Stockport County 3 AFC Telford 2 ( Vanarama National League- North) 16 February 2019
County took a giant stride towards
the National Premier today at Edgeley Park where they took all the points in a
clash of titans against promotion chasing AFC Telford.
Telford were well organised and neat
, and they needed to be , as County were firing on all cylinders from early
doors, all 11 and the called on substitutes contributing manfully to a wholly
deserved but hard earned win that pushes them within 3 points with leaders
Chorley, who lost to Alfreton.
Telford under pressure early. |
Twice County took the lead with goals
from the returning Nyall Bell in the first half, and Warby after the break …and
both times the Shropshire side were able to equalise.
Goal coming from Bell..... |
For a time after the second equaliser went in ,faint
hearts will have wondered whether this was a game too far for James Gannon`s
talented side, as they chased 13 games unbeaten.
Well……no way was that going to be so,
and there was no further reply from
Telford as County scored again through
the remarkable Matty Warburton.
Warburton- captured by Andrew Machin. |
There was time for a couple of
priceless saves from Hinchliffe in added time, with the Bucks bursting a gut to
square that circle a third time. It was not to be for Gavin Cowan`s team, and although
it was a disappointment to their supporters who made a good supportive noise
all game , the result was well deserved.
A decent noise from Telford following. |
Baines got the M.O.M but it could
have gone to any of 14 today, so well did they sing to the JG songbook!
A season`s best crowd of over 4700
were inside EP come 3 o`clock, and there was ample evidence to suggest that the
ticket initiatives in operation were a
resounding success , as the Pop Side was packed with families and children
eagerly anticipating a great game of football.
There was a surprise for us when the teams were announced, as Nyal
Bell , after his match winning showing against Runcorn on Wednesday , was in
for Frank Mulhern.
Welcome return for Nyal Bell ( Andrew Machin ) |
If County`s bench of Frank, Turnbull,
Osborne, Ormson and Kirby looked formidable, those on the park looked no less
so, as they took the game to their opponents from the off.
County combative from the start. |
Minihan was very much in the van in
this respect, but then so was Stephenson , who saw an early shot deflected for
a corner, that visiting keeper Joe Bursik managed to punch clear under
pressure.
Close from Dazzer ! |
The eighth minute saw County concede
a free kick as Telford fashioned a break from several minutes of blue pressure.
Palmer awaited this patiently…heading behind for a corner which the Bucks could
make nothing of.
This brought Duxbury and Stephenson
into centre stage, and the duo looked as lively as I could remember, their
initial thrust denied by keen defending from the visitors.
Duxbury- in gear early ! |
Just a minute later and Stephenson
exchanged passes again with Duxbury, but as he scooted along the left touch
line he was fouled by Streete. The free kick should possibly have not caused
County`s opponents much in terms of issues , as it was way out and flush to the
touch line.
No matter…..Bell fancied it and did
his best to ignore the close attention he was getting from Deeney,
and when the kick came in he turned his
man brilliantly and headed goal ward…ball in tow. Much to do still …but Nyall
was up to the task and made light work of rounding the keeper and slipping the
ball into the net.
And 3 from Andrew Machin.....
That was a fine opener, and it lit
the County fans fuse- the place was alive with excitement, as the kids headed
for the pitch side hoardings to salute the goal.
Great excitement ! ( Andrew Machin ) |
County had a vice like grip on
proceedings for a time after this, with corners racking up to give Bursik much
to do……a flap here….. a neat catch there was about how it went – Walker unlucky
to see a shot deflected away from goal at one stage.
Twenty minutes had gone by, and the
blues were revving up nicely now, particularly Stephenson whose diagonal run
generated excitement in an appreciative crowd. Minihan took it on from Dazzer
but found Bursik in good nick – his catch ending County`s interest …for now.
Another powerful run from Sam ( Andrew Machin ) |
Interest returned pretty soon after,
but Bursik did well to thwart Bell then Warby after County had swiftly turned defensive
action into a lively attack.
Bursik foils Matty ( Andrew Machin ) |
The 27th minute saw the
tribute to James Phillip go off nicely…..and the 29th ushered in a
shot by Stephenson that went narrowly wide.
Always in the thick of it- Dazzer ( Andrew Machin ) |
Five minutes pressure followed from
Telford- nothing overly sharp and nasty….just steady build up and tidy
possession- in the County half of the field.
As I say…nothing at all startling,
and then of course they equalised !
Telford had won a corner and Daniels
lifted this towards the back post , where Sutton climbed to head home- a simple
goal…..neatly executed!
1-1 |
It was 1-1 and we had a game on our
hands- as if we did not already know that !
The final minutes of the half saw
County peg their opponents back on their heels again , but Warburton was unable
to keep his shot down with 5 minutes left after Stephenson had won a corner.
Sutton found Reservoir 2 in extremis
with Duxbury bearing down on him a couple of minutes later- Bursik tipping the
ball over the bar at the last gasp from one of a number of County corners that
followed.
Keepers....just ( Andrew Machin ) |
Three minutes added time changed
nothing, and the teams went in with it still 1-1.
And...some from Andrew Machin :-
When the game resumed after the
break, Mulhern was on for Bell for County
who set about restoring their lead via enterprising work from
Thomas and Minihan.
