Stockport County 5 Altrincham 1 ( Vanarama National League ) Sunday 26 December 2021

 

 

 

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

 

County rewarded a bumper Edgeley Park crowd with a sparkling performance today, going nap against an Altrincham side that did well in the end to limit the score to 5-1 in County`s favour.

Indeed, County were 3-0 up in 13 minutes, via goals from Sarcevic, Madden and Quigley, and seemingly cruising to the most comfortable of victories, and a possible cricket score with Alty`s defence unable to cope with the cut and thrust of a County line up that had moves and ideas to spare.

 

 Sarcevic- top quality performance !

 

 

 

 

County added a fourth through Will Collar, but not before Phil Parkinson`s team had punished a lapse in concentration on the part of the County back line that Kosylo and Colclough took full advantage of nicking one back.

Four one to County was as good a lead to take in at half time as they could have reasonably hoped for pre kick off, and the prospects were that the lead would quickly be increased after the break.

In fact it took DC`s men until the 82^nd minute to score the fifth , through Crankshaw,and that was not due to any lack of ideas or endeavour on their part, but to a decent rear-guard action by an Alty back line that dug deep and battled  hard in a cause long since lost.

 Typically all action Crankshaw shot by Andrew Machin.

 

 

 

 

 

That was admirable, and a couple of free kicks and a clutch of corners kept County honest, but there was never a real prospect of a comeback- County`s work ethic saw to that, and a typically impish goal by substitute Ollie Crankshaw re-established the white shirted blue`s hegemony late on, sending a crowd of just short of 9000 home happy – all bar 740 from Alty that is!

 Most of the 740 Alty supporters !

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were so many good things about today…..the return of Keano…..the first County goal and a terrific showing from Antoni Sarcevic…….

 Sarcevic on the ball ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

..........the continuing excellence of Madden who continues now to do his best work in our opponents half……Quigley- back and as lively and threatening as ever…..

 

 Quigley- great to have him back !

 

 

 

..........Collar just will not stop scoring……Southam-Hales- a force of nature……and…… Crankshaw simply irrepressible and far too good , you would think, not to start…..but then who from today`s starters could you justify leaving out to accommodate him?

 Madden- more quality on show from him again today !

 

 

 

 

Thankfully….`DC`s problem not mine or yours!  

It was somewhat surprising to see County having to defend early on, and defend a free kick, which they did well enough…..well enough to take the lead straight from clearing their lines as Southam- Hales` speed and directness saw him pick out the lurking Sarcevic just inside the Alty box- he made no mistake , the ball thudding into the back of Tony Thompson`s net via a superb finish.

 

 Thompson cannot stop Sarcevic making it 1-0

 

 

 

 And the celebration!

 And another angle from Andrew Machin.

 

 

 

 

One up inside 4 minutes…excellent stuff, and we almost added another within 3 more- Kennedy Digie doing well, for Alty, to keep Madden`s neat through ball from the predatory Quigley.

County were putting together some neat moves that seemed to be having a strangely hypnotic effect on the visitors` defence – a hex from Madden getting him the ball back from a defender whose reactions were just not quick enough. Possession was County`s and another calamitous mix up at the back by the Alty defence saw Madden on hand to take advantage of the tangle to make it 2-0.

 2-0....Madden !

 

 Madden fires in County`s 2nd ( Andrew Machin )

 and he rather enjoyed that too ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps Alty needed time to begin to sort themselves out, but County were not giving them any, particularly Quigley who proceeded to smack a terrific 3^rd goal beyond Thompson`s grasp into the net!

 

 It`s Quigley......it`s 3-0 !

 

 A cracker from Quigley....and Andrew Machin !

 

 

 

The moves from County continued to flow with Sarcevic and Madden at the epicentre- Collar and Rydel going close from either flank, Keane and Sarcevic following suit not long after.

 

It looked like that cricket score I had alluded to earlier was a goer at this point, particularly as Thompson had to perform heroics to prevent another inglorious defensive mix up resulting in another goal.

 

 Alty under the cosh !

 

 

 

You would have bet your house on County getting that fourth goal at the half hour mark, but suddenly …instead…they got a rude awakening as Kitching was bullied out of possession by Kosylo, who switched play to the left where Colclough`s goal bound drive went in off Croasdale.

 Colclough makes it 3-1 via Croasdale ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

Now that certainly wasn`t in the script, but it was a timely warning none the less, one which County would do well to heed!

They certainly reacted quickly enough, with Croasdale no doubt anxious to atone for his last contribution, but Thompson was not cooperating instead his last gasp finger tip save kept it at 3-1.

 

 Croasdale- ignore the OG....he`s good value!

 

 

 

 

And despite most of the 9000 present willing that fourth County goal into existence, it was not coming as yet, indeed Alty were proving a touch irksome, and their fans were on their feet next….” Penalty” was the cry…but it wasn`t….it was a free kick albeit smack in front and fairly central. A chance then……but Kosylo`s kick cleared the bar.

