Needham Market 0 Stockport County 3 ( FA Trophy Quarter Final) Saturday 12 March 2022

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

County secured a FA Trophy Semi Final place with a solidly professional 3-0 win today against Needham Market FC , proud members of The Southern League, Premier Central Division.

The Marketmen had, dispatched 6 opponents on their way to this Quarter Final tie amongst them 2 from the National League and 1 from NL South, and it took a clutch of decent goals from Dave Challinor`s National League table toppers to see them home in front of over 1500 at Bloomfields today.

Kevin Horlock`s side held it at parity for just over 20 minutes whereupon County slowly began to turn the screw- firstly via Alex Reid`s diving header, then a scorcher from Keano ( who else?) and a second from Reid just before the break.


Reid presses ( Andrew Machin )

The second half saw the Marketmen, roared on by the second largest crowd in their history, make a good fist of taking the game to County and it was no shame on their part to see the blues ultimately record yet another clean sheet in a season littered with them!

What did I like about the County performance? Well firstly it was good that DC offered respect to our hosts with a decently strong line up- a mix of players with first team games under their belts this season, a couple of youngsters from the academy and a debutant keeper in Luca Ashby- Hammond.

Cody Johnson composed performance

The young lads again did well- Cody Johnson offering his mix of early neat passes and insistent perception, and Josh Edwards who looked immensely comfortable slotting in on the left where his contribution was as noticeably positive late on as in the first half – loved ‘em both!


Josh Edwards slotted in well looked good!

Debutant keeper Ashby-Hammond has a clean sheet to his credit so he and DC will be pleased with that.


Quality finishes from Reid !

Elsewhere, Reidy`s brace were perfectly executed in 100% Reid style , and it was almost as pleasing to see Keano`s screamer go in- both players needed that and hopefully they and County will reap some benefit from more of the same going forward .

…………………………………….

Back at 3 o`clock County fans were inside enjoying the hospitality from our hosts which I must say was spot on.

The Flyer managed to get in a spot of difficulty in the car park , but this was handled beautifully by the locals ( see pics in Additional Gallery along with a short vid all courtesy Adrian Caville ), and Paul and Mark the drivers were most appreciative of the hospitality upon gaining entrance to Bloomfields!

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Then the teams came out to a rousing reception from 1500 souls lining the stadiums four sides.

County were attacking the away end for starters with Minihan and Sarcevic forcing our hosts onto the back foot.


Pressure from Minihan !

There was a fare bit of pressure on the home back line at this point where Sturgess, Morphews Keiran and Daniel had their work cut out.

Sturgess put his head above the parapet early to concede a corner with Sarcevic lurking beyond the back post on the right.


Close again !


Set piece sorted by Josh !

Josh Edwards took the corner -the ball flying inches wide with Kitching and others straining for a touch at the back post.


Josh Edwards looking good (Andrew Machin )

The tenth minute saw no change with County attacking and home keeper Marcus Garnham doing well to hold onto a shot on the turn by Sarcevic.


County put Marketmen under pressure ( Andrew Machin )

Another 6 or 7 minutes of mainly blue attacking followed – Reid coming closest on 17 minutes forcing a corner which was cleared.

Then a further 6 or 7 minutes came and went with it still 0-0 with the Marketmen still largely on the defensive but increasingly looking to work an opening.

That said, again the best of it was coming from County, most notably Minihan whose surging run won his team another corner. Edwards took it, and Kitching was first to offer to apply a finish at the back post, but the moment passed with the ball bouncing out of play.


Minihan again !

I was still absorbing that last action when things took a startling change for the better. Starting with a lob from Quigley that soared before bouncing invitingly in the box where Reid dived to head home to acclaim from County fans behind the goal!


Quality header on its way in......


.....and in !


Andrew Machin`s view of that goal !

County were one up and probably relieved- I know I was, but we did not have long to wait for more excitement -3 minutes in fact , whereupon following excellent work by Johnson and Edwards the ball was with Keano…..


