Barnet 0 Stockport County 5 ( Vanarama National League) Saturday 29 January 2022

 

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

 

 County consolidated their position as leaders of the National League by storming to a scintillating 5-0 win against Barnet at the southern club`s Hive home today.

It was a superb showing from Dave Challinor`s side- championship stuff writ incredibly large!

 

 Hogan Impressive ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

The goals were shared around -Johnson celebrating his first league start with a brace with one each for Collar, CJ and Hogan who I thought had  his best game this term for us.

 

 a brace for Johnno !

 

 

That said I am going to risk boring you by again saying it was a brilliant team performance, but it was …just that and just exactly what we need for the rest of the season!

Back at 3 o`clock there was another large County away following on the premises to see the blues attempt to defend their position as table toppers.

There were a couple of changes on view namely Johnson for Kitching and Quigley for CJ for County who opened taking the game to their opponents.

 Quigley - back and firing on all cylinders!

 

 

 

 

 

In a flash Southam- Hales ( to the accompaniment of mean spirited booing from many of the home specs) was played clear, and in another he was flagged offside.

 Southam- Hales- none stop ! ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

Both teams looked for an opening after this but it was the home keeper who looked the one under threat and fortunate to see his lines cleared from a free kick after Greeenidge had upended Quigley as he darted onto Madden`s neat pass.

 

 Quigley a constant menace ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

Quigley returned the compliment within a minute but Madden saw his shot charged down.

County were getting on top now but play was interrupted for quite a while whilst insults understood to have been directed at Ryan Johnson were `discussed ?`….`dealt with ?`Well, an announcement over the PA followed , end of ?

 

 The stoppage caught by Andrew Machin.

 

 

 

Quigley was looking in prime form on his return to the colours, his next run pushing the home side back on their heels. The ball then went from Sarcevic to Rydel whose finish cleared the bar.

 Defenders nightmare- Quigley ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

The next action again involved Quigley, and it also involved Greenidge who promptly deposited Quiggers on the deck. I expected some admonishment to say the least, but with the prospect of a second yellow weighing heavily upon him, Referee Jacob Miles waved play on.

County were building up a fair head of steam now, but again there was a `wince factor` involved as Taylor carted Collar as he surged clear. Taylor was booked and the free kick from Sarcevic offered much but Hogan`s header cleared the bar.

 

 Hogan heads o/t.

 

 ....and Andrew Machin`s view of that.

 

 

 

Did I say County were building up a head of steam? Well they were and it continued apace with Madden and Rydel manufacturing a corner from nothing.

Sarcevic took it…..Johnno wanted it….but Oxborough the home keeper got it!

 Johnno v Oxborough 

 

 

 

 

 

On it went with County pressing….getting closer….Rydel linking up with Quigley for a cross that saw a Madden header fly inches wide.

 Madden close with header...

 

 

 

 

It continued with more attacking from the blues, and the response from Barnet was decidedly one dimensional as Rydel`s run was stopped by a crude foul by Turley.

 

 Rydel on the charge

 

 

 

 

 

Howe was in position to head the kick clear for Barnet, but after Rydel had sorted an attempted break by the home side, another escape was notched up by our hosts as a fumble by the home keeper was rewarded by a free kick against County for I know not what.

There was no let up to the County attacking- Rydel distraught to see Oxborough cling to his shot on the half hour.

Oxborough was nowhere next as Rydel`s free kick for County pinged into the woodwork after a foul on Quigley on the edge of the box.

 Ping....onto the bar !

 

 

 

 

 

Barnet showed briefly after that action, but so did Quigley again with some neat defending to thwart Hall. Madden did some defending too from a Hall free kick  turning defence to attack with neat play.

 

 Quiggers v virtual whole Bees back line....

 

 

 

It was another County raid then and another bit of ill fortune as the ball twanged the bar and came out. Quiggers wanted the loose ball but was suddenly chewing grit having been felled by Hall in the box.

