Torquay United 2 Stockport County 1 ( Vanarama National League) Saturday 11 December 2021

 

Torquay United 2  Stockport County 1

 

County sank to their first National League defeat under Dave Challinor`s stewardship today as a Torquay side that looked distinctly second best early on were allowed to come away with an unlikely 2-1 win at Plainmoor.

The early minutes looked to be building towards a decent County showing and 3 points as the white shirted blues put together some sweet moves that had Gary Johnson`s side looking at a chastening home defeat.

But the ball stayed out of the home goal, and when one of the County raids broke down, we were caught out big time on the break by Armstrong whose hopeful effort sneaked in off Will Collar!

We came back from this reverse quickly and confidently via a neat strike by Collar, only to sleepwalk behind as Referee Lee Collins hallucinated big time to give Torquay the lifeline of a penalty in the half`s dying embers. It was nothing of the kind of course, but this view did not carry, and Hall duly put his kick beyond Hinchliffe`s dive to give his side a 2-1 lead that they were to hold onto to the game`s end.

Back to 3 o`clock and Rydel was first to show for County but his effort, within a minute of the start flew wide.

Some confident play followed from Challinor`s men but Madden`s finish saw McDonald, in the home goal, cling on and keep it 0-0 from Sarcevic`s cross.

It remained much the same for the first 10 minutes there being no real sign of anything at all worrying from our hosts, even in the 11^th when Klaidi Lolos siezed possession - his shot climbing over the away terrace heading off towards Newton Abbott.

The 13th minute saw a rare, and totally uncharacteristic aberration from Hinchliffe who had to concede a corner having stepped out to the wing to stop a break down the right. There were many good moments to follow from Ben as the game progressed and these started with the firmest of punched clearances under pressure from said corner!

It was back to the neat moves though next as County began to turn the home back line every which way. Madden and Sarcevic stretching the oppositions defence to the limit- somehow McDonald got something on Sarcevic`s effort settling for a corner when far worse beckoned. More beckoned from the flag kick but Collar`s shot cleared the bar.

County would not stop attacking now with Southam-Hales, Crankshaw and Madden involved in another sweet move, but Collar just failed to force the ball home from this. We had another corner though and Kitching went close from this, but without getting that much needed breakthrough goal.

Would we pay for not fully taking advantage of our apparent superiority? I did not think this likely….WRONG!!!!!!!!!!........big time actually as Armstrong took advantage of the gap left by Kitching`s forward sortie to sneak clear down the right to nick the game`s opening goal for his side- the ball going in off Collar.

That was a poor goal to concede, but my earlier confidence looked to be well founded as, within a minute, County were level as Collar headed home from Rydel`s diagonal ball to the back post!

Twenty minutes gone…1-1…..not perfect, but if we could tighten up and not leave the back door ajar on what I looked at as a likely continuation of the confident play of earlier, I could not see us not winning this one!

Another minute on however and Madden went into Referee Collins` book for not very much really, forcing Hinchliffe to make a good stop to keep a header from Joe Lewis out.

I looked for some re-emergence of the neat stuff from County, but Palmer`s underpowered header failed to test Mc Donald, and Rydel couldn`t hit the target running onto Southam-Hales` cross. We needed more precision - Sarcevic looked like he appreciated this, on 32 minutes, but his shot fizzed just the wrong side of the woodwork with McDonald a helpless spectator.

Not long after Hinchliffe required prolonged attention after a `coming together` twixt Armstrong and himself. It looked iffy for a time particularly as we had no keeper on the bench.

Ben eventually was able to continue, Collar excelling running the ball clear when play resumed.

But where was this confident play I pointed too earlier? It was nowhere to be seen as County allowed Lolos to cut inside before leathering a shot on target. Hinchlife somehow kept that out, repeating the feat almost immediately denying Sparkes` follow up effort brilliantly!

County did break up the park with added time approaching, but despite queueing in numbers to apply a finish in front of Mc Donald`s goal could not do so, the raid ending with the dispiriting sight of a Madden shot smacking the woodwork and not going in.

