Stockport County 1 Chester 1 ( Vanarama National League- North) 8 December 2018
County had to be content with a point
today upon their return to Edgeley Park after the disappointment of last
Saturday`s narrow FA Cup defeat.
Unfortunately the blues were faced
with a Chester side that simply oozed life and organisational nous, with
Dawson, and Mahon possibly the pick with Asante and Stopforth not far behind.
Roberts also deserves a mention for the visitors as he had a game long stream
of free kicks to ping into dangerous areas for City. Therein lay much of
County’s problem, namely that they never really managed to get their game going
at all, the free kicks breaking the rhythm up constantly. At least some of
these kicks were genuine, so we maybe need to tighten up in that area a tad (
an unusual thing to say about County who generally do not concede shed loads of
free kicks).
Not unusual at all was the form of
Ben Hinchliffe ,in goal for County, and he again shone brightly holding Chester
at bay with some cool keeping and a clutch of saves at crucial moments that
kept the blues on an even keel. Ben took the sponsors M.O.M to possibly no
one`s great surprise.
Duxbury was back after his suspension
, which was good, and he got forward pretty well at times if without too much
support from those to his right.
Andrew Machin catches Duxbury in full flight. |
The result was not too many blue moves with
the kind of shape with them that many of City`s had. The second 45 was not a
million miles from being a re-run of Barnet, with County working like demons
for a winner. They were all energy and verve after the break, but it was all a
touch too frantic at times , keeper Shenton not being really tested as he might
have been.
In
the end then… the result was disappointing……. but Chester did arrive
here in third spot in the league, so that much must be taken into consideration
as well as the fact that , buoyed by the backing of almost 700 travelling fans,
they showed form commensurate with their league position.
Large Chester following. |
There were over 3700 in Edgeley Park
as the game got underway in conditions that would have made Roald Amundsen
or Eric the Red shiver.
Chester went straight onto the attack
, and the early minutes were illuminated by an immense sliding tackle from
Minihan that halted the lively Mahon in his tracks.
That augured well , if only we could
stem what seemed an unending stream of attacks from City. But Dawson and ex
Hatter Gary Stopforth looked menacingly fired up at this stage, and it was not
long before Hinchliffe was required to head clear from the edge of his box with
Asante heading for goal.
Keane tidies up watched by Palmer. |
It was 5 minutes before County could
muster a response , and when they did Stopforth did for the initial raid.
County came back at City through Mulhern, only for Warburton`s shot to drift
wide from the pass that followed.
Warburton about to strike ( Andrew Machin ) |
The next minutes saw Chester put
together some neat moves, and I had just congratulated County on keeping them
out and restricting the shots to long range, when Dawson wheedled his way into
the box to set Asante up for a shot that thudded into Hinchliffe`s right hand
post at a rate of knots!
That was an escape for sure, and with
Chester continuing on the offensive, Keane did well to nullify Mahon`s
ambitions as he made ground down the left.
Howard did similar good work at the
other end for Chester almost immediately as Mulhern again ran at the visitors
back line from deep.
Mulhern on the ball. |
Mulhern then saw an effort held
,without undue distress, by Shenton, as
the game continued in the same vein with County defending because they must in
the face of determined Chester attacking, and attacking when they could.
Soon enough, 23 minutes had elapsed,
and neither side had that prized opening goal.
But…things could have just tipped
County`s way, as central defender Danny Livesey limped off to be replaced by
Dom Smalley.
Would this give County the boost that
they required?
Well….not immediately anyway as I
looked left , just 2 minutes later to see Hinchliffe claw another threatening
cross from Dawson off the head of Asante smack in front of goal!
Hinchliffe in top nick ! |
That was M.O.M stuff for sure, but we
needed something of substance at the other end of the park , but when Warburton
fashioned a break with Mulhern he then sent his shot crashing into a post
.
Warby hits the post ( Andrew Machin ) |
Mulhern won a corner from what
followed , but that was a chance gone, and the feeling was abroad, at least
with myself, that chances just might not be too thick on the ground today.
Palmer headed goalward from the flag kick only for the referee to `see
something` and give City the oxygen of a free kick.
Palmer`s header.... |
And Andrew Machin`s view of the same moment. |
Back came Chester however and
Hinchliffe had his hands full punching clear under pressure from the latest
Roberts free kick, but the County keeper was nowhere when another Chester
corner ended with Howson heading inches wide.
It was beginning to look a touch
ominous, how long would it be before Chester would make one of their moves
count?
Well…the answer was not long coming,
as was yet another City corner. From this the ball reached Dawson and he pinged
over a peach of a ball that eluded a veritable army of blue shirt , on or
around the line, picking out Asante who wasted no time in making it 1-0 to the
visitors.
Andrew Machin sees Asante make it 1-0 |
......and Warby dispute the fact ! |
County did respond, attacking with
some skill, particularly Minihan who did well to win a corner . Thomas headed
wide from this , and Mulhern went really close to squaring things , with just 5
minutes of the half left to play.
