Stockport County 1 Aldershot Town 0 ( Vanarama National League ) Saturday 9 October 2021

 

( All words & images by hedgegrower)

 

After last Saturday`s exciting comeback victory away at Weymouth, I was looking for an indication that County could start this game in the manner they finished up at the Bob Lucas. Could they then maintain a head of steam throughout 90 odd minutes, and thus spare their long suffering supporters the usual traumas that come as standard much of the time?

 Crankshaw on the ball

 

There were some hopeful green shoots peaking through encouragingly in Dorset, with debutant Ollie Crankshaw looking tailor made for us, and just the man to furnish our clutch of central strikers with the ammunition they so desperately want. Backed by Southam- Hales` industry, and Sam Minihan when he recovers full fitness, Ollie and by extension County, should thrive!

 

 

 

 

That was my long term hope anyway, but today we had the Shots to contend with and despite being reduced briefly to10 with 10 minutes of normal time left, with defender Lyons- Foster back on as  a make shift striker late on they made County fight every inch of the way for the win that eventually was theirs thanks to Paddy Madden`s 45^th minute strike!

It was hard work for sure, and Mark Molesley`s side will be disappointed not to get something from this game apart from massive kudos after such a valiant showing.

That said, as the man said ` A win is a win and this was County`s third on the trot so maybe that is the element of today`s game for County supporters to take away from it?

There were some performances worthy of noting I thought. Palmer took the M.O.M, and it was good to see Jordan Keane alongside him today, in yet another re-shuffled back 3 that had Zeki Fryers back on the left. Southam-Hales continued where he left off at Weymouth causing maximum aggravation to the Shots rear-guard.  Madden scored a good goal which was made by Whitfield who again showed up to good effect from the off until the 76^th minute when he was replaced by Quigley.  

All the above were worth a mention along with Ethan Ross who will be pleased with his clean sheet- the product of some determined defensive work late on.

There was another big crowd in as the game got underway with County attacking the Cheadle End. With County not having scored in open play at that end in 20 months, it is becoming amusing to see visiting teams continue to force us to open attacking same!

 Home Poppers pack the place!

 

 

 

 

 

No matter, attack it we did and straight away through Whitfield who was quickly into top gear.

 Whitfield and Madden take the game to Shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 Kitching was not far behind the County number 10 in the early pressure stakes, and 6 minutes in it looked to me that he had earned a reward as, bursting into the box he was then upended.

 

 Need I say......I would have given it !

 

 

“Penalty” thinks I……” “No Way” returns Paul Marsden ( a bringer of County gloom of old) and that was that!

Six minutes had gone at that point, and it was another 4 before we got anything from Mr M at all.

The free kick pushed Aldershot back, as Crankshaw and Southam- Hales probed the left side of the visitors` defence. Kitching and Madden queued impatiently for a morsel heading their way from this, but without success.

 

 Shots under pressure.

 

 

But County were looking sharper than they have of late, and Kitching did well to win a free kick in a decent position 18 minutes in. Rooney`s kick disappointed, but Kitching wouldn`t let the forward push die- Whitfield managing to harry an unlikely corner from his cross.

 

 Cross coming from Kitching !

 

Mitch Walker, the Shots keeper, flapped prodigiously at this forcing Giles Phillips to head hurriedly clear from the corner that followed.

County continued pressing however with Crankshaw to the fore along with Whitfield, but this time Walker`s reactions were perfect and County`s push ended with his catch.

 

 Perfect from Walker.

 

 

Aldershot gave us a first glimpse of what they had in their armoury next, and it came via Corie Andrews, who I made one of their top performers along with Lewis Kinsella, but his shot was deflected for a corner which County`s re-shuffled back line coped with ok.

Play went off the boil for a while next, and it was 31 minutes in before any action of note threatened to arouse the big crowd, and again it came at the Railway End where Andrews worked himself a really tasty chance deep inside the blue box, but again he was out of luck his shot flying out off a defender. Corners followed for the Shots in a mini siege, but this was raised by Whitfield who carried the ball and the fight up the park , where his industry ended with Croasdale shooting wide of the target.

 Whitfield- all action !

 

 

 

 

 

The pressure continued from County through Madden who made it to the by-line where he narrowly failed to pick Rooney out in front of goal.

It went on in a similar vein as County forwards queued for morsels from a series of corners, but without reward- Madden seeing a shot charged down midst it all, and a Southam- Hales shot clearing the bar with Aldershot stretched.

 Shot on the way from Southam-Hales

 

 

 

 

The pressure on the visitors` goal went on, Whitfield heading wide following good work by Southam- Hales and Crankshaw.

Whittingham and Aouchria put County onto the back foot with half time approaching, the latter inches from converting Andrews good work into the gold of an away goal, and Kinsella would have been disappointed to see his effort from wide left come back out off a County defender.

The 44th minute saw County reply but Kitching`s free kick flew harmlessly wide.

Then……just when you thought that the half time examination of the first half tea leaves would be more inquest than celebration, County at last got some reward.

It started with Vennings foul on Madden. The free kick was just inside the Shots half and Rooney played it short to Whitfield who found Madden at the back post with immaculate precision- the County number nine did the rest heading home with unerring accuracy!

