Brackley Town 2 Stockport County 1 ( FA Trophy Qurter Final- Replay) 6 March 2018
County
exited the FA Trophy last night, 2-1 to high flying Brackley Town in a
pulsating Quarter Final at St James’ Park, that for long periods the blues
dominated.
Certainly….in
terms of possession County held sway almost throughout, but if we have learnt
anything from this seemingly unending series of encounters, it is that volume
of possession is ultimately secondary to what you do with it where it counts,
and in this respect Town pretty much only had 2 or 3 real chances, but
crucially scored with two of these.
Add the fact
that County made a rod for their own backs early on with as loose a bit of play
as you would ever not wish to see, gifting Aaron Williams a goal that the blues
struggled, for all their time on the ball, to make up for, and you perhaps
begin to see why Town prevailed and County did not.
County put
the home side under much pressure for the rest of the first half, without so
much as a scintilla of luck or a goal to their name, but an early strike by
Oswell within 3 minutes of the re-start after the break, seemed to change
matters and signal an irresistible County reply, but within another 3 minutes
Brackley had the lead again as Shane Byrne lashed one home from way out.
County
attacked…attacked…and attacked some more , after this…right into 4 minutes
added time in fact, but Brackley ,despite an almighty battering, held out to
claim their semi final place.
Both teams
took turns early on to probe for an opening, and it was a real surprise ,and
disappointment to see County go behind from the first real chance of the game.
It came out of nothing …or more accurately a momentary aberration as hesitation
gripped Duxbury and Smalley allowing Williams to capitalise and head off goal
ward beating Hinchliffe with something approaching ease.
Four minutes
had gone…..County were one down- an awful start for the blues, who now had
another mountain to climb.
With Thomas
and Cowan patrolling the right flank County made a bold fist of replying, but
despite winning a corner, that was all the reward that came their way, and it
was Hinchliffe who had the biggest test to deal with as he dived to keep a
strike from Williams out with just 8 minutes gone.
County were
playing some neat football at times , and Thomas was providing power and drive
down the right flank that I thought surely would unsettle Brackley, but despite
a fine run by the County number seven,
and another corner, no equaliser materialised, and 10 minutes had now gone.
By the 15
minute mark, Darren Stephenson had announced himself, and it took excellent
work from Ellis Myles, who already looked on to add to the kudos he earned last
time out, to stop him.
Stephenson- announced ! |
It was
developing nicely now for County as Cowan and Thomas’s control of the right
flank, now was added to as Duxbury joined forces with Stephenson down the left.
It was good stuff, but again Myles chirped up robbing Duxbury before sending
Armson clear. That is usually the pre curser to a goal, but not this time as
Hinchliffe did enough to see the shot off.
Duxbury throw keeps pressure on |
We were
beyond half way in the half now and County were piling the pressure on, mainly
through Duxbury and Stephenson, but not exclusively, as referee Savvas Yianni
gave the home defence the benefit of the oxygen of a free kick, as Duxbury was
sold short by Stephenson in the box allowing Byrne to go down.
A pattern
was set now………..County would lay siege to the Town goal for a period……Town
would break, but neither side could find the net, although County looked the
likelier of the two protagonists to eventually square this particular circle,
but for now disappointment was the blues only bed fellow as a free kick earned
by Oswell, saw Warburton’s shot charged down .Several corners followed for
County but no equalising goal.
Thomas & Warburton battle for possession. |
It went
on….a brilliant run by Duxbury let down by lack of support, and Stephenson was
decidedly unlucky to see his shot climb over the bar as County piled the pressure on.
Armson and
Williams combined to good effect next for Brackley , only for an offside flag
to spoil their fun, but mainly it was a case of County spending time on the
ball….in Brackley’s half- corner’s proliferating as Thomas turned Town inside
out. One Thomas pass reached Oswell just inside the box – and a goal almost
resulted as County’s number nine turned on the ball to blast a shot on target
that keeper Danny Lewis somehow pushed around the post.
Another bit of `whistle wizardry’ from Mr
Yianni, who had `seen something’ then eased the home side’s angst.
