Stockport County 4 Wealdstone 2 ( Vanarama National League ) Saturday 19 March 2022

 

 

 

 

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

 

Any last vestiges of doubt that might have lingered in my mind about County`s credentials as potential National League Champions were swept away authoritatively on a wave of emotion and stunning attacking football today at sun-drenched Edgeley Park where they came back from 2 down to win 4-2 against a mightily frisky Wealdstone side !

County were amazing….they started the game as though a win was a formality, then learnt quickly that it wasn`t as the Stones hit them with 2 goals that took the wind right out of County`s attacking sails for a while thereafter- the teams going in at the break with DC`s men still 2 down and struggling a touch.

We awaited the re-start and better from County and boy did we get it!

Within 10 minutes the blues had pulled one back as Madden converted a penalty, within another 2 they were level courtesy of a neat finish from Johnson, and in another 3 they had the lead via a Palmer header.

It was an amazing comeback, nicely finished off by a fourth from Sarcevic smack on 90 minutes.

Wealdstone battled bravely in the 5 added minutes that remained but made no impression on a County team that looks destined for the title this time around!

 

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There were no changes in County`s starting line up as the game got underway in glorious sunshine watched by another crowd of over 7000 who again supported their team amazingly- I am fast running out of superlatives adequate to describe how supportive the Cheadle End in particular  is and how good the singing and chanting is!

County did rather seem to be inspired by it- surging forward at pace forcing their opponents onto the back foot from the off.

Within seconds the blues had a corner the product of Crankshaw`s opening dash down the right flank. 

 Opener from Crankshaw ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

A mighty roar pierced the air from the Cheadle End as the kick headed goalward, but Wealdstone were able to clear their lines.

 

 Okimo to the rescue for Stones.

 

 

 

Not for long though, and the Stones were indebted to captain Okimo who was in the thick of the action bravely heading clear after Madden`s shot was charged down in a small blizzard of attacking action inside the visitors box.

 

 Madden blocked !

 a closer view of that ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

That action ended with Wealdstone clearing their lines, but not a lot else as the ball just came back their way as Kitching and Hippolyte combined to good effect down the left.

 Kiching & Hippolyte looking to link up...

 

 

 

 

 

 A corner resulted and from it more excitement as Sarcevic played it short to Crankshaw . Ollie`s first trust was blocked , the second seeing the ball to Madden whose thunderous drive thudded into the boards inches wide!

 A bit good from Madden ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

County looked unstoppable at this point and more so as Hippolyte added his four pennyworth with a run of pulverising power that saw him cut inside down the left. It looked like the opener as Myles headed for goal, but keeper George Wickens had other ideas saving superbly with his legs.

 Hippolyte blocked by Wickens

 

 

 

 

 Crankshaw shot over from the corner , but with the attacking continuing from DC`s men a goal did not look to be that long away!

 

 Terrific save by Wickens !

 

 and another view of that ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

Well….that’s the way it looked  , but how wrong I turned out to be, as the goal came at the other end and it was the very vocal 195 from Wealdstone who were celebrating loudly.

 The 195 !( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

I had hardly noticed , but the Stones were doing their work at the wrong end…….County`s- and they had a corner  to boot and when Henry curled a brute of a ball over Cook set the away fans wild with excitement by heading home.

That was a shock….definitely not in the script- the 10 or so minutes preceding the goal did not give any hint this would be the way of things!

No matter, County had to get a grip and re-apply the sort of pressure they had exerted earlier, and they looked to be trying but now the early fire was dimmed, and passes that before had found their man, now flew out!

 

 Hippolyte- looked the most likely to....ended up M.O.M !

 

 

 

Hippolyte looked the most likely of those in dark blue to sort matters but a diagonal ball intended for him flew out , and not long after he took a hefty knock that got scant reward from Referee Scott Jackson.

In no time we were beyond half way in the first half and it was still 1-0 to the Stones, and ominously they began attacking again forcing a series of corners a sequence eventually ended by Croasdale`s clearance.

It went on with Cook steeling possession from Madden before spreading play wide to Browne. It looked a tasty move, but when Browne`s cross came over and the lively Cook met it with his head, the ball flew wide!

That was a let off and Wealdstone kept plugging away getting their reward with just 15 minutes left of the half. It started with some classic RADA stuff from Okimo who treated us to a virtuoso `stagger and fall down bit`on the edge of the box- I was still laughing when Mr Jackson shut me up…..he had bought it wholesale….Stones had a free kick in an interesting position.

Up stepped Henry again to take the set piece , and with every man, woman and their dogs thinking he would pass it, he smacked it home. It was 2-0 to Stones and County were in deep doo doo!

And it looked not to be getting any better as Wealdstone piled forward again forcing a corner that saw Hinchliffe in urgent action punching clear under pressure.

DC replaced Kitching with Quigley on 36 minutes- not like for like obviously…..`would Hippolyte slot in as a LB `I asked myself but I saw no evidence he was staying back at all. Neither was  Quigley but in a lively tussle with Cook the Referee ruled in the defenders favour.

 

 Quigley v Cook .

