Altrincham 1 Stockport County 2 ( Pre Season Friendly) 23 July 2019
County made it 3 wins and a draw from
4 variously interesting and valuable pre- season outings last night with a 2-1
win against a lively Altrincham side.
There were over 800 inside Moss Lane
to see Neil Sorvel`s National North side give County a good game.
With just one goal in it , they had a
fighters chance, and did nick the only goal the Robins have managed against us
for a while now, but James Gannon`s side had just enough oomph and know how to
see the challenge off, coming back from being a goal down to win it via strikes
from Connor Dimaio in the first half,
and Elliott Osborne after the break.
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| Andrew Machin catches Dimaio . |
I made Dimaio County`s top man,
always making himself available and looking for a chance to get a shot in, but
JG must be pleased with the way both his candidates for the number ten spot
continue to shine. For Robins I was impressed by Toby Mullarkey at the back and
Nathan Arnold who gave County debutant Ben Jackson lots to think about down the
right.
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| Ben Jackson. |
Jackson, a product of the Huddersfield
Town system, stuck at his task pretty well, keeping it simple- a good game plan
on his first outing in County colours.
It was fiendishly humid upon arrival
at the ground, and I soon had distracting thoughts of 2016-17 in my head, and a
bit of a yen for a touch of the wet stuff that thoroughly did for my spoons
solo that day.
The feeling did not last that long
though, there was news to digest. I have mentioned Ben Jackson earlier, but
Darren Stephenson, having hopefully given his previous agent the bums rush, had
signed up once again. He was received well by County fans and gave his usual
forceful contribution, in the 30 minutes or so that he was on the park, with
Sam Minihan a surprise left flank link up partner late on.
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| Darren Stephenson ( Andrew Machin ) |
So…..game on then, and County went on
the attack from the first blast of referee Adam Davies` whistle, as Frank stole
possession with typical ingenuity. On it went from the County number nine to
Dimaio …to Kirby….and back again to Dimaio. A shot was on, and Connor obliged,
but the ball flew a foot wide of goal.
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| Over the top from Dimaio. |
The experienced Steven Dredge, in the
Alty goal, watched that one go by, albeit with a hint of alarm, but he had work
to do next, and did it well, holding onto a shot from Mulhern just minute
later.
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| Keepers ! |
Both sides proceeded to probe for
openings after the early exchanges and it must be said that our hosts, with
Mullarkey prominent, were in it every bit as much as were the blues.
It was fully 13 minutes in however
before anything of substance occurred and Dimaio started it carrying the ball
from deep into opposition territory. Upon receiving from Dimaio, Mulhern was
fouled ushering in a free kick and some real pressure on the Robins back line. They
handled Walker`s incoming kick reasonably well, conceding a throw, but with the
build up of pressure from County increasing a foul on Jackson, who had darted
across the edge of the box, brought more, and Drench did well to keep the free
kick out.
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| Down goes Jackson ! |
Jackson was getting forward now, if
with an understandable degree of caution, his pass,18 minutes in teeing Kirby
up for a shot that climbed up and over the bar.
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| Jackson gets forward ( Andrew Machin ) |
County were seeking that first goal
for sure, but Walker`s through ball was just too strong for Mulhern a minute
later.
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| 90 good minutes from Sam Walker ( Andrew Machin ) |
It continued much in the same vein
with County probing, and Robins using the flanks well via Arnold and ex Hatter
Connor Hampson, in response.
It was a surprise though when Alty
took the lead. It was a disappointment too as I had 29 minutes in the `Golden
Goal` thingy, and it came one minute earlier, started by Johnston`s surging run
and cross from the left. Despite Hulme lurking with intent, it appeared that
County had matters covered, and Hinchliffe did make a save, but I was wrong as
the ball pin balled off one possibly two defenders before going in. Hulme, like
a good `un, claimed it of course, but then you would wouldn`t you!
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| 0-1 and Andrew Machin captures the moment. |
That was something of a shock too, as
Alty had not managed a goal all last season against us, and more nearly followed
as Hinchliffe had to react quickly to snatch the pill from Hulme after a loose
back pass almost doubled County`s woes!
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| Hinchliffe....just.... ( Andrew Machin ) |
And Hinchliffe`s work was not done,
as within a minute of that last action he was called on again to push a shot
from Arnold around the post.
This was beginning to look like determinedly
insurrectional stuff from Robins, and we needed a response from County to put
it down!
It came 5 minutes later as
indiscipline on Robins part cost them dearly, as Turnbull`s free kick from the right-hand
touchline set things up. Bully`s kick was blocked, but the ball ran clear to Dimaio,
and a shot of brutal lethality set about lifting the netting behind Drench off
its moorings!
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| 1-1 courtesy of Connor Dimaio ! |
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| the first of 2 from Andrew Machin of that one ! |
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| and here`s the other . |
It was 1-1 and the good-sized County
following within the decent pre -season crowd celebrated the fact.
More celebrations looked on within a
minute as Keane won the ball sending Dimaio charging for goal. It did look a
real chance, but the referee halted the raid to penalise Keano for a foul I confess
I could not see.
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| Keano didn`t do it, hedgie didn`t see it ( Andrew Machin ) |
If County were disappointed by that,
there was no time to dwell on it as Hampson`s cross cum shot almost sneaked it
at the other end.
Not long after that one Arnold made
it to the by-line for Alty with a mazy dribble, being crowded out by weight of
numbers when there.