 Kosylo curls it over the wall and the bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 If the action just mentioned hinted at all at any complacency on County`s part, there was absolutely no hint of same next as a sparkling bit of work by Sarcevic sent Southam-Hales on a run that ended with Collar adding yet another quality finish to the growing number he has scored of recent times!

 

 Collar- a revalation !

 2 shots of Collar`s goal by Andrew Machin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 38^th minute saw County fans respond to the appeal for a minute’s applause in memory of Gaz Morris, and this was observed brilliantly- well done County fans!

 County piled forward from this- Collar`s drive blocked by Hannigan and Kitching`s inviting cross headed over by an unmarked Madden.

 Madden heads over the bar !

 

 

 

 

 

There was time for another warning shot across County`s bows in the shape of another decently placed Alty free kick , but Hinchliffe dealt with this well, holding onto Hannigan`s header from the kick.

There was time also for some more sweet moves from County and they came in quantity, but without a further goal…..there might have been such, smack on half time , had Thompson not been able to claw Digie`s intended back pass out of the danger zone, but the fifth goal eluded us , the score still 4-1 as the teams went in at the break.

 

 

Now some crowd shots from Andrew Machin :-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second half opened with a `daisy cutter` from Kitching flying just wide. This was but one of several County attacking moves around this time, but unlike in the first 45 minutes the response from the visitors back line was solid.

 

 Kitching on the ball ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 And there was some spirited attacking in the mix too from Alty- Senior winning one of two corners won in rapid order – Mullarkey spoiling the set for the visitors by heading wide.

Hogan was now on for Rydel, and again I was pleased to see a more confident note in his play as he settled in on the left side of a three.

 

 Hogan- energised !

 

 Rydel off as precaution after knock ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

Quigley was a menace and showing no ill effects from whatever kept him out, and Sarcevic was firing on all cylinders still – his shot fizzing wide off a defender just before the hour mark.

 

 Quigley at the sharp end !

 

 

 

County were looking for that fifth goal for sure, but Thompson was equally sure he was not going to allow them to get it- his quick reactions thwarting Madden in a one-on-one last ditch encounter.

Senior was another one in yellow who was doing well for Alty under pressure, as shots  and headers rained in on the visitors goal.

Altrincham tried their best to break free of the iron grip that County had them in, but Hogan would not let them- winning the ball before sending a decent drive inches over the top.

That was encouraging, and DC added another element by switching Madden and Quigley for CJ and Crankshaw with 20 minutes left.

 

 Good shift by Quiggers ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

There was another brief alarm a couple of minutes later as Hinchliffe looked in difficulties after making a quick clearance- I winced with us not having a keeper on the bench, but Ben recovered to make further anguish unnecessary.

Sarcevic and Hogan again both saw shots carry the bar- and CJ went closer still in a period of frantic County pressure.

 Alty under pressure.

 

 

 

 

On it went with Southam- Hales on a run, crossing for CJ to chest it down to Sarcevic , but his effort again missed out, almost unnoticed in a veritable blizzard of attacking moves from County and a welter of impressive saves from Thompson.

 

 More pressure coming Thompson`s way !

 

 

 

We needed that fifth goal though but again Crankshaw saw Thompson on hand to thwart his best efforts. Chance gone then? Well…no…..this was Crankshaw….and , with the wave of attacks persisting, he reappeared  at the back post …exchanged passes with the admirable Sarcevic, and it was 5-1 as the ball was nestling in the net( 3 excellent shots of that from Andrew Machin follow:-

 

 

!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the eight minutes left to play Alty did their best to reply only for Hancock to hit the County wall with a late free kick after Colclough had `fallen down` just outside the box.

 

 Hancock hits the wall....Andrew Machin takes the shot !

 

 

 

 

And……….Southam -Hales continued to do his best at the other end somehow summoning up the energy for another raid down the right flank that saw Collar and Croasdale centimetres from adding a sixth!

 

 Southam -Hales  all action again ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

Great stuff County, that was a top quality performance, one that augurs well for what may lie ahead!

Hoping that Solihull is on in 2 days time- I`ll wait for some clarity on the matter from Mr Johnson then….or maybe not!

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Keane, Palmer, Southam-Hales, Kitching, Croasdale, Collar, Sarcevic, Rydel ( Hogan 52),Madden ( Crankshaw 70), Quigley ( C Jennings 70).

Subs not used: Minihan, Rooney.

 

Altrincham line up:-

Thompson, Hannigan, Moult ( Leitch-Smith 75), Porter ( Furman 75), Hancock, Colclough, Kosylo, Digie, Fitzpatrick (Marriott 58), Senior, Mullarkey.

Subs not used: Densmore, Drench.

 

Attendance : 8896( 740)

 

hedgegrower