Rotherham United 1 Stockport County 0 ( FA Cup Round 2) Friday 3 December 2021

 

 

 

 

 

There are bruises that hurt and still feel good,

As well as defeats that feel like triumphs!

Mia W

 

 

( Poem by Mia W, all other words by hedgegrower, images by hedgegrower & Andrew Machin )

 

 And those words never felt more apt as County took the game to League One 17 game unbeaten Table Toppers Rotherham United and shook them to their core at their place last night.

It was a performance right out of the top drawer of FA Cup exploits and Dave Challinor`s team can think themselves extremely unlucky not to come away with at least a replay for their efforts.

It was a night for heroes and County had a team ram jam full of `em forcing the Millers to resort to somewhat un-edifying tactics at times to repulse wave after wave of blue shirted attacks!

County were backed mightily by the Blue & White Army throughout and when Madden planted the ball in the United net late on how they roared as the equaliser signalled at least a replay at Edgeley Park, but it was not to be  ,the goal being ruled out by a wave of the liner`s flag- don’t ask…just do not ask, like me await the liner`s memoirs maybe- it looked a perfectly good goal to me!

That was simply diabolical but no more so than much that had gone before from the officials, Referee Yates seeming to have a considerable downer on as far as Quigley was concerned, responding to every cue from the home specs to frustrate and thwart the County striker on numerous occasions game long.

 

 Quigley feared  for sure !

 

 

 

 

Quigley was a potent weapon for County disturbing the home defence and specs in equal measure and with better luck and the odd decision his way ….who knows…..

 Quigley pressing ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

Rydel and Kitching continued their productive partnership down the left, and whilst Southam- Hales was preoccupied with rather more defensive duties than normal in the first half, he emerged with considerable force in the second, and the County rearguard, shorn of Jordan Keane by injury, stood up to their task really well, never looking at all phased by supposedly superior opponents! 

 

 Rydel on the ball ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

In short it was a proud day to be a County supporter, and how the 2318 present made that point to their team at the end of the game!

Barclay for Keane was the sole change from Wealdstone – a mighty roar greeting the team as they emerged into the unreal brightness which is the New York Stadium.

 Out they come ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

County started in lively fashion spurred on by Rydel and Kitching who were constantly looking for Quigley. Unfortunately he was difficult to spot as almost inevitably he would have been decked by one or other in red and white.

 

 Early pressure on United !

 

 

 

 

The first real chance came at the wrong end where Hinchliffe saved with his legs to keep Ogbene`s shot out.

                                                 County shrugged that last action off quickly their lively play forcing United to lose discipline in response- a foul on Rydel pushing them back from the free kick. County thought they had a corner from this, but the Referee thought otherwise.

 

 Free kick coming !

 

 

 

 

I was impressed by County`s obvious desire to work an opening, and the work rate of players like Collar and Croasdale in this process. Whilst United did get forward themselves there was a definite sharper edge about the blues work than that of our hosts, and Vickers in the home goal had to look sharp to deal with an effort from Collar early on with the away end roof under threat from the rising crescendo of noise emanating from beneath it.

 

 Sharp edge with County`s work ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

This brilliant noise could not but urge the blues on and Wiles had to trip Kitching to stop his gallop midst a County charge.

Vickers punched out under pressure from Rydel`s free kick, only for Wood to clatter Crankshaw setting up another free kick in a central position. It might have been a chance, but instead we were pleased to see Croasdale positioned brilliantly to cut off a break by Miller.

 

 Crankshaw keeps opposition on their toes !

 

 

 

 

County just would not go away though – a series of corners testing the home side`s nerves.

 Vickers under pressure from County.

 

 

 

 

 

But it was County nerves that were jangling next as Ogbene slipped by Collar who then earned a card by upending the Miller`s wide man. The free kick flew over the bar, but it was perhaps a timely warning.

Kitching did well following that last action with a decisive block at the back, whilst at the other end Referee Yates failed to see some naughtiness against Quigley prompting the ref to bring Palmer over for a `chat` with him and Quigley- it was no substitute for authoritative …correct…decision making, but there would be more of this to come with giant sized knobs on going forward!

 Frustration for Quigley ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quigley almost had the perfect response within a minute, Vickers just able to push the County striker`s shot over the bar.

 

 United under the cosh !

 

 

 

The corner was cleared, but the County pressure persisted and built, almost in precise unison with the angst being generated loudly by the home specs.

Beyond the half hour and I was still in awe at County`s performance, but we again had the over excitement reigned in as, with Miller and Rathbone in the van, United surrounded the County goal testing Hinchliffe to the full, with a series of shots any one of which, but for Ben`s heroics, might have given Paul Warne`s side the lead.

We then saw an unbelievable moment unfold before our eyes, as Rydel and Kitching combined to turn the United pressure into a County attack. On it went to Crankshaw and then to Quigley via the sweetest of through balls. It was decidedly `game on` as Scott took a yard out of his marker only to be taken out crudely by Miller.

That was diabolical…. but to the great joy of the home supporters Mr Yates , having booked Miller, then gave the free kick to County`s opponents. You will say `for offside` possibly and I might respond  `garbage` , but that `wisdom` prevailed as I hoped  earnestly for the earth around me at the New York Stadium to open up and engulf me!

It was plain that County`s work rate and energy were taking a toll on 17 game unbeaten Rotherham as Smith joined Miller in the ref`s book for anther foul.

