Stockport County 0 Chorley 1 ( Vanarama National North- Play Off QF) 2 May 2018
After a
night rich in tension and high octane
fever pitch football, County bowed out of this season’s play offs , beaten
by a well drilled Chorley FC side, in
front of another massive Edgeley Park crowd of over 6000.
Cheadle End to my right |
The score
was 1-0, and that probably reflected accurately how it went. However, the first
half might have seen Matt Jansen’s side leak a goal or two- they didn’t, and
just showed too much savvy particularly late on when County got ever more
anxious for a goal.
County did
loads of attacking especially in the first 45 minutes when they racked up
corner after corner, going close more than once in the process. There was more
passion than finesse though in much of County’s work, and whilst individuals
played well( Minihan gave us 90 minutes pure effort and not a little threat…Thomas
likewise, and Winter drove his men on relentlessly throughout a pulsating
encounter, but in vital areas the blues
were matched by the Lancastrians- Scott Leather a typical example of this.
Oswell did put a shift in, but when Leather couldn’t…..the excellent Teague
would keep the County striker out.
Minihan -on song! |
It quite
simply was not to be, and with County’s attacking ploy of choice finishing up
as the long high ball into the box, and with Andy Teague and Scott Leather
dealing with these with imperious ease, the game was up for the blues.
Leather heads |
I am aching
to say that `we were robbed’ ,but that
would be a wild inaccuracy, the better side on the night won it in my view- not
an easy thing to say, but sometimes you lose and last night was County’s turn.
It is disappointing, but no disgrace to lose out to the Lancashire outfit. They
may not win the play offs but will no doubt give whosoever they meet here on
out one heck of a game.
It was all
to play for back at 7.45, as the two teams emerged onto the pitch to taste an
Edgeley Park atmosphere, so highly charged you could almost touch it.
Away support. |
Eight
hundred Chorley fans had made the trip, and were mostly packed in the two end
blocks of the Pop Side. They were making some noise too, but then so were those
backing James Gannon’s side, and there were more than 5000 of those.
Cheadle End again. |
The volume
of support for County from all 3 sides was enormous, and more than matched that
experienced in top games in past years for me, but it was a real disappointment
to see that County would kick towards the Cheadle End in the first half, and
with hindsight this factor turned out to probably be as crucial to how the game
went as anything else.
No matter………..
County………..with a back 3 of Cowan, Smalley and O’Halloran in place, were
heading our way first off.
In the possibly equally crucial absence of Scott
Duxbury, County had Minihan and Thomas providing width. The selection of
Minihan was a brave move by JG, but it proved a brilliant one as Sam gave a
sterling performance throughout, winning the sponsors M.O.M.
I had Thomas and
Winter not far behind him , but at 7.46 none of this was apparent …instead
visiting keeper Matt Urwin had his work
cut out with Oswell, responding to the crowds cheers, surging into gaps, aided
by Turnbull. Urwin eventually capped the noise by dropping on the ball with
County’s number nine just inches away.
Urwins ! |
There was a
terrific atmosphere about the old place, as Leather looked for Redfearns on
Castle Street with the energetic Oswell breaking clear again.
The first 5
minutes augured well for County’s chances, and but for the presence of the
estimable Andy Teague, Warburton’s run to the by line, 7 minutes in, might have
been more productive.
Warburton to the by-line |
County went
close from the corner that came from that last action, and close again from a
second flag kick as Thomas added to the action with a tasty run down the right
flank.
With just
over 10 minutes gone, whilst Chorley were occasionally showing us what they
could do outside their own last third, mainly it was County doing the showing,
and Minihan was next up in this respect, and he was just shy of Ball with a
neat pass .
Close thing for Ball ! |
That was
close, but we had another corner ….and a penalty ( I opined) as the cry of
`handball’ went up from the Cheadle End. Mr Rhodes would have none of it, but
we did have yet another corner, which saw Urwin in action and just getting to
the ball at the back post before the predatory Oswell.
Urwin denies Oswell - again. |
The 17th
minute saw the games first booking as Jake Cottrell went right through Harry.
That was
naughty, and irritating, but not as much as seeing Chorley emerge from their
defensive cocoon forcing O’Halloran to produce the goods to stop the rot in
response.
We had been
warned, but still no one around me could think of anything other than a County
win, and they were loud in their support of this wish, as Urwin again left his
line to stop Oswell, with 22 minutes gone.
As a referee
Mr Rhodes could best be described as `unexcitably underwhelming’ and I rather
thought he should have reacted more firmly next as Marcus Carver charged
Hinchliffe in the back when he was trying to clear from hand.
A mugging by any
yardstick, but my memory of this referees dislike of offering protection to
those sides seeking it ( at the Boston game) came swiftly to mind as he
contented himself by awarding a free kick.
Back came
County through Minihan, but the pass onward saw Warburton sidelined by Leather.
Minihan was
in top nick for sure, but Cottrell did well to block his run next, allowing
Teague to effect a clearance, Teague again in there with a vital intervention
that kept Ball from Minihan’s follow up.
