chose to advance, which was OK....but did not finish up
with the ball...Warburton did and gently stroked it home to send County in at
the break 1-0 up.
Warburton makes it 1-0 ( Andrew Machin ) |
Views of Main and Cheadle End Stands ( Andrew Machin ) |
County
started the second half well enough- on the front foot...and unlucky perhaps to
see Warburton and Duxbury's separate efforts go nowhere.
I noted Declan
Weeks' arrival and the almost instantaneous impact his combative play had. Sure
there were free kicks to be had as the referee reacted badly to some of Weeks'
more cringe worthy offerings, but Harriers were now attacking with altogether
more purpose , and twice Sonupe must
have winced as crosses from him went to waste.
A message from Jim ! |
A Kidderminster
free kick added to County difficulties and I gasped in wonder to see them
somehow escape when it looked easier to score than to miss out.
County survive. |
This went on
for 3 or 4 more minutes whereupon things went pear shaped for County as
Austin glided clear down the right
before pinging a nicely weighted cross in ,which, with Ormson going for it at
the near post, was deflected onwards to Joe Ironside who forced the ball home.
County tried
to work their way out of this small hole, but it proved most difficult to do,
and I was gasping again to see Andrew Brown somehow manage to lift his shot way
over the bar with the County goal gaping.
Cowan on the charge ( Andrew Machin ) |
There was
work for Hall next as Warburton threatened, but the keeper was up to it and it
stayed 1-1.
Warburton threatens. |
There was an
element of `end to end' creeping in now as another pacy run from Austin opened
up County's left flank ominously. Again Brown messed it all up for Harriers by
making a considerable hash of his shot
With 20
minutes left, JG replaced O'Halloran with Walker which sent Duxbury back into the
O'Halloran role.
County had
the break next, and Oswell was clear and
racing onto a decent through ball. It looked a decent chance , but the usually
immaculate striker 's hurried effort went wide.
County press... |
Both teams
worked at getting a second goal, but neither had that added spark in front of
goal that would make all the difference. That said...Weeks did particularly
well for Harriers, his run ending with a dipping shot that, although Ormson
didn't go for it , was not very far away
at all!
If that was
another warning for County, Warburton tried to make it irrelevant , his run
taking him just inside the box where a body check from Tyrone Williams had him
tasting grit. " Penalty " says I but the referee was having none of
it and gave County a free kick 2 millimetres outside the box, which of course
Harriers were able to defend and clear to increase the County angst factor.
Warburton again. |
Were
Harriers looking for a win ? It seemed a fair question to me, and I am sure
Ormson thought the answer was in the affirmative, as he flung himself to his
left to keep a long range effort from Austin out!
We went into
the last 10 minutes with County trying to square that circle, but when Oswells'
knock down came his way, McKenna could only swing a boot at it and send the
ball spiralling up and into the Cheadle End.
The angst
grew, as Ormson had to make another decent save to keep it at 1-1 after a
series of shots had rained in ,the best of which Smalley did well to usher away
off the line.
The ninety
minutes were almost up now, and we were still seeing some morsels coming
County's way , but when Warburton laid one on a plate for Oswell, he could only
snatch at it and the chance was gone.
County were
still attacking as the 90 minute 's were up...then they weren't as Ryan
Croasdale turned defence into attack for his team , sending Sonupe clear down
the right. Sonupe's cross that followed was inch perfect, drilled low and hard
across the box where Ironside awaited its arrival ,and scored in a trice.
County chose
the attacking option in response to this adverse situation, bringing Thomas and
Dixon on for Cowan and Duxbury, but try as they might, County could not summon
up enough of the necessary to save the
game.
I .........like
you ........will maybe look now to Wednesday's Cheshire Senior Cup game to
bring some solace.
Hang on in
there, see you Wednesday !
Stockport
County line up:
Ormson,
Cowan( Thomas 91), O'Halloran( Walker 70), Smalley, Clarke, Ball, Stopforth,
McKenna, Oswell, Warburton, Duxbury( Dixon 91).
Subs not
used ; Hinchliffe, Winter.
Kidderminster
Harriers line up:
Hall,
Austin, Taylor, Croasdale, Horsfall, Williams, Sonupe( Finch 91), McQuilkin,
Ironside, Ngwatala( Weeks 51), Wright( Brown 56).
Subs not
used ; Hawkins, Danko.
Attendance:
3015
hedgegrower
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