 Sarcevic on the charge for County ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

Then Smith atoned by nicking the goal his side wanted so badly, receiving Rathbone`s pass after Miller had done the spade work, scoring from close in at Hinchliffe`s back post!

 

 Smith nicks one...( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

That was a bummer for sure, and worse nearly followed and from Smith again. His shot was kept out however by neat work from  Hinchliffe that  kept it at 0-1.

The half ended with Quigley getting penalised again for precious little that I could see- it was enormously disappointing that we had such a poor official in charge on such an important occasion!

County went in at the break to an ovation from the County faithful who continued to be in fantastic voice!

Now some crowd shots from hedgegrower first, starting with a pic of our Japanese friend and County supporter Riishi Fujiwara:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then some from Andrew Machin( including another of Riishi! :-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The early pressure came from the Miller`s upon the resumption- Rathbone going close twice in rapid order- denied by Hinchliffe`s good work from the second.

Crankshaw drew applause from the Blue & White Army next going one on one with Vickers, who just prevailed!

But the Yorkshire side were still looking a tad bullish -Ogbene shooting wide on 51 minutes.

Cue a response from the blues, and it was a substantial one as Sarcevic sent Quigley on another marauding run deep into United territory.

 

 Sarcevic -provider !

 

 

 

 Vickers just got to Quigger`s effort pushing it for a corner from which first Croasdale and then Rydel saw shots thud into one of a forest of red and white shirts in the box.

  Quigley denied....just !

 

 

 

 

 Corner followed corner after this, and all looked distinctly iffy for the home side until Vickers somehow fell onto the ball and stopped the rot for his team.               

 

 Vickers keeps United afloat !

 

 

                   

But DC`s County team just would not go away -someone in red/ white lumping the ball high into the stand ….anywhere…with Crankshaw on his case.

Madden had replaced Collar earlier and looked in good nick only to be hauled down in the act of setting up a blue raid. I did not see who the offender was, but offender he certainly was but the referee looked away allowing the possession won by the foul to continue in a United raid.

Needless to say this raid resulted in a Southam- Hales booking just seconds after the last action for a perceived foul on Miller.

We were beyond the hour now and if United were coming into it a touch more, there was no let-up in County`s intensity and sharpness and this saw Quigley darting clear onto a Madden pass only to be `sorted` by Ladapo. I had just about digested the remarkable fact that this was the first decision to go Scott`s way when Rydel`s free kick smacked into Palmer`s head- alas the ball flew wide!

Back came United only for Southam-Hales, undaunted by the booking,  to block Miller`s progress with some excellent defensive work. Hinchliffe following this with two good saves to deny Wiles and Miller in rapid order- County`s defensive cover holding up well as their opponents forced a series of corners.

We were deep into the last 20 minutes now and Vickers was still a busy boy and the 76^th minute saw County get the equaliser their play merited …or so I thought!

It started with handball by Wiles and from the free kick the ball ran to Madden who slotted home from close in, only for the near side liner to flag the goal away. We assume offside but really was it?!!

 

 1-1 for me !

 

 Andrew Machin`s view of that....

 

 

 

By this time Hogan and CJ were on for Barclay and Crankshaw both of whom left to ovations!

CJ and Hogan were quickly and positively into the fray pushing the home side further and further back.

Enter that same liner again as Southam -Hales roasted Miller near the right by-line, the ball going out off the defender, only for the decision to be a goal kick- the away end was beside itself with rage at this and rightly so, the pressure…however briefly…was now off United!

 Southam- Hales, a defender....and that flag !

 

 

 

 

 

County, with Rooney and Raikhy now on for Croasdale and Kitching, continued to pile the pressure on though as 5 minutes added time was announced- that would be just about long enough for DC`s boys to nick one!

And deep …deep into that time we thought we were about to square that particular circle as Sarcevic was fouled allowing Rooney to ping a tasty free kick into the box. `Handball` the cry went up from behind Vickers back..........

 

 `Handball`...possibly ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

.......... but the referee was away with the fairies by now and play continued with County pressing and United defending ever more desperately.

 

 

 

 

 Constant pressure on Millers !

 

Shots rained in….CJ`s came out off a wall of red/ white shirts before Rooney`s lob picked Madden out at the back post. ` 1-1` thinks I only to be immediately disavowed of that naivety by a wave of that same liner`s flag that told us not only to maybe consider the proposition that day was in fact night, but that Madden was offside!

There was time for a reprise of that within seconds, which was truly awesomely bad.

 

 CJ in the mix late on ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

County continued to press right up until the final whistle when the supporters got the chance to salute a magnificent team performance which they did loud and long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot praise County`s performance enough- it was all it should have been and much…much more, setting us up nicely for Torquay next week and the run in which we can face with growing confidence given the way County are performing, and responding to DC`s game plan.

Heroes all!

See you on the English Riviera then!

 

Rotherham United line up:-

Vickers,  Barlaser ( Odofin 81), Wood ( Harding 46), Wiles, Ladapo, Ogbene, Miller ( Mattock 81), Rathbone ( Lindsay 66), Ihiekwe, Edmonds- Green, Smith ( Grigg75).

Subs not used: Johanson, Sadler, Bola, Kayode.

 

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Southam- Hales, Barclay ( Hogan 77), Palmer, Kitching ( Raikhy 85), Collar ( Madden 55), Croasdale ( Rooney 85), Sarcevic, Crankshaw ( J Jennings 77), Quigley.

Sub not used : Ross, Minihan, Fish, Fryers.

 

Attendance : 6466 ( 2318)

 

hedgegrower