Urwin under pressure. |
We were
beyond 30 minutes now and still County were attacking, and more frustration
surfaced as Mr Rhodes failed to produce a card when Ball was hauled down by
Teague, adding insult to perceived injury by failing to acknowledge an
attempted shirt exchange executed on Thomas, instead awarding Chorley the free
kick .
The County
attacking went on and on…..as did wave after wave of corners, Urwin having to
make a last gasper to keep it at 0-0 as a defender, freaked by Warburton and
Oswell sent his hurried header towards the top corner of the net.
County press. |
Bugger….that
was really close…..as was Smalley’s follow up header….and another from Ball.
The last
action of the half almost saw County go in trailing however, as Mr Rhodes gave
Chorley a free kick near the half way line. This was lifted into the County
box, where Hinchliffe did well, under pressure, to punch out. The ball went to
O’Keefe however, and he lashed it back at goal, where somehow Turnbull was able
to head it out from under the bar.
County have to defend. |
That was
that for the first half, such a tense affair…could square that circle in the
second 45?
County
opened the second half with another run of corners, but without ever looking
likely to snatch that vital first goal.
Winter,
Thomas and Minihan were still performing like heroes for County, but with no
reward to show for it.
Winter in top nick. |
Alarmingly
though , Chorley slowly began to show us what they could do, and with an hour
gone, it took good work from Minihan and then Cowan to stop Jason Wilson’s
efforts to overturn the County apple cart.
Wilson had
just escaped a booking from the referee, and it was perhaps no surprise that a
County name was next into Mr Rhodes book- Turnbull.
Bully booked ! |
Thomas
interrupted a period of Chorley pressure with a run down the left that had the
County faithful cheering loudly. Unfortunately it ended with him shooting into
the side netting, but it offered some encouragement.
Thomas - hard working as ever. |
But Chorley
were by no means done, and Alex Newby was emerging as a threat- winning a
corner that saw Smalley in action heading clear. Back he came though and it
took excellent work from Minihan to keep him out.
County under the cosh. |
That was
worrying, but it suddenly got worse …quickly….. as with Newby probing again,
and County unable to clear their lines, a header across goal ( from Carver I
think) reached Wilson who headed home from half a yard out.
The away end
erupted in excited joy, but incredibly it was County fans who stepped up to the
plate the best , responding to the set back by getting to their feet and
chanting their support for their team- a proud moment!
JG replaced
Turnbull with Turner, and not long after O’Halloran with Stephenson.
Twixt these
changes Newby had nibbled at County’s under belly again, looking on for a
Chorley second before lifting a poor effort high and wide into the Cheadle End.
Cowan was
now operating on the left side of a back three that now had Minihan alongside
Smalley on the right side, but it was alarming to see Challoner and Newby in
oodles of space , with 5 minutes left.
All back for this one. |
This really did look likely to produce
the game killing second goal, until Minihan again justified his M.O.M tag with
a glorious block.
County were
depending on long high ones from distance now, and Cowan pinged one in with
just 2 minutes left. This was cleared without undue hassle by Chorley, Smalley
doing well to stop the rot when Carver broke from deep when the County thrust
dissipated.
County press. |
Into the
last minute of normal time we went with a bear hug from Teague on Oswell teeing
County up for a free kick. Twice from this County went close- Stephenson going
closest testing Urwin with a shot that deserved better. Corners came and went
following this action, but no goal, and again Minihan had to be on his toes to
sort another break from deep from the visitors.
Close...... |
Chorley
attacked into added time with Newby seeing Hinchliffe just push his shot around
the post.
But it was
County attacking when the game finally ended…Stephenson and Thomas both going
close without reward.
A blast of
Mr Rhodes whistle told us Chorley had won.
A certain
numbness descended on the writer( what’s new I hear you unkindly respond),
disappointment yes….anguish too I suppose …to a degree….but fair do’s Chorley
had out foxed us and taken the prize.
It’s in
adversity when you see the best come out of good people….and it pored from the
County supporters now as they stood to loudly applaud their team despite the
disappointment.
That was a
bit special, and I particularly liked, as I was heading for the exit, the sight
of Darren Stephenson, who was some way behind the rest in blue, applauding
County fans and getting a huge response from them!
Tell me we
cannot build on this next season and I will say…..take heart, JG has established a
basis that could take us up, given the odd tweak…believe!
See you
again soon!
Stockport
County line up:
Hinchliffe, Cowan, Smalley, O’Halloran( Stephenson 79),
Winter, Turnbull( Turner 72), Minihan, Thomas, Oswell, Warburton, Ball.
Subs not
used: Ormson, Clarke, Walker.
Chorley line
up:
Urwin,
Challoner, Molyneux, Teague, Leather, Anson, Newby( Whitham 92), O’Keefe,
Carver, Jason Wilson( Josh Wilson), Cottrell.
Subs not
used: Gregory, Burgess, Darr.
Attendance:
6240
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