Stockport County 5 Kings Lynn Town 0 ( Vanarama National League) Tuesday 23 November 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

County treated a fine Tuesday night crowd of 4568 to an excellent display of  football at Edgeley Park last night coming away with an emphatic 5-0 win against a Kings Lynn side that struggled throughout to contain them.

The Linnets made a half decent fist of doing so for the first half hour, until Jordan Keane ended any County anxieties by putting them ahead 34 minutes in, but really further goals looked to be just a matter of `when` rather than `if` -Rydel, who had an outstanding match ( my joint M.O.M along with Keano and Southam- Hales)made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time.

Attacking the Cheadle End after the break, and receiving excellent support from them again, County continued to monopolise possession and chances, increasing their lead through Crankshaw ( 48 minutes),Barclay ( late sub for Keano) and Connor Jennings who crowned a welcome return from serious illness with a story book fifth goal 2 minutes into added time, setting EP alight with excitement.

 

 Welcome back CJ !

 

 

The old place erupted with joy for CJ, all bar 32 heading towards the exits not long after when Referee Scott Tallis( who I thought did not put a foot wrong all evening) blew for time , with broad smiles on their faces. 

If the win was expected, with Ian Culverhouse`s team seemingly unable to buy one of late, it was also a possible `banana skin` game of the kind that County have managed to come a cropper over a time or two in the past.

Not last night however, and it is encouraging to see that DC`s team are playing their football in the opposition’s half, which rather left Ben Hinchliffe somewhat redundant as Kings Lynn just could not muster much in the way of an attacking response, so preoccupied were they on keeping County out.

 

 Lots of pressure from County !

 

 

 

This was a mammoth task however with Southam- Hales mounting attack after attack down the right with the magnificent support of Keano, and Rydel in excellent form on the other flank in tandem with the ever-reliable Kitching.

 

 Southam- Hales flying early !

 

 

 

 

 

 The Linnets County tormentors were just not going away -the wonder being that County were held to 5-0. Linnets keeper Paul Jones made a clutch of top class saves but despite this that`s the way it finished.

The win puts County up to ninth position in the National League, and also sees us clock up a positive goal difference at long last but most importantly of all it kept the aforementioned smiles on County faces, absent for so long!

We are seeing DC`s fine words being eloquently put into action, where it counts most, on the pitch on match days by his County team, and that`s powerful medicine in these dark and challenging times!

Back at 7.45 the teams were welcomed onto the pitch by a crowd way above average for a Tuesday night game. 

 

 Danny Stand ( above) & YB Poppers ( below) -great support.

 

 

 

 

If the noise level was somewhat lower than last Wednesday`s had been it was entirely understandable, but no less warm and welcoming, and Kings Lynn had a decent welcome too, from 32 quality travelling supporters who had made the arduous trip from North Norfolk to support their team- hedgegrower salutes them!

The hardy 32 captured by Andrew Machin :-

 

 

 

 

There were starts for Will Collar and Ollie Crankshaw as DC resisted the temptation to go for wholesale changes with tired limbs in mind.

 Collar made some telling contributions !

 

 

 

 

Crankshaw has looked the part when on the pitch, his inclusion last night giving the in-form Paddy Madden a hard earned rest. 

 

 Crankshaw  in good nick ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

The play opened with County very much on the front foot as, bolstered by the bullish efforts of Jordan Keane, Macauley Southam-Hales took the game to Linnets-the first move ending with Collar`s shot climbing up and over the bar.

 Collar- Quietly combative...if that`s possible ! ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

This pressure continued from the blues and Crankshaw joined Southam-Hales running the visitors back line ragged with high octane play, but Linnets came away with a pressure ending goal kick from this.

 

 Linnets run ragged !

 

 

 

A rare sortie up the park by Kings Lynn came on 10 minutes, and 32 hardy souls to my left were a picture of animation …up to a man….a woman… in unison convinced they had a penalty as Gold Omotayo took a tumble in the box- but Mr Tallis thought otherwise and he was correct!

Back came County and Jones made a good save to deny Southam-Hales on the end of Sarcevic`s cross from the right.

 

 Sarcevic in the mix !

 

 

 

Sarcevic just needs a goal to ignite his game, but he is really doing OK for me, and his next action was to spread the play from wide right to wide left where Ryan Rydel would rule the roost game long with some impressive play. A corner resulted…then another and the visitors did well to hold out under a wave of attacking moves from the blues.

 

 

 Sarcevic- just needs a goal ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

I say `hold out` but it was clearly a big ask of them and they would lose composure a time or two conceding free kicks aplenty with the occasional naughtiness, and again Mr Tallis spotted some of this giving County a free kick just outside the box on 17 minutes, but Arthur Iontton was able to clear up the park and it stayed 0-0.

 

 Constant pressure from the blues....

 

 

 

The pressure was continuous from County however- Kitching seeing his shot clear the bar by a foot on 19 minutes….Quigley going close with Southam- Hales but losing out to some sharp work by keeper Jones twice in rapid order 3 minutes later.

 Tester from Quigley ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

On it went in the same vein, we perhaps…no definitely we did….want a County goal to calm any needless nerves, and they were needless as there was no sign of `hurry up` in the County play just well ordered moves heading where they should namely in Jones` direction!

But Jones was in cracking form, and he had to be, denying Crankshaw a goal with a terrific save on 32 minutes.

 

 Terrfic save by Jones !

 and here`s the shot from Cranks ( Andrew Machin)

 

 

 

 

The follow up effort from this was bundled away, but not to safety as Keane ensured the pressure stayed on the men in yellow shirts, forcing them back …winning a corner. This was only half cleared and worse for Linnets they conceded a free kick in their distress.

