Stockport County 1 Cheshunt FC 0 ( F A Trophy Round 5) Saturday 12 February 2022

 

 

 

 

 

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

County made it into the Quarter Finals of the FA Trophy with a 1-0 victory against a resilient Cheshunt FC side at Edgeley Park today.

The Isthmian Premier League side were in this one right into added time giving County lots to think about throughout a game that never came remotely close to echoing Tuesday`s blood and thunder mix- not entirely a bad thing!

In fact, the match was disappointing fare for over 3000 who watched chilled to the marrow by another mix……biting winds and rain that got   into every available nook and cranny!

That said County will be pleased with a QF place particularly in view of how their opponents clearly wanted to deprive them of it!

 

 

 The 224 as seen by Andrew Machin.

 

 

 

 

It took County 60 minutes to get the goal they needed, nicely put away by Myles Hippolyte, the Ambers having competed for each and every ball up to that point and beyond rewarding the 224 hardy souls who made the trip from Hertfordshire with 90 odd minutes of solid effort and not a little skill with Miles, Reynolds, and Crowther looking the pick for Cheshunt

 

M.O.M- Cody Johnson !

 

 

 

 

For County, Cody Johnson took the M.O.M award and that looked a fully justified choice to me after an assured and skilful showing from the County youngster.

 

 

 Good to see Keano back !

 

 

 

 

 

 Our defence, with Sam Minihan on for his 200^th County game and Jordan Keane back alongside Liam Hogan, looked solid, and they had to do with the Ambers showing so much desire. 

 Sam Minihan- 200 not out !

 

 

 

 

 

That said, a moments aberration from Ross in which he handled the ball outside his box, did cause more than a small amount of concern at least until I realised that County`s recently acquired policy of not having a keeper on the bench, had been eschewed this time, and Hinchliffe quickly changed and came on between the sticks to see us home after the red card. 

 

Elsewhere CJ looked likelier than most in blue to make something happen, and Whitfield gave us a wee glimpse of what we have been missing without claiming any reward. 

Josh Edwards on the ball

 

 

 

 

 

A word for Josh Edwards too – he did well on the left, being subbed I am guessing by prior arrangement to get Whitfield on- we`ll see more of young Josh- rely on it!

 Pro active mascot ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

Back at 3 o’clock, urged on by the most pro-active visiting mascot I have seen, Ambers 224 were raising the roof of the Pop Side as the game got underway with County attacking ( the Cheadle End again !)- Crankshaw going close from a Minihan prompt.

 Minihan on the ball ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

 

A free kick from Josh Edwards followed, but was cleared by Adam Crowther.

If it took 3 minutes or so for Cheshunt to sort a response it looked a decent one, but having won a corner this was rather wasted  to ease any angst County might have been feeling.

Another run from Minihan, whose cross was mopped up nicely by one of Ojo or Gardner, and this brought Ross into urgent action for the first time to fend off a tasty attack by the visitors from a free kick.

We were beyond 10 minutes now and whilst both sides had got forward neither, so far, had found a way to nick that lead.

Hippolyte thought he had for County, on 13 minutes, but his scissors kick saw the ball fly off over the bar, and Rowan Liburd thought likewise for Ambers just 3 minutes later until Ross held onto his shot.

 

 CJ- unlucky ! ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

County responded and CJ was desperately unlucky to see his effort smack into a post after Hippolyte had laid the groundwork with some disruptive approach play.

 Top tackle by Miles ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

On it went- CJ wide but not by much- Crankshaw in his stride on the break, but sorted by excellent track back defending by Taylor Miles.

If asked, I would have to describe the game as `end to end` I think, - Olarinde Williams emphasising this fact with a languid looking break, but spoiling it by lifting his effort wide 27 minutes in.

 

 Shot on way from Cranks` ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

Back came County via CJ whose pass sent Crankshaw away again- it looked good, and then it didn`t as George Marsh , the Ambers` keeper, kept Ollie`s effort out nicely.

 

County were stepping up the revs now and Marsh was in action again just a minute later pushing CJ`s latest effort around a post. The corner was defended stoutly by Cheshunt and the subsequent follow up raids.

Eventually the County pressure subsided, and Cheshunt had a go pushing County back into their last third, where Ross emerged  with the ball after a period of attacking that had the away section of the Pop Side on their feet shouting loudly.

The last 5 minutes saw a Hippolyte shot pushed to safety by Marsh, and Reid go close for County being thwarted by an apparent foul en-route spotted by Mr Smith the Referee.

 

 Reid thwarted !

 and Andrew Machin`s view of that action.

 

 

 

 Cheshunt were not done however, in fact they seemed to be building up something of a head of steam as the first half`s dying embers were acted out and it looked ominous as Enock Ekongo latched onto a loose clearance by Ross to head off goalward.   It did look to be a golden opportunity for the visitors to nick the lead bang on half time, but it was not to be as the tamest of Ekongo efforts rested in Ross`s arms- chance gone!

It was half time too, and very much still ` all to play for`.

