Wealdstone FC 1 Stockport County 4 ( Vanarama National League ) Saturday 27 November 2021

( Words & Images by hedgegrower- Andrew Machin`s images have now been added as a Additional Gallery at the end of this report !

A hat-trick from live wire County ace Ollie Crankshaw today, ushered Dave Challinor`s team to another top notch 3 points that takes them up to seventh in the National League and well set for a challenge for promotion.

County`s red hot performance was in direct contrast to the prevailing weather conditions- the polar opposite in fact, and the 300+ who made the trip to support them deserved the kind of reward 4 more goals and another 3 points brought their way as they shivered whilst they sang on the covered terrace behind one goal.

It was a decent showing by DC`s men who established control in the first half with Keane and Palmer letting nothing pass for County. It was the ideal base from which to begin to erode Wealdstone`s confidence and this started to crumble on 26 minutes with Quigley`s opener.


DC ready for the off !

Wealdstone worked hard to stay in the game it must be said but, as it progressed so the home side`s propensity for losing concentration….the ball…or both finally told after the break when Crankshaw came into his own punishing almost every lapse by Stuart Maynard`s side .

Crankshaw in tip top form !

It was just a shame that a clean sheet eluded us via Ira Jackson`s 88^th minute strike, but we`ll take 4-1 for sure and look to press on!

The Flyer was almost full, making it to Wealdstone through some appalling wintry conditions- the M6 Toll reduced to 2 lanes and a huge amount of snow!

Upon arrival it was clear that, despite the weather, County fans had again made the required effort and the away end was bulging under the two adjoining roofs and the open terrace to one side pretty comfy with blue and white army including these guys in green captured nicely by County fan Adrian Sedgewick:-

There was a decent crowd in for the occasion and the locals were quickly applauding as George Wickens saw off an early strike by Croasdale.


Croasdale tests Wickens early !

I thought young Wickens did well, especially in the first half when his team were still in it- he made his contribution to that being so at that time for sure!

Those around him struggled a bit however and were perhaps relieved on 5 minutes to see the liners flag deny County a goal for offside.


Offside apparently !

Both sides had difficulty early on negotiating the offside situation – Bird caught similarly on the end of Mundle- Smith testing pass 10 minutes in.

But it was mainly County on the front foot and Wickens again did well to snaffle Sarcevic`s cross with Quigley and others fancying it in front of goal.


Quigley a menace !

Corners and free kicks have improved noticeably under DC, but County could make nothing from one of each ,15 and 16 minutes in.


Wealdstone under the cosh !

A foul by Mundle- Smith on Southam- Hales seemed to have served County well, as Kitching had the ball in the net from the follow up to same, only for referee Scott Jackson to order the kick to be re-taken! Wickens went full stretch to deny the pink shirted blues from this so 0-0 it stayed!


Southam- Hales in decent nick again!

Wealdstone came back at County next winning a corner as Hinchliffe pushed Sweeney`s shot around the post- but Cooper shot wide from this much to the frustration of the locals.

Back came County quickly with Crankshaw and Quigley piling on the pressure- Wickens making another good save to keep a Rydel free kick out after Quigley had been fouled by Cook.

The home side`s relief was short lived though as in the very next attack County opened their account as Quigley made no mistake in the crowded box.

3 Shots of that action from hedgegrower ( above)

County threatened to overrun Wealdstone after this, but Wickens and his defensive colleagues managed to hold out without further damage being incurred.

Indeed County`s opponents did have a tilt at them with half time nearing-Sweeney initially doing well to engineer an opening and cut inside dangerously, only to then lift his effort over the away terrace.

Josh Umerah then forced a rare Stones corner, but this was cleared easily by County as the game swung ends a tad for a short period – Keane`s probing ball into the box cleared by the home side after much good work from Southam- Hales and Crankshaw.


Probing ball by Keano .....

If there was a chance of any real quality for our hosts it came in the 41^st minutes as Mundle-Smith picked out Umerah beyond the back post with a neat cross, presumably watching in horror as the Stones number nine volleyed over when well set!

Wealdstone pressed again in what remained of the half, but despite winning a couple of corners could make no impression on County’s relaxed defensive cover.

Now some crowd shots from hedgegrower:-

Wealdstone opened the second half on the attack, bolstered by an alarming decision by the referee to penalise Palmer who I thought had made a perfectly fair block to snuff out an early home raid.

This could have offered Wealdstone a lifeline but the kick hit the County wall and it didn`t!

This sparked a reply from County but Quigley`s effort flew over the bar from Sarcevic`s tempting cross, Rydel heading over not long after as pink shirted raids started to build again.

Cook earned applause from home specs as he did well to thwart a two pronged assault from Crankhaw and Rydel.

It was County fans applauding next as Sarcevic darted clear….and then they gasped in horror to see play brought back for a foul by Crankshaw in the build-up.


Sarcevic unlucky !

If that was disappointing, the feeling did not last long as Crankshaw made full recompense with the neatest of finishes to make it 2-0.


Deep County joy !

Two nil was good…. but 3 nil better… and within 3 minutes that was how it was as Rydel stole the ball off Cook to feed Crankshaw the perfect food- a pass to order and Ollie did the rest side footing home in the crowded box.


3-0...Crankshaw !

A welter of personnel changes came next , 3 in 7 minutes by Wealdstone, and couple from County as Madden and Barclay replaced Quigley and Keane for the last quarter of an hour.

Another 7 minutes on from this activity, after more County pressure, suddenly County`s lead was 4-0 and Crankshaw had an incredible hat-trick as he penalised another dozing defender to steel the ball before slotting a neat finish beyond Wickens into the net.

There was time for the welcome introduction of Connor Jennings in place of County`s hat-trick hero on 83 minutes........


CJ on !

..... and some disappointment as Ira Jackson`s shot eluded Hinchliffe to kybosh his clean sheet, and more almost at the end of normal time as Sarcevic netted the goal his energetic performances have merited of late.

Sarcevic `scores`...he will....he will !

“Five -one “ thought I, but I had not noticed the far off liner`s flag waving belligerently in the growing darkness- it stayed 4-1 !

It was not the end of County`s efforts to record another nap hand- they kept attacking none more so than Rydel whose cross in added time was only half cleared by Wealdstone. Croasdale was fouled in the follow up, and with the away terrace united in the chant “ shoot, shoot” Rydel duly did only to see Wickens make his final save of the night to keep it at 4-1.

That was a decent win was that- another potential banana skin avoided in decisive style.

It augurs well for the run in, and before that the small matter of Rotherham United in the FA Cup- I am not betting against County doing a job on the high flying Yorkshire side…are you?

See you there then!

Wealdstone FC line up:-

Wickens, Cook, Okimo, Base ( Dranfield 74), Umerah, Mc Avoy, Dyer, Bird ( Jackson 67), Mundle- Smith ( Muringliani 67), Cooper, Sweeney.

Subs not used: Eleftheriou, Mascoll.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Southam-Hales, Keane ( Barclay 71), Palmer, Kitching, Croasdale, Collar, Sarcevic , Crankshaw ( C Jennings 83), Quigley ( Madden 71) , Rydel.

Subs not used : Minihan, Rooney.

Attendance 1382 ( 323)

hedgegrower

Andrew Machin`s images added via Additional Gallery :-