Thomas- wide with header. |
It must be said, that County were
working hard to square this circle, but it was just that the essential finish
was missing, thus good work from Duxbury and then Keane went to waste.
Just Dux....( Andrew Machin ) |
Then
it changed… via another dazzling bit of work from Duxbury , which drew a
free kick from his opponents.
Over this came whereupon the old
place erupted as Smalley handled the ball under the referee`s nose. It was a no
brainer, and Mr Herczeg duly pointed to the spot.
The `who would take it……Mulhern or
Walker` query was soon answered by Sam Walker who stepped up to rifle his kick
home to the absolute dismay of 700 or so to his immediate right!
1-1..Andrew Machin sees it..... |
It was one apiece, and not long after
it was half time also.
YB Pops( or Constantly Displaced Persons ) |
When the teams returned , Osborne had
been replaced by Stephenson for County , and the early moments, galvanised by
an early free kick for a foul on Keane saw County looking for an early opening.
Osborne - quiet game ! |
Chester came back at the blues of
course, but Stott did well to thwart Stopforth as he strove to dish his former
employers. A corner…. a bit of huffing
and puffing from Chester…but no goal to show for a promising move.
Duxbury was beginning to test the
visitors back line again , but invariably when the raid broke down, County were
faced with tracking back at speed to cover as City endeavoured to hit on the
break.
Dux puts `em under the cosh. |
In fact that was how it was shaping
up now…County would attack……Stephenson halted by a foul as he tried to play
Keane in………Walker`s kick missing out, only for the pressure to switch ends via
a Roberts free kick .
Walker directs ops ( Andrew Machin ) |
This latest set piece was complicated by a rapid falling
to earth by Smalley, which had the away block in a right old tiz. Thankfully the referee resisted his chance to
`do an Elleray` and instead awarded a bounce up- a cop out…but I liked him for
it!
Bouncy...bouncy ! |
It was nip and tuck for a while
thereafter, the nearest thing to a further goal coming on 66 minutes when
Hinchliffe pushed a shot from Dawson around the post after Stopforth had burst
clear from deep. Palmer and Keane both made decisive defensive headers from the
resultant corner…..Hinchliffe topping the lot with an unlikely save to stop
Stopforth from scoring when a goal looked on.
It was not long before Bell was on
for Mulhern, and he won a corner almost straight off, as…..with Duxbury in full
flow , County upped the pressure again on the visitors, but without that much
sought after second goal.
Indeed….Chester thought that the
second was theirs as a cross by Mahon reached Dawson at the back post. He must
score…..he thought he had ( again )….but Hinchliffe had somehow prevented the
ball from crossing the line! Wow hardly covers it !
Chester press.... |
All the while Roberts` portfolio of
free kicks was burgeoning, but further success continued to elude them as
County defended with determination in response.
Bell went close, his shot held by
Shenton, after Minihan had worked wonders to set the chance up.
Keane and Walker were noticeably
trying to re-charge the blue batteries, but still that final finish was
missing- Duxbury played in, but sending his header just wide.
Into the last 10 minutes of normal
time we went with Chester pushing County
back again through Thomson whose forward
run saw him cross the ball from the by-line. It was a lulu, and Minihan did
really well to run the ball clear with Chester looking on to prosper.
Cue a County reply….but more
disappointment as Warburton`s shot was charged down.
Warby`s break....... |
A minute later more good work from
Minihan resulted in Bell side footing the ball home , only for the liner to
raise his flag and rule the effort out ( it`l be in the memoirs no doubt…the
reason…the `foul’… but for now we had to
be content knowing that he had `seen something`).
Chester replied and …not content with
a corner, late on, the away block went full tilt for a penalty…..they really
wanted one…but the referee this time had ` not seen anything` the trigger for
much gnashing of teeth at the far end of the Pop Side.
County mounted attack after attack in
what remained of the game, but try as they might, shots kept coming back out
off a defender or going narrowly wide.
Late County pressure , in vain. |
Somehow Chester survived to share the
points, and that was possibly about right!
An interesting competitive game,
fought out in the right spirit , so I
for one will not be complaining , I`ll just
prepare for Spennymoor on Tuesday instead.
See you there !
Stockport County line up:-
Hinchliffe, Minihan, Palmer, Stott ,
Duxbury , Keane, Walker, Thomas ( Cowan 84), Osborne ( Stephenson 45), Mulhern (
Bell 67) , Warburton.
Subs not used: Ormson, Turnbull.
Chester FC line up:-
Shenton, Thomson, Grand, Roberts,
Livesey ( Smalley 23), Howson, Mahon, Stopforth , Asante, Dawson, Dudley (
Noble 87).
Subs not used: Murphy, Brown, Marsh- Hughes.
Attendance : 3714
hedgegrower
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