Bolton Wanderers 2 Stockport County 2 ( FA Cup 1st Round) Sunday 7 November 2021

 

 

 

(Words by hedgegrower, all images by Andrew Machin )

 

County took on League One Bolton Wanderers at the Lancashire side`s  own stadium and came away , their unbeaten record at this ground intact,  having looked the better of the two side`s in an interesting encounter  today.

It was Dave Challinor`s first match in charge of County and he will have been well pleased as his team entertained the massive away following with an assured display that will have had any neutrals present scratching their heads as to the identity of the League One outfit on show. 

 2 D.C`s in action beyond the touchline.

 

 

 

 

It was a thoroughly well-rounded team performance in which all 11 starters and the subs can justly claim equal billing- it was excellent.

Bolton would have felt a certain growing confidence having come back after going behind to Quigley`s opportunist opener on 23 minutes, replying with 2 goals in rapid order that they would have surmised sufficient to dent County`s determination and attacking intent.

They would have been wholly wrong, as County surged back at them scoring a fine equaliser close to half time through Whitfield to go in level at 2-2.

 Whitfield nicked one again !

 

 

 

 

It remained so throughout the second half in which with just a shade more luck County might have come away with the win their performance merited!

The huge County following were quickly in good voice, “ We`re  County the mighty County….we always win away” belting out louder and louder as Rooney cleared from a deep position a minute in.

 County pushed on from this, Whitfield`s run being cut out – the raid ending unsatisfactorily with a free kick to Wanderers.

 Isgrove replied for Ian Evatt`s team but Palmer was in position to cover the cross and clear.

Bolton showed a willingness to get forward next, winning a corner as County presented a solid wall of Pink shirts twixt our hosts and Ross`s goal. Croasdale headed the kick out, but Kitching had work to do with Wanderers following up , and he did it well, the pressure ending when Afolayan`s shot drifted narrowly wide.

 Sam back & on the ball !

 

 

It was good to see Sam Minihan back after a difficult time with injuries and he received a warm accolade from 5000+ behind Ross`s goal for his first serious touch.

 

 

 

 

Isgrove and Kachunga surfaced next for the home side but so did Croasdale for the pink shirted blues and he won out hearteningly 9 minutes in!

The Bolton push had not abated however, merely changed tack, and Hogan made an excellent block to thwart Thomason shortly after. Bolton persisted though winning a corner but when this saw Hogan and Rooney join forces to stop the rot, Crankshaw was abruptly upended by Declan John as County mounted a threatening break.

 

 

 Hogan did well.

 

 

That action was at the 10 minute mark…11…12 came and went with Bolton trying to square the County circle but without noticeable success, indeed County , via Quigley ( who  was to have his most impressive game so far in a County shirt)looked on for an opener , until the far off liner`s flag fluttered annoyingly in the cold Lancashire air to save Wanderers.

 

 Offside?........nah !!!!!

 

 

 

Meanwhile we had defending to do, and in this regard another County player who went on to have a belter, Mark Kitching, covered himself in kudos with the quality of his defending faced with a determined run by Kachunga.

 

 Kitching- another in excellent nick !

 

 

 

MJ Williams disappointed locals by lifting his shot high into the away end on 17 minutes whereupon the away end arose for a minute`s applause in tribute to young County fan George Thompson who passed away recently,which I am pleased to confirm was observed by both sets of supporters.

 

The applause from this had barely subsided when Kachunga was back in Ross`s face, and the County keeper did well to beat the forward`s shot out.

Then with County looking to attack , but with their opponents in possession, things looked none too encouraging, and then in an instant it all changed and all it took was an abysmal attempted back pass by Thomason-and a brilliant bit of opportunism by Quigley who having latched onto the ball, ran half a yard before slotting it neatly beyond Dixon into the net to give County the lead!

 

 Quigley nicks the ball.....

 

 ...and puts it away.....

 ....honest !

 team celebrates !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The away end was `Flare City` for a while after this as County fans celebrated the lead, but Dave Challinor`s team had other things on their minds as Ross had to dive to claw a shot by Isgrove to safety under pressure from a clutch of white shirts.

Cue “ We`re County, the Mighty County….” from behind Ross, and he would have needed the encouragement as he acted swiftly to stop Afolayan ( a definite danger man for Bolton) as he burst clear . Things got murkier from the resultant corner as the same Afolayan bought a free kick in a very scoreable position. John promptly thumped this into the County wall to end our angst for now.

I say for now, as just a minute later Bolton hit back with a decent goal. Williams started it with a beaut of a through ball to Isgrove whose inch perfect cross enabled Doyle to make it 1-1 at the back post!

 

 Doyle makes it 1-1.

 

 

 

That was a bummer and no mistake, but County tried to reply straight away trying to capitalise on another wayward back pass, this time from Almeida- Santos narrowly missing out, which was sad because almost straight off County were behind.

