Stockport County 1 Bromley 1 ( Vanarama National League ) Tuesday 13 November 2021

 

 

 

( All words by hedgegrower, images by hedgegrower and Andrew Machin )

County did their best to make Dave Challinor`s first game in charge at Edgeley Park a winning one, but after a game that fizzed and crackled much of the time, they had to settle for a share of the points with a highly competent Bromley side.

If County provided most of the fizz and crackle, Bromley were clearly not here to make up the numbers, showing a willingness to break up the park that put County under pressure rather more than they might have expected or wanted.

That said, there was a far greater zing about the blues work from Jordan Keane ( alert at the back, source of neat counters going forward)to the excellent work of the brilliant Scott Quigley who had another outstanding game , via Kitching and Rydel who formed a fine partnership down the left and Crankshaw who was just Crankshaw on the other flank.

 

 Keano- superb !

 

 

 

But……with wave after wave of County attacks missing out by not very much at all, a late rally from Andy Woodman`s side saw them secure a point midst a goalmouth melee, the ball going in off substitute Liam Hogan.

Back at 5.20……..the hour that only BT deems appropriate for football matches to start, it looked like a back 3 for County  namely Keane, Palmer and Kitching, which was interesting , but would it hold water against a side on a 9 game unbeaten trot?

I liked the look of it anyway and there was no shortage of attacking play from DC`s men, indeed with a touch more luck Madden might have had 2 in the first 15 minutes.

 Madden , short on luck.

 

 

 

The first of these came just 2 minutes in as County`s number nine latched onto the ball after a brave block by Arthur, but his shot was deflected for a corner that went nowhere.

Alabi headed wide from close in from Forster`s cross next, but another 60 seconds on and Cousins, the Bromley keeper, was in action saving from Quigley who would keep him busy all evening.

 

 Save by Cousins.

....and another ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

Bromley pushed County back after that last action making the blues work hard to stay on equal terms- 2 or 3 minutes passing with DC`s team having to defend in numbers.

Eventually Kitching raised the siege combining with Rydel who saw his shot climb harmlessly over the bar.

 

 Kitching pushes on ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

That disappointment signalled a series of attacking moves from County, Forster doing well for Bromley midst it all to thwart Crankshaw on the charge. 

 Crankshaw and company.

 

 

 

 

Keane was next to show for the blues testing Cousins with a teasing ball that the keeper held with some confidence at his near post.

 

 Testing Teaser from Keano !

 

 

 

Cousins will want to forget his next contribution to proceedings however- a terrible attempted clearance that set Madden up for the second of the attempts I mentioned earlier. Crankshaw nicked the wayward clearance teeing Madden up, but his shot was deflected wide again. 

 

 Crankshaw on the ball.....

 

 ..and Madden`s shot ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

County pounced from this, but Webster was positioned perfectly to head Rydel`s follow up cross out.

 

 Follow up by Rydel ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

The pressure continued from Bromley with Chris Bush, who I thought looked a top man for the visitors, seeing the ball cleared as County revved up their efforts to snatch an opening goal.

 

 Incoming as County press.

 

 

 

At this point the minutes applause for George Thompson was observed beautifully by both sets of supporters which was good to see, and it was good to see the Thompson family honoured by the Club and presented to the crowd in a manner that was entirely appropriate.

 

 Thompson Family join the Cheadle End later.

 

 

 

Back came County after this, Quigley`s effort ricocheting for a corner, that saw Sarcevic`s athletically delivered shot dealt with coolly by Cousins.

 

 Sarcevic wants it....

 Sarcevic watches Quigley ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

If Bromley were showing every sign of giving County trouble, it was County`s work that had an edge of sharpness about it not wholly present in the visitors play.

It was a decent contest though, and still 0-0, so all to play for!

Great work in combo from Crankshaw and Quigley missed out when Croasdale joined them and saw his cross cleared by Cousins and his defensive shield.

 Bromley under pressure

 

 

 

Keane was not slow in getting forward seeing Rydel lash the ball over the bar from his probing ball.

That was the 22nd minute, the 24th looked even more promising for DC`s men but Quigley`s effort was inches wide.

 

 Quigley- every inch M.O.M !

 

 Shot coming from Quigley ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

Bush was outstanding for Bromley during all this, doing really well to block Quigley who had again joined forces with Crankshaw. 

 

 Cousins did rather well too( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

There was more from Bush though and he had no sooner dished Quigley when his run and pass ended with Alabi going close for the visitors.

Then, before I had finished praising Bush, he went through Quigley with a steely determination that quickly morphed into hurt innocence in the inquest that followed- he got booked!

Bromley pressed for a short while next, Crankshaw ending the home angst by breaking clear, but Sowunmi got his head to the ball from the cross that followed, the corner was cleared.

 Crankshaw flying ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

  Bush stopped a promising Crankshaw run next after Croasdale had broken a Bromley attack up.

Both sides attacked in what remained of the first half`s normal time, 2 minutes added time being announced as Crankshaw looked up to see his shot drift agonisingly beyond Cousins` left hand post.

 

 

 

County looked for some advantage in added time and thought they might have got it. This started with Cousins saving a Rydel effort but only pushing it clear. Madden fancied it but Quigley did also and had the ball in the net in a trice.

 

 1-0...not...apparently !

 

Alas….and sadly….it was offside…well the referee and liner thought so…and that was that.