Arnold was a lively lad though…..but
so is Frank and another `steal` by him almost gave County the lead, instead his
pass to Dimaio saw him lift his shot over the bar.
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| more magic from Mulhern |
Frank was buzzing now with the break
approaching, and a long ball from Hinchliffe saw him clear on goal as well,
only for the referee to again thwart the blues with another mystery free kick
to our hosts.
I was still trying to work that one
out when the half time whistle went.
And these from Andrew Machin.....
County looked to be bristling with JG
induced menace upon the re-start- Osborne in no mood to concede the number 10
spot to anybody testing fresh keeper Tony Thompson with a fierce drive.
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| Kirby sizing up a shot ! |
This was good, but 5 minutes in and
it was still 1-1 as Kirby`s through ball to Mulhern had too much on it.
At the other end, Alty were still
intent on having their moments, but when one showed Arnold sent his shot
straight at Ormson ( now in goal for County).
Kirby`s run, just before the hour mark,
offered much and his cross even more, but put through with a decent scoring
chance Jackson sent his shot beyond the far post.
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| Jackson misses out ! |
That was a chance for sure, and Alty
got one themselves not long after this time via Hampson , and he will think
himself unlucky to see Ormson unfurl one of his standard snuff outs as he
spread himself to keep a good effort from the ex-blue out.
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| Standard Ormson coming up ! |
The hour saw County ring the changes
with Cowan, Curran and Stephenson on for Dimaio,
Kirby and Jackson, and Curran took up a fairly advanced position as County set
about getting that winner.
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| Curran in the mix ! |
Meanwhile, Minihan who had had a
pretty quiet first half at RB, was now set up behind Stephenson on the left and
he soon started to show more of his usual zest and vim from that relatively
unaccustomed position. Indeed borderline great work from Sam, through the
middle, almost nicked one for County, but his work went to waste as the ball
ran clear to Thomas, as Minihan went to ground, and Adam`s shot went tamely
into Thompson`s waiting arms.
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| Thomas doesn`t test keeper. |
Robins were not done however, and Ormson
again had to make a save to prevent Williams giving the lead back to our hosts.
Into the last 20 minutes we went with
both teams striving for supremacy- County perhaps looking the `more likely to`-
Stephenson winning a corner from which Alty just survived.
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| Close call ! |
Still though Alty contrived to nick
the odd chance here and there, but they needed to take them when they surfaced
but no one in red/white could apply a finish as the ball pinged across the
County goal from the right with just 14 minutes left.
Mulhern then replied teeing
Stephenson up for a shot that missed out by a foot or so, and some further
excellent work by Frank, in the form of a lovely reverse pass to Curran, very
nearly gave us that lead. It was close again but……
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| Frank.....still producing that magic ! |
Yes tension was mounting now, on and
off the park, as the desperate/ highly entrepreneurial ( delete as appropriate)
food vendor to my rear announced loudly “ pies half price/ burgers £1.50”.
Irresistible obviously…..as was
Osborne`s shot that almost immediately followed. It started with a run from
Cowan, restored to RB after doing well on the other flank in other games. Dan`s
shot/ cross came back off Alty legs to Ossie who promptly lashed a belter in
off the keeper`s far post!
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| Cowan- the architect ! |
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| 2-1 thanks to Ossie ( Andrew Machin ) |
Brilliant, it was 2-1, but was the
tension easing? Well County were doing their best to ease things, but Jones did
exceptionally well to prevent Palmer from storming in for a County third goal
from one of a number of blue corners around this time.
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| Dazzer v Thompson ( see below) |
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| Frank not that impressed ! |
On….on….as Stephenson`s cross saw
Curran shoot wide with 2 minutes left.
Then a snap-shot from Frank narrowly
missed out as we looked for the referee to end proceedings.
The required whistle blast did not
materialise quite yet however and Alty had a go in what remained of the game
forcing a diving header out by Palmer as their late pressure mounted.
Josh Hancock did get a decent chance,
as the sun set engagingly in the near distance, but then fluffed his lines by dragging
a poor effort well wide of goal.
Ridiculously there was still time to
play after that action ushering a save by Thompson to deny Minihan…… and more
as County conceded a free kick in a
scoreable position( JG must have been livid!), but again Alty squandered the
opportunity as a poor kick failed to test the County keeper.
County were still defending at the
end but in more comfort…and our friend the food vendor was now offering burgers
at £1.15- I gave him a swerve and headed for the car!
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| Night sky-line above Moss Lane |
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| and Andrew Machin`s take on the same. |
Worth doing was that and will give JG
plenty to chew on before a fairly stiff test against Oldham this coming
Saturday.
Hope to see you all there.
Altrincham line up:-
Drench, White, Hampson, Mullarkey,
Hannigan, Branson, Arnold, Richman, Hulme, Harrop, Johnston.
Substitutes:-
Densmore, Hancock, Chadwick, Jones,
Williams, Peers, Gabbidon, Thompson, Morgan.
Stockport County line up:-
Hinchliffe ( Ormson 45), Minihan, Palmer,
Keane, Jackson ( Cowan 60), Turnbull ( Osborne 45), Walker, Thomas, Mulhern ,
Dimaio ( Curran 60) , Kirby( Stephenson 60) .
Subs not used : Arthur, Czubik,
Downing.
Attendance 803
hedgegrower
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