Thomas- enterprising ! |
A foul on Mulhern had been ignored by
referee Mike Barlow, but a further bit of Telford naughtiness that up tipped
Dazzer… was not, but Baines , sliding in at the far post, just failed to
convert Walker`s nicely delivered free kick.
Mulhern draws fouls. |
Matters improved in this respect, as
the next indiscretion by the Bucks resulted in a free kick altogether better
placed from County`s view point. It was more central, and after the usual pre
kick conference, Warby took this one beating the keeper with seemingly
effortless ease- 2-1 !
Thomas & Palmer follow Warby`s kick in ! |
Duxbury was replaced by Turnbull just
before the hour, which meant that Minihan switched flanks.
Nothing changed up front however-
Warburton kept plugging away- hitting one in that Bursik dealt with neatly.
If I wondered where the Telford
response was, there was an early answer and Keane did really well to block a
determined raid from the visitors.
Keane- excellent ! |
Stephenson`s run not long after was thwarted
near the by-line, whereupon County were hit on the break- a great last ditcher
by Palmer saving the day with Udoh threatening.
Loose play from County in the middle
of the park had helped initiate that last trouble, and we needed this to be cut
out for sure.
Stephenson - in good nick ! |
But…….instead the blues gave a free kick away in a
virtually unmissably central position – right on the edge of the box! I was
still wincing when Daniel`s kick wheedled its way beyond the County wall into
the net !
No way thru`- or so we thought ! |
It was 2-2 , and the noisy 150 or so
from Telford to my right were increasing the decibels noticeably sensing
something special.
It was not to be that simple however,
and within 5 minutes of the equaliser County underlined the excellence that
they have exhibited in similar circumstances of late- in short…they scored
again !
Palmer and Walker had just been thwarted
following a corner won by Mulhern , when County again put Telford under the
cosh , via a run from Stephenson. Dazzer`s shot was held by Bursik, and when the resultant clearance by the keeper
came back in his direction again , he was relieved to see Thomas`s shot charged
down by a defender.
On Bucks case- Frank ! |
Apparently…. the raid was done…..but
no one had told Jordan Keane who lifted the ball back into the danger zone
where Warburton swivelled to beat the
keeper from close in!
The goal.... |
and Andrew Machin`s view of that one. |
Wow …that was simply excellent, but
County must have known that with Telford capable of disrupting the blue plans a
third time, that a fourth goal was needed- possibly urgently!
And Telford seemed to verify this
need, and the urgency, forcing Palmer to head out under pressure with 15
minutes left.
Palmer`s ball ! |
Walker and Minihan had done good work
during a period of Telford pressure around this period, whilst further up the
park Turnbull looked in his element directing traffic.
Bully- directing ops.... |
It really was developing into an archetypal
team effort from County, and a back three of Keane, Palmer and Baines got
through some excellent work under pressure
to keep Telford out.
Telford would break…….the block would
be put on by County…..again Telford returned to the fray, for Keane to
exasperate them with some immaculate defending.
Twixt this defending…..Stephenson,
Thomas and Warburton were gnawing away at the soft underbelly of the visitors
unit, but Warby ceased to gnaw with 5 minutes left, being replaced by Osborne.
Another couple of minutes and Minihan
was back on the right flank thinking himself unlucky not to gild one of his
runs into the box with a penalty. I doubt that he will be at all consoled by
the thought that` I would have given it` as Mr Barlow had no such intention.
Well....I`dd have given it ! |
Much pressure followed from County on
the Bucks goal – Minihan`s latest run forcing a neat corner , and then another,
but somehow County could not add a fourth goal.
The result was that Telford lumped
the ball up the park where Hinchliffe did well to make it out of his box to
leather the ball into the next County to save the day, as 3 minutes added time
was announced.
Two minutes into added time and Udoh
found himself in splendid isolation bearing down on a grossly exposed County keeper.
It should have been a shoo-in …..3-3……but the forward dwelt on the ball a
moment or two longer than was wise and when he took a stab at it…Hinchliffe
made a brave save with his legs! Fantastic!
More pressure came from Telford……Dazzer
clearing one moment…Osborne the next.
Involuntary shirt exchange for Dazzer ( Andrew Machin ) |
If that was encouraging…when Dazzer
took the ball with him into Telford territory it was even more so. A foul
stopped him en route, but the free kick was blocked notionally giving the
visitors a chance for a late/ late break.
Not so however as some excellent hold
up play from Stephenson kept an apparently dying raid alive just long enough
for County to claim all the points.
That was a truly excellent showing
against a team well capable of upturning our applecart.
For sure they will need to do it all
again on Tuesday against Southport, but you will not be betting against them
will you!
Stockport County line :-
Hinchliffe, Minihan, Palmer, Baines,
Duxbury( Turnbull 56). Keane, Walker, Thomas, Bell ( Mulhern 45), Warburton (
Osborne 85), Stephenson.
Subs not used : Ormson, Kirby.
AFC Telford line up:-
Bursik, White, Cowans ( Morgan -Smith
45), Deeney, Sutton, Streete, Royle, Daniels , Barnett, Udoh, McQuilkin (
Dinanga 83).
Subs not used : Morley, Knights, Brown.
Attendance 4708
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