Stockport County 3 Dover Athletic 0 ( Vanarama National League) 10 October 2020

 

 

County did the biz today , taking all the points with a thoroughly professional 3-0 win against a Dover Athletic side that fought all the way to thwart them, at Edgeley Park.

But James Gannon`s side had too much nous and savvy for the men from Kent, especially in a second half that was comprehensively transformed by the introduction of Alex Reid immediately after the break.

 

 

Alex Reid- changed the game !

 

Reid was in the mix from the off , feeding off the prodigious out put of the excellent Richard Bennett. 

 

Bennett- in it from the start !

 

 

 

 

The duo gelled brilliantly creating something from nothing all over the park. Add John Rooney to the County equation and they were starting to look irresistible - 2 goals from him a handsome but not undeserved return for a typically combative afternoons work from the Merseysider.

 

Rooney - so competetive !

 

 

 

All this ignores another important element from today`s game- that shut out, and it was another straight out of JG`s playbook of resourceful and positive defending. 

 

 

Keano first to it this time....

 

 

The back three of Hogan ( so good to see him back) Palmer and Stott were impassable all afternoon so much so that Hinchliffe might have brought a paper and a decky for all the action he saw , as the back 3 and our five star midfield  of ,Keane , Maynard , Rooney, Minihan ,and Kitching  limited forward activity for Dover to the edge of the blue box- awesome stuff, and I felt that in that regard , Keano`s contribution was terrific all afternoon- constructively destructive!

Keano- top man !

 

 

 

 

Both CJ and Bennett got little luck and no change out of a resolute Dover back line in the first half, but this changed dramatically with Reid`s introduction- another top class use of substitutes from JG!

 

C J + 1

 

 

 

Back at 3 o`clock, the introduction of Liam Hogan for Macauley Southam-Hales was County`s only change when the game started with County on the attack and Rooney to the fore.

 

Hogan slipped back in seemlessly !

 

Minihan was not far behind either, his cross just blocked as he hurtled down the right flank.

Kitching was next to show but Gregory managed to do just enough to put him off when surging into the box.

The first 10 minutes had soon gone with Dover constantly on the defensive.

The eleventh minute did see the visitors venture forth only for a careless foul on Rooney to uncouple their efforts.

 

Minihan - massive input !

Minihan tested the Dover resolve next , but could not find a way through, until combining with Maynard moments later and in no time C J had won County a corner, but despite Rooney and Bennett keeping the pressure on for County, Dover remained resolute, and the score 0-0.

 

Pressures` on Dover .....

 

 

This went on for 10 minutes with Bennett going close after more link up play with Rooney and CJ, but it was Minihan who went closest of all surging clear through the middle. There was keeper and defender to beat until what I saw as a hand to ball moment from the defender stopped Sam`s gallop.

 

Just look at the `hands on head reaction at the back !

 

 

 

“Penalty” seemed the popular cry….and I was in agreement, but the referee…..err…Mr Marsden….. indicated “ a push” and the world`s most voluble liner on the Pop Side backed him up!

Now…Mr M has form with ourselves….think Gainsborough way back when ( I will leave others to fill in the gruesome gaps regarding that infamous tale)- not a firm favourite with County fans with a long memory, but I have few complaints today.

Undaunted County continued to apply pressure, Palmer seeing keeper Bexon hold onto his header with 5 minutes of the half left.

 

The header ( top) the save ( below)

 

 

CJ joined in, latching onto Minihan`s cross after Maynard`s good work- it was a chance but somehow Bexon manage to make an improbable save to keep his side alive.

 

So close for C J !

 

 

 

Back came the blues, the pressure was unrelenting now, but again Bexon clung onto the ball after Rooney had sent C J through!

With added time upon us , Dover  almost shipped a goal, and it was a long one from Hinchliffe that threatened to do the damage, and I thought that it had, until I noticed that the liner had flagged for a most dubious offside!

 

Hmm………….

 

The last gasp of the half came from County and was initiated by Keano , who drove JG`s men forward , enabling Minihan to tee up a header for Maynard. Bexon held onto to it to complete the first half action!