 

 

 

 

In fact my feeling was that Stones were getting pretty much everything from Mr Jackson- including a free kick deep in our half which Henry took and was deflected for a corner. County defended this well enough but Wealdstone were too lively by far and not a great deal was coming back at them from County – the half ending with Johnson coming to County`s rescue after Palmer had been beaten for pace by Browne.

 Johnson- cucumber cool ! ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

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The half time interval saw County fan Kieran Lynch present  his SCAN Certificate to County hero Levi Edwards….

 

 

 

 

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 Southam -Hales getting the treatment ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

When the teams had left the field for half time, it was apparent that Southam-Hales had sustained an injury that was likely to keep him out for the second half, and it proved to be so Hogan coming on as a substitute. If this weakened attacking options for the blues, I thought defensively it offered solidity.

 

 Hogan on ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

Would County confound the small band of `critics` who had booed them off at half time- they were ludicrously small in number but it is so depressing that peeps find a need for rubbish reactions like that- there are people dying in their hundreds in Ukraine- this was just a team , supposedly their team, being 2 goals behind- and maybe in need of support!

County were attacking from the off – Collar just prevented from reaching Quigley`s downward header by Okimo. Hogan headed wide from the corner but already you could see the intent was there in County.

 

 Crankshaw and company !

 

 

Crankshaw continued to push on down the right but twice in quick succession he found his path onward blocked by Clayden who served his team well under pressure.

He did …he did….but then he didn`t as the 55<sup>th</sup> minute saw him handle the ball in the box from Croasdale`s shot. The 195 to my left did not like it but the Referee pointed to the spot , and Madden stepped up to make it 1-2 with the neatest of penalty kicks!

 

 Shot from Croasdale.....

 ...and Madden makes it 1-2 from the spot !

 

 and  an excellent shot of that from Andrew Machin !

 

 

 

County were not only back in it, but the flood gates were ajar now as well, and within 2 minutes County were level as they took the game to their opponents again , Madden pinging a lovely ball into the box where Johnson met it and gave Wickens no chance at all with a cracking finish!

 Johnson makes it 2-2 !

 

 and Andrew Machin`s view of Johnno`s goal !

 

 

 

Credit to Wealdstone- they did not just roll over- they came back at County forcing a couple of corners, but crucially without finding that extra bit that served them so well before the break.

County waited their moment…..cleared carefully to Crankshaw who surged clear to win a corner when far worse beckoned for Stones.

 Crankshaw -provider !

 

 

 

 

 It seemed like everyone in dark blue was in the box when Sarcevic`s corner pinged over, but it was Palmer who wanted it most and his header brooked no opposition smacking into the netting behind Wickens with surprising power

 Palmer`s obscured, but he`s scored !

 and Andrew Machin`s shot of Palmer`s goal !

 

 

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County had the lead,  but wanted more -Wickens looking to plant the ball in Castle Street with Madden on his case a few minutes later.

Play headed Wickens` way now with regularity- Madden volleying over from Hogan`s probing ball into the box…..the keeper on his toes again minutes later to foil Collar on the end of another tasty through ball.

We needed County to make the game secure , at 3-2 it wasn`t, and thankfully they seemed to appreciate this, keeping the pressure on Wickens who could only watch , with 10 minutes left, as Collar`s shot from Hippolyte`s pass flew inches wide.

Then we got a reminder to keep our discipline and keep the back door shut, but instead we gave away a free kick forcing Hinchliffe into action again to tip Henry`s latest set piece over the bar at the last gasp.

 Great work by Hinchliffe !

 

 

 

 

 

That was good keeping, but it should not have been necessary, we needed County to defend in their opponents` half.

With Minihan on for Crankshaw late on, County did just that- but when Madden put Quigley through and in Wickens face, Mr Jackson came to the keepers aid with a dubious free kick.

 Minihan on !

 

 

 

On it went with County still attacking- Wickens still defending stoutly- diving to push Palmer`s effort for a corner that Johnson headed over the bar.

We were nearing the end now, and County were piling it on still- queuing for a chance to contribute…to score…Collar unlucky midst all this to see his shot come out off an upright. But Sarcevic could not even spell luck, and certainly   needed none, slamming his shot home with imperious ease to make it 4-2 to County.

 Collar`s shot comes back off a post......

 

 ....and Sarcevic sorts it !

 

 That goal as seen by Andrew Machin.

 

 

 

 

 

Wickens was still a busy lad at the end- saving from Quigley, but it stayed 4-2 – an excellent result bearing in mind where the game stood at half time.

It keeps County`s impressive unbeaten run going and maintains their place at the top of the National League.

Great stuff- see you at Kings Lynn? I certainly hope so!

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Palmer, Johnson , Southam- Hales ( Hogan 45), Kitching ( Quigley 36), Croasdale, Collar, Sarcevic, Hippolyte, Madden, Crankshaw( Minihan 83).

Subs not used;- Ashby- Hammond, Newby.

 

Wealdstone line up:-

Wickens, Cook, Okimo, Ferguson, Umerah, Browne, Sesay ( Mascoll 72), Clayden, Henry ( Charles 76), Mundle-Smith, Cooper ( Elito 74).

Subs not used ; Jackson, Dyer.

 

Attendance : 7453 ( 195)

hedgegrower 

 

 

Additional Gallery:- 

Starting with one from hedgegrower and then a couple from Andrew Machin:-