Gainsborough Trinity 2 Stockport County 3 (Vanarama National League- North)17 March 2018
County
secured 3 vital points to sustain their play off ambitions at Gainsborough
Trinity’s Northolme Stadium today, defying snow storms and a tough as teak
Trinity side that, although outclassed for much of the game, still maintained
an interest until late on thanks to
goals from Nathan Jarman and Nathan Stainfield.
Fortunately
Jim Gannon’s County team notched three, one
each from Rhys Turner , Adam Thomas and Jimmy Ball.
A late
blizzard seemed to imbue Trinity with renewed vigour despite being 3-1 down at
the time. When Stainfield nabbed their second…… forcing the ball home on the end of a
free kick ,it was perhaps tempting to wonder whether the white shirted blues
would leak another and come home with only one point or less.
Not so……and
credit goes to the County team in shed loads for a performance that augers well
for the seasons run in.
Having traversed Woodhead in the Flyer in really good time under conditions well short of favourable......
Woodhead circa 11.30 |
it was the
bleakest of scenes circa 3 o’clock that greeted me as I joined the small crowd who had spread themselves around
seeking cover where they could as snow came down in varying degrees of
intensity.
The formalities..... |
County
started in good style but Gainsborough met the early threat with a familiar
resilience.
Best of the
early action saw Turner make it to the by-line, but Thomas then lifted the ball
over the bar to rather spoil the moment.
Turner tests Trinity back line. |
The first 3
minutes were all County, but one swing of Brad Beatson’s boot swiftly changed
this as the ball flew up…up…and away to where
new signing Ben Hinchliffe ( yes…..Ben Hinchliffe) latched onto it. He
was clear, but made nothing of the chance sending his effort wide.
That was
alarming, but not as much as what followed as the County Hinchliffe…harried by
his namesake…..had a lucky escape as he
sent a suicide ball back across the box. No one in Trinity blue could take
advantage.
Mostly
however…it was County in control, and they were playing some very convincing
football too, none less so than Turner who found Brandon Fleming blocking his
path to goal snuffing the chance out.
Turner again ! |
If
Hinchliffe was a danger for Trinity, a clutch of players qualified for the
description for County, and Thomas was one of ‘em, his effort 6 minutes in
inches from glory.
Glory beckoned for County again from the resultant corner,
until a decisive punch out under pressure by keeper Henrick Ravas thwarted Scott Duxbury’s efforts.
That man Duxbury once more( or rather...twice) |
Pressure was
building steadily from County, and Duxbury was in the van of much of it. A foul
on him set County up again from the free kick, but Ravas made another save to
deny Ball after Winter had seen his shot charged down.
Jimmy on the ball. |
Ravas was a busy lad, and the tenth minute saw
him in action again at the feet of Warburton as he surged into the box.
County were
camped in the home half now with Ravas
again earning his pay pushing a Warburton shot over the top following a run and
cross from Turner.
Another
corner…another save from Ravas this time from Duxbury, followed by a further stop to keep a free
kick out after Liam King had earned a lecture and a booking from referee James
Oldham for a tasty foul.
Ravas- a busy lad ! |
We needed
County to confirm their supremacy by scoring a goal, and the `16th
minute saw them do just that , through
Turner who scooted clear through the
middle , his speed soon seeing him one on one with Ravas. The finish that
followed was truly excellent…..having drawn Ravas to him, Turner duly by-passed
him with a lob of sublime quality that saw the ball nestling in the net before
the keeper could react.
Turner, breaks....scores! |
That was a
neat goal, but we have taken leads this early before and not held onto them.
Would today be any different?
County kept
the impetus going….Oswell and Duxbury both unlucky, but despite the continuing
dominance of County, that nagging doubt was still there…would a typically
dogged Trinity side come back and snatch it?
Oswell and company..... |
Cowan did
his best to banish such thoughts with a neat piece of work to block Nick Walker ‘s threat on the break.
Just a
minute later Walker was back again, his cross setting Craig King up with a
chance. It was a chance too, at least
the locals thought it was judging by the commotion, but Hinchliffe saw the
chance off, King losing out in a clash with the County keeper.
The referee
ignored the commotion and waved play on!
Both teams
had half chances after this, but the best fell to Jarman , who took advantage
of excellent play from Walker to drill a firm finish beyond Hinchliffe’s dive
into the net!
Bummer….it
was 1-1, and what had begun to look a promising performance, was in danger of coming unstuck.
It did not
diminish the County determination though- Ball….then Ball and Oswell testing the home back line in which Beatson
looked the pick.