Superb from Keano !

And this from Andrew Machin:-

“Shoot” …”Shoot” the blue battalions cheekily offered behind Garnham`s goal…and shoot he did as a shot of unstoppable power grazed the woodwork on its way to the back of the net- the battalions were suitably impressed!

The continuing pressure from County was forcing the Marketmen to give away free kicks which just increased the pressure, but I have to say I saw no element of them trying to `kick there way out of difficulties` the game throughout being contested in the best of spirits!

Whitfield honing his skills up( Andrew Machin )

County`s free kicks meanwhile were going close but missing out- Whitfield seeing a shot drift wide, and a free kick from Edwards flew inches wide off a defender- the corner being cleared by the home back line.


Whitfield finding his range again !

With the game deep into 2 minutes added time, we had more or less settled for 2-0, when in the half`s dying embers Reid surged onto the ball in the box doing what he does slotting the ball unerringly home to make it 3-0 at the break................


lovely finish from Reid !


Its on its way in.....


and they rather liked it !


and this from Andrew Machin on the 3 rd goal !

................ a fantastic finish and a fantastic finish to the half.

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When the game resumed Hippolyte was on for Sarcevic, as County again took the game to their opponents- Reid foiled by prompt action from Garnham, after a break by Quigley.


Hippolyte in the mix !

It was looking good for County in the first 5 or 6 minutes as Whitfield and Hippolyte both had shots saved by Garnham.

Whitfield pushes Marketmen back.

County were definitely trying a bit but without the first half`s sharpness where it counted- Garnham again saving confidently from Hippolyte’s` free kick on 53 minutes.

It went on….a Garnham master class- as he goes up to tip Quigley`s shot over the top.


Garnham watches Quigley....


Quigley v Garnham from Andrew Machin

The corner from this was cleared by County`s opponents- the ball finding its way back into the County half where a horrendous `air kick` from Ashby-Hammond almost gifted our hosts a goal. The ball stayed out…just, and Hammond headed wide from the resultant corner. Not sure if our keeper was blushing, but I was!

Quigley makes his presence felt ( Andrew Machin )

Back came County with Reid and Whitfield linking with Edwards. The ball ran to Quigley – it was a chance, but Garnham did brilliantly to keep Quigley`s shot out!

Minihan went close after this from good work by Edwards- the ball flashing across goal and wide.


Edwards on the ball....

Both sides were making changes as the game went into its later stages- Keane Barugh the most eye catching for the blues coming on for Whitfield with 5 minutes to play.


Late cameo from Keane Barugh.

Both teams made a go of getting a further goal- County thwarted by Garnham who pushed CJ`s late strike over the bar, and Hippolyte would have perhaps nicked one but for Jake Dyke whose good work deprived him of the oxygen of a shot on goal when one looked decidedly on!


County press late on...


Reid pushes on ( Andrew Machin )

For Needham Market Luke Ingram worked hard just lacking that edge of sharpness that could turn a good effort into something special- Calum Page did well too many of his crosses deserving better.

Soon enough added time was over, and County were in the FA Trophy Semi`s- just 1 game from Wembley!

Well done boys, and well-done Needham Market for giving us a good game today- best wishes for the rest of your season!

Needham Market line up:-

Garnham, Dye, Sturgess, K Morphew, D Morphew, Page, Collard ( Fitzgerald 76), Ingram, Brothers ( Clark 76), Fowkes ( Sayer 70), Hammond.

Subs not used : Cullum, Chambers, Kubiabar, Johnson.

Stockport County line-up:-

Ashby-Hammond, Minihan, Keane, Kitching, Edwards, C Johnson, Sarcevic ( Hippolyte 45), Whitfield ( Barugh 85), Quigley ( Crankshaw 73), C Jennings, Reid.

Subs not used : Hinchliffe, Palmer, Holding, Johnston.

Attendance : 1526

hedgegrower

Additional Gallery:-

Starting with some from hedgegrower....