It was also half time, an interesting 45 minutes football for sure!  

On to the second half which opened with Kitching continuing the good work with a decent block that saw off Alabi.

This triggered a reply from County and a belter of a ball from Keane that Madden missed out on by a fag papers width.

 Keano delivers ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

With Crankshaw adding to Bromley`s anxieties, and the Cheadle End trying their level best to suck the ball into the visitors net, the opener duly arrived via Quigley whose smart finish brooked no arguments leaving Cousins clutching forlornly at invisible passing phantoms in the rapidly cooling evening air!

 

 Quigley puts it away expertly!

 and the celebrations start !

 and Andrew Machin sees Quigley make it 1-0 !

 

 

 

 

 

It was 1-0 to County and ` Dave Challinor`s Blue & White Army` boomed out into that same air now!

The Bromley keeper did better next catching cleanly as the ball came at him from the right flank.

County switched the focus of their attack next with Rydel and Kitching probing down the left, but this fell flat allowing Bromley to break, Rooney `taking one for the team` conceding a free kick and getting booked  for a foul on Alabi that stopped said break.

 

 Rydel teamed up well with Kitching.

 

 

 

The strategy might not have been overly pleasant, but it worked as Cheek lifted the free kick over Bergara Close heading for Heaviley.

 

 Heading for Heaviley ! ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

It was Keane`s turn again next to step up to the mark and there was no foul here just an immaculate tackle to stop Coulson as he darted clear. Brilliant probably covers it , but the Cheadle End left no room for doubt with a rousing chant of ` Keano….Keano…Keano`.

On it went….Madden foiled from a Quigley prompt for the blues…..then back to clear a corner as Bromley`s forwards reminded us they were here.

 

 Madden foiled !

 and foiled again ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

We needed no reminding that Crankshaw was in the vicinity, and he combined well with Sarcevic to tee Rooney up for a shot that carried the bar with just over 20 minutes left to play.

 

 Shot from Rooney ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

It just seemed a matter of `when` rather than `if` County would add to their lead but with Kitching setting another attack up, and Keano supplying the ammunition via a lovely final ball , Quigley sent his header flying over the bar.

 Header by Quigley ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

Back came Bromley but Ross was able to snaffle Coulson`s lob midst a clutch of red shirts.

We were into the last 20 minutes now and by this time Minihan was on for Crankshaw, as we watched Coulson lead another raid by the visitors testing County`s resolve with a tasty free kick- the blues were up to it!

With Collar also now on for Rooney, County had defending to do – Ross doing well to thwart Alabi after good work by Coulson and Cheek for Bromley.

 

 Err...`ang on a mo` ref !!!!! ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

I was slightly miffed to see the referee ( Lewis Smith) watch Webster haul Quigley down unceremoniously and give nothing with 13 minutes left , and again as Madden`s effort missed the target following more quality work from Kitching and Rydel just a couple of minutes later.

 

 More quality from Kitching.

 

 

 

You could almost touch the tension now, and more so as a Quigley went one on one with Cousins- the County man losing out narrowly.

 

 Despair for Quigley.

 

 

 

Rydel ratcheted the tension up again his left footed strike fizzing by the keeper`s back post by fractions of an inch!

It really was just a matter of time wasn`t it ? but Quigley fared no better than Rydel had 2 minutes later his shot whistling wide by not very much at all!

It was at this point that Madden was replaced by Hogan.

County were under siege with Bromley wanting something from the game. County had coped pretty well with everything the visitors had thrown their way thus far, but an untidy melee in front of Ross`s goal saw them concede in disappointing fashion, the ball going in off substitute Liam Hogan.

 1-1 !

 

 and Andrew Machin`s view of that one !

 

 

 

 

Four added minutes were announced almost immediately after the equaliser, but we pretty much knew it was 1 rather than 3 points we would have to settle for.

Palmer did go very close indeed though deep into those 4 minutes – his spectacular effort no further away from going in than a host of others from County had been in a frustrating game, kept out by late heroics from Cousins.

 

 The shot from Palmer

 but Cousins has it !

 

 

 

 

 

All the above said, there are definite green shoots showing as the days of ` sideways….sideways…back `are dispensed with , replaced by an apparent willingness to get forward and have a go. Quigley is a fine example of this and a shoo in for the game`s M.O.M award !

Just a touch of luck needed then? Yes I think so, that and some patience maybe as DC gets things in the order he requires.

It is not possible to say what level of service hedgegrower will be able to supply to the County Family worldwide for the FA Cup tie with Bolton as neither Andrew or myself have heard back from the Club yet on accreditation.

There will certainly be a report, but whether this will be accompanied by our usual crop of quality images is not yet clear.

IO County!

 

Stockport County line up:-

Ross, Keane, Palmer, Kitching, Croasdale, Rooney ( Collar 75),Sarcevic, Rydel , Crankshaw ( Minihan 73) , Madden ( Hogan 86), Quigley.

Subs not used: Hinchliffe, Reid.

 

Bromley line up:-

Cousins, Bush, Sowunmi, Coulson, Arthurs, Cheek, Alabi, Trotter, Webster, Forster ( Dennis 72), Alexander( Sablier 50/ Cawley 92).

Subs not used: Cook, Partington.

 

Attendance 5515 ( 78)

 

Hedgegrower