 Madden makes it 1-0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was pretty much the last action of the half- and very nice it was too!    

The second half opened in a flurry of County attacking Crankshaw and Madden inches from adding a finish to an early Whitfield cross. 

 

 Crankhaw & Madden wanted it.

 

 

 

This was followed up by Southam- Hales – but Walker claimed his shot cum cross, despite Madden`s interest.

 

 Walker`s despite Madden`s interest.

 

 

 

But for a good while after that last action Aldershot gave County stuff to ponder with Vennings and Willard pressing forward putting County under the cosh. Whittingham and Andrews joined in and County`s back line had to work hard to keep it at 1-0.

Eventually the storm of attacking from the visitors abated, allowing the blues to venture up the park where Crankshaw won a corner which again saw Walker flapping. 

 

 The flap....

 

 

 

A corner resulted and Kitching was distinctly unlucky to see his header come back off the woodwork from this. Crankshaw followed this up but could only bundle the ball wide of the post.

 Kitching`s header....

 ...and Crankshaw`s follow up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Shots started ringing the personnel changes as the hour mark neared, bringing Bettamer and Ndjoli on for Willard and Aouchria, and Bettamer, on the end of a pass from Andrews saw a shot fizz narrowly over Ross`s bar.

Back came County though, but Walker did well to snuff the raid out as Whitfield tried to convert a Rooney pass.

But it was beginning to get a touch alarming as Aldershot`s patient play was steadily making County defend further back and more and more -Ross doing well to hold onto a shot by Whittingham

It was definitely a real contest for sure.

By this time Hogan was on for Keane, but I almost forgot that disappointment when Phillips climbed all over Madden in full view of the referee only for him to wave play on – unbelievable….except it is entirely not so ….I was fearing the worst for what remained of the game, the more so when Edser caressed the ball controlling same with his arm smack in front of Mr M- defo worth at the very least a free kick and probably a card, but no….the ref was away with the fairies apparently- play continued with Edser still in possession of the illicitly controlled pill!

County were back defending as a result and Ndjoli was unlucky to see a shot thud into the woodwork midst some concerted attacking by Town.

Wagstaff was now on for Whittingham for Town, whilst Rydel came on to replace Kitching for County, but these changes almost immediately caused Town issues as defender Kodi Lyons- Foster had to be taken off due to injury thus reducing his side to 10 as all their subs had been used!

Eventually the injured man came back on being used as a  makeshift centre forward by the Shots.

County meanwhile had Quigley on for Whitfield and an early charge involving Quiggers and Crankshaw looked interesting until the liners flag made interest wane!

 

 Crankshaw -much to come from him...

 

Aldershot however had not done by any means but Andrews` shot drifted wide from Ndjoli`s pass and more followed with Palmer heading out under pressure from Andrews effort.

Clearly the Shots fancied this one, and you could not entirely rule out a late shock either, Lyons- Foster and Ndjoli adding to County`s angst  as header and shot went just wide .

The collective BP of most of the 6000+ present were soaring by this point, but …somehow…..it was still 1-0 !

But Town had a free kick just outside the box, and Kinsella swung this in with skill seeing the County back line usher it out for another corner. Shots rained in on the County goal from this putting immense pressure on the blues- Hogan blocking one effort from Andrews as 6 minutes added time was announced!

It was more tension ridden now than we had thought possible earlier, and we needed someone in blue to relieve same- Rydel did well in this regard, darting clear from deep before sending Quigley on a run, but he found the path to goal encumbered by the presence of Walker.

 Walker foils Quigley.

 

 

 

 

But it remained mainly Aldershot doing the attacking roared on by their loyal following on the Pop Side.

 

 2 Images of Shots fans

 

 

 

 

 

It went on…..Kinsella pinging high one`s into the County box from wide left …….Andrews almost in on the end of a long ball by Phillips……Bettamer  seeing Ross save his header from Kinsella`s latest airborne offering.

Deep into added time County replied via Southam-Hales only for Walker to snuff the raid out with Quigley striving to get on the end of it.

Play ended though at the Cheadle End where Ross clung onto a late/ late Town shot from Kinsella`s cross.

Game over…..points ours.

Plenty of kudos go to Aldershot for their spirited efforts, but this win and the clean sheet will encourage County to dig deeper perhaps. For sure there is plenty still to be done in that respect, but with crowds the size we are now seeing at Edgeley Park there should really be no reason for us not to expect better soon!

 

Stockport County line up:-

Ross, Keane ( Hogan 67), Palmer, Fryers, Southam- Hales, Kitching ( Rydel 72), Croasdale, Rooney, Madden, Whitfield ( Quigley 76) , Crankshaw.

Subs not used: Collar, Reid.

 

Aldershot Town line up:-

Walker, Kinsella, Lyons- Foster, Whittingham ( Wagstaff 72), Edser, Andrews, Oxlade- Chamberlain, Aouchria ( Ndjoli 58), Phillips, Vennings, Willard ( Ndjoli 58).

Subs not used: Harris, Coulter.

Attendance: 6132

 

hedgegrower