 

Keano still ay full tilt !

 

 

 

When the game resumed, Azeez fell foul of the liners flag-a rare sortie up the park for the visitors, but Reid was on for CJ for County and the whole complexion of the game was about to take a swift change!

Straight off Reid and Bexon came together on the edge of the box- the County man giving us a quick glimpse of what was to come.

 

Reid 7 keeper head to head

 .

 

 

 

Reid`s next run was cut out by De Havilland …..and another by Moses who did wonders to stop the rot and keep it at 0-0.

 

Reid blocked, this time....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then it all went pear shaped for Athletic as Reid`s very next run took him into the box where a distinctly harassed Bexon brought him down. Expecting the worst I looked Mr Marsden`s way, but he had already pointed to the spot, and Rooney duly obliged by comprehensively beating the keeper with the penalty !

 

the foul..

Rooney`s penalty...

....and the celebrations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were 1-0 up at last – Dover failing to capitalise thereafter from a free kick in a decent position – the County back line looking well nigh invincible!

The Dover back line meanwhile had a job on their hands ,and they did well to get back in numbers to thwart another Reid run following much good work from the unsung hero Bennett.

 

cross  from Rooney heading for Reid following Bennett prompt.

 

 

 

 

 

On it went….Kitching forcing a corner which saw Rooney go close, but despite that disappointment, a second goal for County looked very much on the cards, and it came with gold plated knobs on as brilliant work from Bennett bamboozled all around him just long enough for him to set Reid up to storm through for the second goal !

Reid makes it 2-0 

 

 

 

 

 

That was excellent, it was also 2-0 and JG took the opportunity to switch JJ for Kitching.

County kept moving forward though, Keane not testing Bexon too severely with a shot with 20 minutes left.

 

County still pressing...

 

 

 

Credit to Dover though, they were still plugging away when they could, but their fire power was not impressive, Azeez dragging his shot wide when in sight of goal.

A Rooney / Reid run ended with an offside flag, and Keano failed to improve on his shooting ,lifting his latest effort high over the bar, before another chance came Dover`s way when Gregory picked out Rigg inside the County box with an incisive ball. The header went straight into Hinchliffe`s waiting arms!

It did not improve for Andy Hessenthaler`s side- substitute Cumberbatch firing well wide when something better was called for.

County were still trying too, none more so than Reid, but…sent clear by the umpteenth bit of Bennett wizardry, he stumbled, and any chance was gone.

On….on….the blues surged…..J J prevented from picking Reid out with his cross by excellent work from De Havilland.

Surely a third would not be long in coming now, but there was but a few minutes left when Bennett passed to Reid on the edge of the Dover box, and ran on for the return which duly came. Three nil for sure……but no….the liner had his flag up to deny Bennett the goal he richly deserved.

 

Bennett unlucky

 

 

No matter……County still kept attacking into added time with Tuesday`s match winner Adam Thomas now on for the latest of cameos, but the decisive third goal when it came, was initiated by another of County`s subs namely J J, and his cross into the box was a belter.

Minihan got to it pushing the ball back inside where Rooney slammed it home to make it 3-0.

 

Delight for Rooney !

 

 

 

Dover bravely kept at it winning a free kick…a corner…..but Palmer`s head negated that one and so the game ended.

Another well worked victory- we did not panic when still 0-0 at the break but kept our discipline and composure , getting the result we deserved at the end!

Well done County!

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Minihan, Hogan, Palmer, Stott, Kitching ( J Jennings 70), Keane, Maynard, Rooney, Bennett ( Thomas 88), C Jennings ( A Reid 45).

Subs not used: Barnes, Croasdale .

 

Dover Athletic line up:-

Bexon, Wood, Gobern ( Bramble 45), De  Havilland, Rigg, Munns ( Cumberbatch 73), Hinchiri, Gregory, Azeez, Expiteta, Moses ( Rose 67).

Subs not used : Collins, Wratten.

 

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