Crankshaw and Minihan had just combined well to block a raid initiated by Isgrove, but the men in white would not go away particularly Afolayan and Lee, and Ross dived to beat the former`s shot out. That was good, but the ball came back almost immediately via Kachunga whose follow up shot gave the County keeper no chance at all.

 No chance for Ross....1-2.

 

 

 

 

 

It was 1-2 in Bolton`s favour and the away end responded with a rousing chorus or three of “ Dave Challinor`s B&W Army” and it cannot be a coincidence that almost straight away Dixon in the home goal was in action diving frantically to keep Madden`s header out.

Both teams had a go next….Whitfield breaking down the right but having to settle for a corner that Bolton defended well, and Afolayan for Bolton, but he failed to capitalise following a slip by Rooney. Kitching saved the day from this, and he did so again with half time moments away, stopping a Bolton raid neatly before sending the ball up the park to Quigley who held the ball up briefly before passing to Madden who brought Whitfield into play nicely watching as he fired the ball sweetly home to make it 2-2!

 

 A belter from Whitfield !

 

 

 

County continued to press in what remained of the half with Crankshaw and Quigley to the fore, the latter`s hold up play simply outstanding again, but somehow it stayed 2-2 , County leaving the pitch with cheers ringing in their ears at the break! 

And now some crowd shots and a video from Andrew, but first a short video from Fitzy of his young Freddie Fitzpatrick ( 2 and a half y.o) at today`s game:-

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                       

  

 

 

Rydel was on for Whitfield when play resumed, and County continued where they left off before half time- Madden`s through ball seeing Dixon just beat Quigley to the ball at the last gasp.

 

 

 Dixon foils Quigley.

 

County were now playing the ball about with confidence and attacking with increasing vigour- Quigley poaching a corner from absolutely nothing! This saw Baptiste head clear before Hogan headed wide from close in to end a longish period of County pressure.

Eventually Bolton replied through Doyle only to see Ross claw his header out after both teams had indulged briefly in some loose  passing.

Minihan was replaced by Collar on the hour, leaving to applause.

County meanwhile were on the front foot through Quigley who saw Dixon hold onto his dipping effort under the crossbar.

 Crankshaw on the ball !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crankshaw was foiled trying to latch onto a Croasdale ball at the sharp end.

Doyle then wasted a half decent chance for Wanderers shooting wide when well set to do better, but it was County who were looking the better of the two sides  - Bolton more and more having to resort to fouls in extremis!

 

 Man Down again !

 

 

 

Hogan `s run on 70 minutes was repulsed by Bolton, and he tracked back pretty quickly to get a good defensive block in as County`s opponents looked for a third goal.

To be truthful, that circumstance was not looking at all likely now indeed Dixon was a busy lad, and grateful to Almeida-Santon who stopped Ross`s long ball from reaching Quigley on the burst.

That said, Bolton were still looking to do County a damage if they could, County`s support doing wonders supporting their team as they had to defend a couple of corners in rapid order- the pressure abated with the sight of Williams` shot flying wide- County`s defending during this period was exemplary!

Crankshaw continued to probe for a weakness down the right for County but he just failed to get the ball to Reid ( on for Quigley) when the pair broke dangerously, and Reid was well placed!

We were now into the last 10 minutes of normal time and despite all their efforts Bolton were still unable to prise open the County defence- sending a free kick wide on 82 minutes and going close through Isgrove only for Ross to spoil his fun.

Into the last 5 minutes we went with Thomason almost putting the ball into his own net from a Crankshaw cross. Dixon struggled with the resultant corner and Reid felt ill used to not get a further corner following this action.

We went into added time with County looking well in control playing some excellent football. The corners could have been better, but I nit-pick!

Crankshaw continued to probe for an opening, and Reid looked to have been fouled , by Liam Gordon as he darted down the right, but County in the end settled for a draw which was no mean feat at all. It also preserves our unbeaten record at the venue and takes today`s opponents back to Edgeley Park for a replay that County will feel distinctly bullish about!

 

 Reid on the charge.

 

 

 

Great scenes twixt County team and County supporters who were full of pride at their team`s performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here`s to much the same on Saturday against Bromley!

See you there!

 

Bolton Wanderers line up :-

Dixon, John ( Gordon 45), Williams , Almeida-Santos, Doyle, Afolayan, Lee, Isgrove, Kachunga ( Bakayoko 76), Thomason ( Delfounso 69) Baptiste.

Subs not used : Gilks, Aimson, Edwards, Henry, Pettifer.

 

Stockport County line up:-

Ross, Minihan ( Collar 60), Kitching (Pye 70), Hogan, Palmer, Croasdale ( Keane 79), Rooney, Whitfield ( Rydel 46), Madden, Quigley ( Reid 79), Crankshaw.   

Subs not used : Hinchliffe, Barclay, Fish, Raikhy.

 

Attendance : 11183 ( 5000)

 

hedgegrower  

    

 

  

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