Oswell & Ball compete for possession |
Warburton was unlucky around this time, but major
plaudits go to Duxbury as a County attack broke down allowing Craig King a
break in seemingly oodles of space. Hmm…..not so as Duxbury tracked back to
bamboozle the Trinity number seven with work out of the very top drawer- great
stuff!
Half time
was nearing now, and we needed , in the absence of a second goal, County to go
in on level terms at the break, but with Liam King bringing the ball clear out
of defence , before picking Hinchliffe out with his pass, this thought looked
under threat.
It was a
chance, for sure, and it was still one when the ball went from Hinchliffe to
Craig King, but he brought a frown to home specs faces by firing his shot wide
of the target.
County
responded well in the time that remained of the half- Warburton hitting the bar
with one strike…and Turner seeing another turned over the bar by Ravas, but it
was still 1-1 as the teams trouped off for a welcome warm.
Part of the County contingent. |
County piled onto the attack on the re-start,
Duxbury’s drive and skill winning a corner. This saw Ravas under pressure from
Oswell but able to punch clear. Danger sorted then….except it wasn’t as the ball
found its way to Thomas who stroked a firm finish past the keeper into the net
to put County 2-1 up.
Oswell unsettles Ravas ahead of 2nd County goal. |
Gainsborough
responded well to this reverse, but found Michael Clarke firmness itself in
reply, as County, with Harry Winter again looking outstanding, generally looked
in control, if in need of a reassuring third goal.
With
Gainsborough re-doubling their efforts to equalise, County were again indebted
to Winter who twice made brave interventions, capping this with a neat ball
that sent Turner darting clear from just beyond half way.
Turner breaks through onto Winters pass.... |
County fans
were roaring as Turner sped towards goal with Stainfield for company. Turner
was in, and the defender knew it and his angst ridden actions undermined his
resolve to deprive the County man of a goal, as a touch by him on the ball sent
it flying past Ravas against a post,
whereupon Ball, following up, pushed the ball home to give County the third goal that they craved!
That was
excellent, but within 3 minutes Turner was replaced by Stephenson, his job
done!
Turner- good showing ! |
County were
not about to rest on their laurels and looked on in anguish as Warburton’s
shot fizzed its way just wide after fine
work from Winter and Thomas in the build up.
Thomas roasts his man. |
There was no
let up from County as Stephenson and Ball went close, and Duxbury closer
still…his shot coming back out off the keepers legs.
Warburton with Winter in support.... |
There were
less than 15 minutes to play now and a whole heap of snow coming down on us now
to add to the general discomfiture. County must have found it difficult to
see….. the blizzard conditions being as they were, that’s what I told myself
anyway as they conceded a free kick, and then a goal as Stainfield headed home from
close in.
Throughout
this …Winter was still bravely venturing where others only thought about it. He
was still winning some excellent possession in vital situations. He was
mistiming the odd one too…a fact acknowledged 82 minutes in when referee Oldham
booked him, but Mr Oldham had had an outstanding game, and I could not fault him with this decision
having given Harry the `benefit’ earlier.
Great stuff from Harry ! |
O’Halloran
and Stopforth were to come on for Thomas and Warburton in the later stages but
County looked well resolved not to concede another goal, forcing a series of
corners that gave Clarke the chance to `get some in’ in the oppositions box.
Ooo its a corner ! |
Clarke up for it...... |
Half chances
came and went, with Ravas still in decent form denying County time after time,
but the last chance of substance fell to the home side as County conceded a
free kick smack in front but thankfully outside the box. Jarman fancied his
hat-trick and took it ,but lifted it into the crowd – chance gone.
There was
time for a run by Walker to be curtailed by Stopforth, and County had their victory
and three excellent points!
Applause for County fans... |
That sets us
up nicely for Tuesday’s clash with Boston United- another side difficult to
beat, but I see County doing just that!
See you
Tuesday!
Gainsborough
Trinity line up:
Ravas,
Clarke, Fleming, Richards(Russell 72), Stainfield, Beatson, C King( Simmons
61). L King, Jarman, Hinchliffe, Walker.
Subs not
used: Storey, Davie, Evan.
Stockport
County line up:
Hinchliffe,
Cowan, Clarke, Stott, Duxbury, Winter, Ball, Thomas ( O’Halloran 83), Oswell, Warburton( Stopforth 88), Turner(
Stephenson 70).
Subs not
used: Ormson, Minihan.
Attendance:
474
hedgegrower
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