Eastleigh 0 Stockport County 2 ( Vanarama National League ) Saturday 26 March 2022

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

There wasn`t even a hint of a backwards glance today as County went about their business against Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.

Their business was securing promotion and with it the National League title and they did their prospects of achieving both no harm at all with another convincing 2-0 win against the Spitfire`s as, galvanised by the addition of 3 top quality players to their squad, County underlined their credentials with a suitably top-quality performance.

The win was all more creditable as the Spitfires had held DC`s men in the first 45 minutes, but…add another 45 and Lee Bradbury`s side just had no answer to the unstoppable display of power and skill that faced them from the men in black and white in the second half.

County`s goals came from Hippolyte and Hogan and both were worth the admission price( as was Myles` somersault littered celebration!) and it was all blissfully choreographed to the back drop of another superb showing by County`s large travelling army who filled one side of the seated stand and the away portion of the covered terrace- they were excellent – again contributing handsomely to the win ( crowd images in our Additional Gallery at the end of this report)!

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Keeper Joe McDonnell was in action early as County pushed the home side back via a free kick, underlining this with a corner that saw Mc Donnell make a solid save to thwart Madden.


Mc Donnell shines early !


and Andrew Machin`s take on that action.

The young keeper was back at the sharp end almost immediately helped by the first of many bewildering offside decisions as Collar and Quigley surged clear.


Collar awaits pass from Minihan.

The County push was on for sure, but the home defence marshalled by captain Andy Boyce and Tom Broadbent offered decent resistance a shade above some we have seen of recent days, but they still could not cover everything and it looked on for a County opener as Quigley ran onto Madden`s through ball- only to again by flagged offside.


Boyce blocks County !


Madden provider this time ( Andrew Machin )

A couple of Eastleigh corners and two iffy free kick awards later and County were able to resume the assault on the home goal only to find Boyce and Broadbent clearing up the chaos nicely.


Power from Sam !

It was midway through the half before a real chance emerged and surprisingly it was at County`s end where Danny Whitehall set up a decent opening, chesting the ball down into the path of Dan Smith who proved not to be up to the challenge shooting wide.


Madden- a constant threat !

Back came County and I was impressed by Jake Hesketh`s work as he stopped another tasty run from Madden. I was less impressed with Referee Elliott Swallow and his near side liner who had both `missed`a blatant foul on Quigley in the build up!


Quigley deserves to nick one soon !

We were beyond the 30 minute mark now and Eastleigh were still proving a bigger handful than many had expected- they were defending diligently and seeking attacking positions, and Harper did well to make it to the by-line down the left only to ruin the moment by lofting his cross into the stand behind Hinchliffe`s goal.

McDonnell again!


Collar & Croasdale- County`s midfield engine( Andrew Machin )

Hinchliffe went long next forcing his opposite number into urgent action to stop Collar on the end of Ben`s incisive ball.


Collar on the prowl for scraps!

On it went…County pressing- Madden …Minihan both seeing shots deflected for a corner but with no other reward.


So close for County!

The best action came next, with just a minute remaining of the first half as Madden darted clear cutting inside on goal with real menace.


Madden puts Eastleigh under pressure ( Andrew Machin )

It looked good…better than good even….but we needed to factor Tom Broadbent`s input into consideration and a brilliant last ditcher from the defender saved the day for the Spitfires….stopping Madden and getting the goal kick to boot!


Great last ditcher thwarts Madden !

Both teams had a go in the 3 minutes of added time the Referee found, but without changing the score line.


County still pressing late on in half.

That had been an interesting half- not massively exciting but competitive to some degree- we needed County to ensure it was less so in what remained of the game, and no one I spoke to on the County terraces thought anything other than DC would sort!

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The second half opened with a run by Ronan Silva who was to emerge as Spitfires `go to man` when they looked to create something, but the 46^th minute saw him shoot tamely wide.

I had been looking for a re-doubling of effort from County and that`s about what we got – the next couple of minutes left the previously composed home back line in a nervous tizz, but come the moment……..enter the man and Mr Swallow penalise Quigley for what I could not say and the danger was no more!


Quigley surrounded ( Andrew Machin )

Or was it?!

County just would not give an inch…go away though….and a couple of close shaves for Eastleigh later and we had a goal as Hippolyte thrashed a belter home to give County the lead- treating us to a somersault littered celebration par excellence!