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Whitfield was on for Edwards when play resumed after the break as County were first on the attack fuelled by a foul by Ojo on CJ  but the free kick was cleared.

It was not long though before Cheshunt replied with Miles, Reynolds and Ojo combining to push the blues back. Good work by Kitching enabled Ross to make the clearance.

It was particularly good at this point to see how Cody Johnson was still looking entirely

comfortable linking defence to attack with obvious confidence- he looks a real find! 

 

 Whitfield intriguing return to action ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

  County were able to push on as a result – a Minihan/ Reid break blocked……a Whitfield effort beaten out by the diving Marsh.

 Reid- just needs some luck ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was getting better now from County, and it took a brilliant block from Crowther to halt Reid`s progress in the act of getting a shot off on 55 minutes.

 

 Crowther blocks Reid shot on line !

 

 

 

 

 

There was no call for complacency on County`s part though, a fact underlined as Cheshunt forced a free kick and corner in rapid order– they just needed to find someone to finish their raids off, but instead County broke clear- Reid unlucky again to see Crowther positioned perfectly to clear his shot off the line!

 

 

 Hippolyte wins the game for County !

 Winning goal on the way ( Andrew Machin)

 

 

 

 

That was disappointing, but that feeling did not last long as within a minute it was 1-0 to County via a very confident finish from Hippolyte, chance set up by Whitfield!

That was precisely on the hour, and within a minute Ali had replaced Reid.

 Ali on for Reid.

 

 

 

 

Within another Marsh was called upon to make a save to deny Whitfield`s shot on the turn!

 

 Marsh denies Whitfield ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

It was beginning to build now from County, but we needed another to go in to dampen further the Ambers spirits, but instead a CJ/ Crankshaw link up saw Ollie miss out again.

 Crankshaw effort goes close...

 

 

 

 

Cheshunt responded with pressure, but it did not last, and they were again grateful to Marsh as his quick work kept Crankshaw from another neat pass from CJ.

 CJ a threat !

 

 

 

Back came Cheshunt via Liburd but after getting decently positioned deep in the blue box, his shot on the turn cleared the bar!

This brought on a couple of minutes of added pressure from Cheshunt – a decent run and even better shot from Ojo fizzing inches wide!

 

 Cheshunt press !

 

 

 

 

This game was not over!!

County did try to make it so though- Kitching sending Whitfield clear only for Marsh to thwart County`s efforts with another good save.

Into the last 20 minutes we went with County still looking for that second goal to maybe kill the game off, but it would not come- Crankshaw saw a shot charged down, and a subsequent County free kick thudded into the boards, inches wide on 72 minutes.

 

 Crankshaw sniffing for scraps...

 

 

 

Ross midst all this still had to be alert as the Ambers kept finding him work to do with the game`s end getting ever closer.

With 13 minutes left a free kick on the edge of the box, positioned nicely central, was wasted by the blues.

 CJ lobs keeper ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

Another minute and CJ lobbed Marsh neatly only to be flagged offside.

 

 

 Shot from Ali ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

More work for Ross followed, then back came the blues-Ali shooting wide after good work by CJ.

 

 CJ still lively late on...

 

 

 

There was about 5 minutes of normal time left when things got a tad angst ridden at the wrong end as Cheshunt had a free kick on the edge of the box nicely central…...  and….the away end were up in unison “ off…off…off” was the chant of choice and the Referee obliged red carding Ross for handling the ball outside the box.

It was a relief to eventually note that Hinchliffe was on the bench and therefore could come on (   County only used up 2 of their 3 subs)- it was a further stress reliever to see Liburd lift his kick into the Cheadle End!

Into added time we went (6 minutes of it) with Cheshunt attacking with a will- forcing Hinchliffe to make a save…..and then ( only just)beat substitute Newton to a tasty through ball smack in front on 93 minutes.

It went on…Ojo just unable to penetrate the last layer of County defences with his probing run a minute later.

A long throw increased any angst that County felt as the pressure mounted from the visitors.

The game ended with County attacking and a Whitfield shot taking a deflection.

County will be pleased to have won through to the Quarters Finals against such worthy opponents.

For their part Cheshunt should be proud of their efforts that did them and their league great credit today.

 Proud..Cheshunt supporters ! ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

We wish the Ambers great success in the future.

For County it`s Brommers on Tuesday- see you there then!

 

Stockport County line up:-

Ross , Minihan, Hogan, Keane , Kitching, C.Johnson, Edwards( Whitfield 45), Crankshaw ( Hinchliffe 85), Hippolyte, Reid ( Ali 61), C Jennings.

Subs not used : Holding, Barugh.

 

Cheshunt FC line up:-

Marsh, Williams ( Newton 78), Ojo, Ekongo, Crowther, Gardiner, Beckles- Richards ( Maclean 66), Re, Liburd, Miles ( Kassarate 72), Reynolds.

Subs not used : Mackenzie, Camara.

Attendance : 3340( 224)

hedgegrower

 

Additional Gallery( Crowd Shots) 

all these by AndrewMachin :-