 Desperate defending for Linnets !

 

 

 

 

Worse was to follow as Rydel shone brightly again, his cross volleyed home by Keane with 34 minutes gone to give County a deserved lead.

 1-0....Keano !

 

 

 Keano indeed ! ( Andrew Machin )

 

 ...and Andrew Machin get`s the celebrations from Keano`s opener too !

 

 

Palmer was County captain in Madden`s absence and he drew applause from the Cheadle End for some neat work as Kings Lynn looked to respond.

But the meaningful action was all at the other end of the park, where a frantic dive by Pierce Bird kept another nifty cross from Rydel from doing damage.

Corners…free kicks came aplenty as half time neared, but no second goal…..enter unsung hero Ryan Croasdale whose run down the right and cross teed up Rydel to make it 2-0 from close in.

 

 2-0 via Ryan Rydel ( Andrew Machin )

 

 and Andrew Machin got the unsung hero Croasdale as well!

 

 

 

That was excellent and it was half time too in no time at all- a very satisfactory half`s work from County!

Now some crowd shots from old hedgie....

 

 

Then some from Andrew Machin :-

 

 

 

 

 County opened the second half attacking the Cheadle End with gusto, Quigley in the van. He was not alone and Collar stepped in with a brilliant through ball that set Quiggers up nicely. A fierce drive followed and then a brilliant save by Jones, but he only managed to parry the ball which ran loose to Crankshaw who made no mistake firing the pill home to loud cheers from all 3 stands!

 The shot from Quigley......

 

 ...the goal by Cranks......

 

 ...and the celebrations !

 

 Keeper beaten ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

It was tempting to think that the floodgates would now open wide and County would surge through them, but for now Jones was in the way of that saving from Palmer on 51 minutes.

County`s play down the flanks had been outstanding all evening – Southam- Hales and Crankshaw wide right/ Rydel and Kitching on the left, with Sarcevic appearing on both flanks to advantage.

 

County still pressing !

 

 

 

Rydel and Crankshaw linked up neatly on the left on the hour only for that man Jones to pull another save out to stop the Linnets rot.

I have mentioned earlier the fact that Kings Lynn rather lost their discipline at times, and this happened next with Southam- Hales drawing the crudest of assaults from Iontton as he launched another of his lung bursting runs on 62 minutes.

 Southam- Hales  a magnet for fouls ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pressure continued from County…..Rydel a menace down the left ,keeping the opposition on their toes. Crankshaw was in the mix too but again Jones did excellent work to keep his shot out with Reid ( on for Quigley) in attendance.

 

 90 odd minutes of excellence !

 

 

Palmer saw a header bounce just wide next, as Keane left the scene to a loud ovation being replaced by Barclay.

Barclay had been on the park just over 5 minutes when Kings Lynn earned their third booking of the night when Sundire took Kitchings legs a with sickening impact!

Thankfully Kitching looked to have eventually recovered and even better County made their opponents pay for their assault from the free kick. Rydel took the kick which Jones and his defenders managed to just keep out, but the ball went loose to Barclay who promptly smashed the ball home to wide acclaim from both on and off the pitch!

 

 Comeuppence coming...

 ...and executed by Barclay !

 

 Andrew Machin captures the Barclay shot neatly!

 

 ....and the result too ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

That action came on 77 minutes. Four minutes later more applause greeted the welcome sight of Connor Jennings replacing Crankshaw.

 

 CJ back to an ovation ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

It was superb to see CJ back after so long out coping with extensive treatment for a serious medical condition.

It was less welcome to see Michael Cunan cut short another of Southam-Hales` spring-healed runs as he cut inside. Cunan cut him in half getting booked for Southam-Hales` pains, but sadly the free kick flew wide!

Kings Lynn staged the briefest of rally`s with 90 minutes almost up- Barclay heading out from a rare Linnet`s corner, before Gyasi lifted a shot high over the bar.

That was it from Kings Lynn really, but not from County. Rydel was still running at the visitors hard pressed back line with the same verve and energy he was exhibiting in the first minute…. He was still pinging crosses over.

But the final breakthrough came on the other flank where Collar latched onto the ball before laying it back neatly to Connor Jennings who crashed the ball into Jones` net with practised efficiency.

 essential set up work by Collar ( Andrew Machin )

 CJ is overjoyed ( Andrew Machin )

 

 ...and you can feel the love that generated ! ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

The stadium erupted to acclaim CJ`s brilliant goal- a story book ending to  this game, and the start of much more of the same as far as  Connor is concerned!

That was 2 minutes into added time.

There was time for more from Rydel …and another save from Jones before Mr Tallis ended what had been a first class business-like County win.

It sets us up nicely, now to get to Wealdstone for more of the same!

But before we  go a final one from Andrew Machin :-

 

 Nuff said !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockport County  line up:-

Hinchliffe, Southam- Hales, Keane ( Barclay 70), Palmer, Kitching, Collar, Croasdale, Sarcevic, Quigley ( Reid 55), Crankshaw ( C Jennings 81), Rydel.

Subs not used : Rooney, Raikhy.

 

Kings Lynn line up:-

P Jones, Fernandez, Bird, Bowry, Cunan, Coleman ( McGavin 54), Omotayo , Linton ( Gyasi 63), A Jones, Sundire, Iontton ( Barrett 63).

 

Attendance: 4568 ( 32)

 

hedgegrower