Hippolyte beats McDonnell brilliantly !


Part of Miles celebration!


and they like it too !


Myles makes it 1-0 ( Andrew Machin )


and this from Andrew Machin too....

This only served to induce more excellence from County, and more vituperation aimed at the Referee as Madden was mugged in front of the main stand and pretty much under Mr Swallow`s nose – he waved play on!

I thought that maybe instant retribution was afoot next as with County simply refusing to give ground Sarcevic teed up a sublime volley that crashed into the bar above the keeper`s head before going clear.


Sarcevic fantastically unlucky with this superb volley !


It twangs the bar behind McDonnell !


That volley as seen by Andrew Machin.

That was a special moment for sure, and the home specs maybe thought they might have one of their own next as Silva ran the ball out of deep defence into County`s half before spreading play to his right to Kelly.


Bad moment for Eastleigh ( Andrew Machin )

Kelly waited before releasing a pass inside to Whitehall, but he shot wide!


It`s busy in the box.

A welter of attacking play followed from County- Madden close from a flick on by Quigley- and unlucky to see his next shot drift wide after great work by Collar. Johnson and Palmer both fancied the resultant corner -the header (I did not see who got there)flew inches over the top.

County so close again !

Minihan joined in, his run teeing Quigley up for a shot that narrowly missed out just after the hour mark.


Minihan power ( Andrew Machin )

The next 10 minutes saw both teams looking for the next, possibly decisive, goal- Silva doing his best for Spitfires but without the necessary fire power to trouble County`s solid back line- Quigley was in the mix at the other end but either blocked by McDonnell or the liner`s flag.


Johnson enjoying life ! ( Andrew Machin )

County eventually reasserted their control, Johnson and Hippolyte perhaps tops amongst County heroes- Johnno finding wondrous passes from nowhere- Hippolyte pumping endless tasty morsels into the opposition box.


Hippolyte on the ball !

The duo linked up sweetly with 7 minutes of normal time remaining- Sarcevic so unlucky not to nick that second as a result.


Spitfires under the cosh !


Sarcevic- unlucky ( Andrew Machin )

Eventually Eastleigh cleared their lines but the ball just came back at them as if by magic- another corner resulted – enter captain Hogan and the fans were cheering wildly as his header smashed into the net behind Mc Donnell`s back- it was 2-0 and celebrations could begin not withstanding that we still had 6 or 7 minutes plus added time to go!


It`s Hogan....it`s 2-0 !


Some of the 720 join in the celebrations !


and here`s more of `em !


Hogan`s captains header ( Andrew Machin )

DC made a couple of changes next bringing Kitchen and Cannon on for Hippolyte and Quigley.

Cannon on ( Andrew Machin)

...Hippolyte off for well earned late rest ( Andrew Machin )

We were then given another example of abysmal refereeing as Johnno threaded a lovely ball into the box where Madden awaited its arrival smack in front. He had Boyce for company and as Madden prepared his strike, so Boyce leaned on Madden bringing him down. It was a clear penalty and again it was seen by the ref, but he waved play on- almost immediately damning himself further by booking Kitching for his first foul as Eastleigh replied.

Eastleigh were under severe pressure in what remained of the game which was acted out in carnival conditions only spoiled after hearing that Dover led Wrexham 4-2 , by the later news of a 6-5 late/ late smash and grab by the Welshmen!

County`s was a terrific win and all the better as I said earlier for them facing a real challenge- we have to face it however- there is something extra in this County team ( whoever DC chooses to send out on the park), and any team having pretentions to stopping us will have to produce some amazing stuff- my money`s on DC`s men.

Well done, see you all on Tuesday for the Cheshire Senior Cup Semi Final against Crewe at Edgeley Park!

Eastleigh line up:-

McDonnell, Kelly, Miley, Broadbent, Boyce, Smart, Smith ( Hollands 79), Hesketh, Whitehall ( Barnett 65), Silva, Harper.

Subs not used: Flitney, Bragg, Willson.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Hogan, Palmer, Johnson, Minihan, Hippolyte ( Kitching 85), Collar, Croasdale, Sarcevic, Madden, Quigley (Cannon 85).

Subs not used: Ashby- Hammond, Newby, Crankshaw.

Attendance : 3295 ( 720)

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Additional Gallery starting with a load from hedgegrower:-