None the
less….. the County domination continued through Stephenson…then Cowan and
Stopforth, but without even the slightest sliver of luck.
Stopforth- high energy ! |
There was a
tad at the other end though as the last action of the half saw Armson fluff a
chance as a cross from Adam Walker came his was inside the box.
No
matter……it was still 1-0 to Brackley and County had 45 minutes to put that
right.
Still in good spirits ! |
The re-start
saw County back on the attack, and Oswell was unlucky again on the end of some
excellent work from Stephenson and Duxbury who looked to be in
scintillating
form. Faced with a mountain of uncertainty Alex Gudger could only find touch,
and that looked to be a good enough response, but it wasn’t as County just
would not go away, and with more Duxbury brilliance lighting up an evening
whose cold crept up to lethally seduce you rather than blitz head on, taking
him beyond 2…3…4 men in red/ white. Then ..... County were level as Duxbury
topped the impressive overture with a cross of symphonic beauty that allowed
Oswell the opportunity to side foot the ball home from a yard out. A great bit
of work from Scott and a fine finish from Ossie that must have pleased him
almost as much as it pleased his manager!
Deep Joy ! |
Wow……..County
were level…that was really no more than they deserved. They certainly did not
deserve to be behind, but within 3 more minutes they were as Byrne latched onto
the ball way outside the box before sending a screamer into the net with
Hinchliffe straining to reach it but sadly beaten.
Credit to County……they were not dismayed, redoubling
their attacking efforts as both Stephenson and Duxbury stretched the home
defence to its limits. Corners came in numbers……and shots ( a whole load of
`em) but without one of these counting.
Somehow……Brackley
survived……………
Meanwhile Armson and Williams hovered just outside
their besieged penalty area ready to mount a retaliatory raid, but one or other
men in County yellow would inevitably be on hand to deny them, be it Cowan
…..Smalley, O’Halloran or Duxbury, so it
stayed 2-1.
But…we
needed a County goal, and Oswell’s
effort just beyond the hour mark was held firmly by the keeper.
Oswell close again. |
With
Stephenson and Duxbury continuing to push Town back, a County goal looked
imminent, only for Warburton’s effort
with 23 minutes left to clear the bar.
Again an escape for Town ! |
County were showing
great energy, and playing much good football…….but with no end product
unfortunately- Cowan’s shot on 70 minutes not troubling Lewis.
Winter came
on for Stopforth not long after, and was soon adding his two pennyworth to the
County effort, but with Brackley hitting us on the break it was Hinchliffe
earning the plaudits next as he kept Armson’s effort out with just 15 minutes left to play.
That was but
a small blip…..it was still mainly County attacking , as Town grew ever more
desperate in their efforts to keep the blues at bay- Walker and Dean doing
really well to block efforts from Stephenson and Duxbury respectively.
Lewis pouches another ! |
Into the
last 10 minutes, County had Dixon on for Ball.
There was
the briefest of flurry’s for Hinchliffe to deal with that offered a small
counterpoint to the continuing wave of County attacks – each worthy of a better
reward that was sadly not forthcoming.
Oswell, still working late on. |
Thomas and
Warburton both went ever so close, and the never ending wave of attacks
continued deep into added time, but with the same result.
Good luck to
Brackley when they meet Wealdstone in the Semi Final.
County can
now concentrate on the serious business of looking for a play off place,
starting with another clash with Brackers this coming Saturday, and based on
last night’s showing I will back them to start with a win.
Brackley
Town line up:
Lewis,
Myles, Gudger, Byrne, Graham( Lowe 63), Dean, G Walker, Armson( Streete 93),
Ndlovu( Brown 92), Williams, A Walker.
Subs not
used: Lucas, Diggin.
Stockport
County line up:
Hinchliffe,
Cowan, Smalley, O’Halloran, Duxbury, Ball( Dixon 81), Thomas, Stopforth( Winter
71), Oswell, Warburton, Stephenson.
Subs not
used; Ormson, Clarke, West.
Attendance :
506
hedgegrower
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