Into added time we went, and despite everything I was still confident County could sort matters, only for this logic to get an immediate jolt as Kitching was caught napping by Armstrong. Keane covered Armstrong`s effort from this and Hinchliffe again had to step in to keep a header by Sparkes out not long after.

We were deep into added time and despite Torquay having possession deep inside County`s half, I was not unduly concerned except I had not factored in the referee’s capacity for self-delusion and the amazing agility of the home forwards. I saw absolutely nothing in Sarcevic`s challenge on the Torquay forward, certainly nothing that induced the spectacular fall to earth that resulted.

It was an agile attempt to deceive the official, and it worked as Mr Collins pointed to the spot, Hall stepping up to make it 1-2 in Torquay`s favour from the spot.

The half ended with Hinchliffe still in action keeping another Armstrong effort out- dispiriting it was…..but….call in the men in white coats….I was still clinging to the mantra ` County could not but win this one`… we would see of course, and I would not like it all that much either!

The second half opened with McDonald in action saving from Madden, and Armstrong giving us a near death scene in a failed attempt at claiming a second penalty- he failed.

County attacked through Southam- Hales and Crankshaw but where was the zing and zest so present earlier?

Croasdale was working hard, but we needed inspiration from somewhere but we watched to see Sarcevic`s shot clear the bar beyond the hour.

Minihan was now on for Keane and Reid for Collar but neither replacement was able to make an impression.

A one/ two twixt Southam- Hales and Croasdale offered much only for the latter`s shot to thud into the keeper`s chest and stay out.

For the second time in the game the referee stopped the game to take what I assume was an `object` thrown from off the park onto the field of play. I saw no product from this…no swingeing crowd threatening announcement over the PA, but when play resumed County`s impetus was gone along with any chance!

County were attacking again for sure if without the earlier nous- forcing Moxey to go close to slamming the ball into his own net at one point- Madden inches from Kitching`s cross at another.

That was close, so was Crankshaw not long after in fact he was mere inches away from glory after Southam-Hales had thwarted a threatened break out by our hosts.

It was frustrating and more followed as, on the turn, Croasdale saw his shot hit the angle of bar and post with no defender at all in contention to stop it.

Three times in five minutes after this, Madden, with a shade of normal luck, might have nicked one, his and County`s luck was out…he didn`t.

Reid`s was out too, and the ref was not interested at all as Joe Lewis halted the County forward`s run with the plainest pull of the shirt you could wish to see…and Mr C did see it…just ludicrous to see play allowed to go on with Torquay in possession!

Things went from bad to worse in the closing minutes with Johnson running through his substitutes and Armstrong getting away with spending 3 minutes on the deck ( death scene re-visited) for cramp….CRAMP!

County came under intermittent pressure late on, with 6 minutes added and substitute Lemonleigh-Evans looked likely to fillet us at one point – he didn`t but largely thanks to more good work from Hinchliffe.

Madden thudded a free kick into the woodwork in what I assumed would be the games last gasp, but it wasn`t there was time for more pressure from County…and more than enough time to snatch the equaliser….but we couldn`t …didn`t.

Call it bad luck…..blame the referee…. and I do…both…. But in the end it`s about what chances you are able to put away, and we managed just one, and Torquay prospered from a fraction of our ration!

Lots to learn then before the visit of Grimsby next Saturday!

I hope to see you at Edgeley Park for that one, but before signing off could I mention the absence of images from today`s report of the match, and apologise for same.

Both Andrew and myself were refused accreditation for today`s game by Torquay, who quoted an agreement between the Torquay Photographer and County`s Accredited Photographer as justification.

 

IO County !

 

Torquay United line up:-

Mc Donald, Wynter, Martin, Lapslie, Hall, Little, Lolos ( Lemonleigh-Evans 84) , Moxey, Armstrong ( Wright 82), Sparkes ( Perritt 78), Lewis.

Subs not used : Halstead, Felix.

 

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Southam-Hales, Keane ( Minihan 62), Palmer, Kitching ( Walker 88), Croasdale, Collar ( Reid 62), Sarcevic, Crankshaw, Madden, Rydel.

Subs not used: Barclay, C Jennings.

Attendance: 2156 ( 260)

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