Penalty….for sure….but no , and County had to re-build their attack again which they did- Johnson picking Southam-Hales out perfectly  on the right flank. Quigley`s shot from Southam- Hales` pass was deflected for a corner which saw Johnson attack at the far post but shoot over the bar.

 Johnno again !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would we ever score?!

Seemingly not as some magic from Collar and Madden saw a Palmer header saved on the line by the home keeper.

We were into added time now, and County were still attacking. Then the circle was squared magnificently as Collar enhanced proceedings with the coolest of finishes from close in following major good work from Sarcevic, Southam-Hales and Quigley in the lead up to it.

 

 Incoming for Collar

 

 ...and it`s 1-0 courtesy of Collar !

 ...and some happy County faces !

 

 

 and a view of the opener from Andrew Machin.

 

 

 

The away end erupted at this killer blow to the home sides morale!

No matter it was half time and County were 1-0 up – great stuff!

 

Some crowd shots from hedgegrower:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And some from Andrew Machin :-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

County had pressed a lot in that half , but got scant reward for it- could they improve on that playing towards their own fans albeit in a small hurricane?

 

 Croasdale tackled ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

That element played into what followed as following an awful tackle( above) on Croasdale  the County following were up and bellowing loudly in Referee Miles` direction as Hogan was tripped in the box- with no response from the man in black.

 

 Hogan down in the box....

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile Quigley was still probing the soft under belly of the home side. 

 

 Mr 100%- Quiggers !

 

 

 

 

The corner that that action set up was cleared but it was the pre-cursor for better as it came back with interest shortly after via Southam-Hales shot that was deflected for a corner by the harassed home defence. Over it came, and up went Johnno with a diving header to make it 2-0- fantastic!

 Johnson makes it 2-0 !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cue the first of many medleys of County favourites to accompany what was to become a bit of a rout!

Not immediately though…first off Oxborough took a hand , twice thwarting County attacks at the last gasp- involving first Madden and then Quigley!

Then Hogan headed over after Quigley`s power had seen him fouled comprehensively by Hall.

Then he didn`t – the County Captain rising above all comers to head County into a 3-0 lead  from a corner won bravely by Southam- Hales.

 It`s Hogan...it`s 3-0 !

 

He liked it a bit !

 

 He liked it too !

 

 Hogan`s goal as seen by Andrew Machin

 Mutual joy ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

With Crankshaw on for Quigley County kept pounding away at now creaking home defences-Turley doing well for Barnet to find touch when much much worse was in prospect, and doing more good work to block a lively early run from Crankshaw.

With CJ on for Madden with 3 minutes left,  and Rooney on shortly before in place of Sarcevic, Hinchliffe had his first save of the game to make pushing Mason- Clark`s shot around a post.

The corner was cleared and from there on out came mayhem as  Barnet were swept away on a blizzard of County attacking.

Deep into added time CJ nicked one from close in….4-0…......

 

 CJ makes it 4-0 ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

.....then even deeper in….it was 5-0 as Johnson doubled his personal tally scoring brilliantly at the back post.

 5-0 Johnno again...and a steward unfortunately !

 

 No steward in Andrew Machin`s shot of Johnno`s second!

 

 

 

 

 

`We want 6` the County faithful sang, but really 5-0 was fantastically good and well worth travelling twice as far to see!

Cue celebrations all around for County which would probably extend long into the night for many of the County following at the Hive today.

Well done County- well done all!

See you at Nantwich then !

Oh…and by special request…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barnet line up:-

Oxborough, Howe, Turley, Hall ( Richards- Everton 46), Powell, Mason- Clark, Greenidge,Finguok ( Marriott 60) , Taylor , Beard , Woods ( Flanagan 76).

Subs not used: Askew, Thomas.

 

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Hogan, Palmer , Johnson, Southam-Hales, Rydel, Croasdale, Collar, Sarcevic ( Rooney 81) ,Madden ( C Jennings 87), Quigley ( Crankshaw 75).

Subs not used ; Kitching, Newby.

 

Attendance:2183 ( 769)

 

hedgegrower