Stockport County 5 Crewe Alexandra 0 ( Cheshire Senior Cup- Semi-Final) Tuesday 29 March 2022

 

 

 

 

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

 County cruised into the Cheshire Senior Cup Final with an emphatic 5-0 Semi-Final win against FL side Crewe Alexandra at Edgeley Park last night.

There were shades of how County go about their business currently in the National League about the blues performance, which was particularly good to see with their not being a single player on view who started at Eastleigh on Saturday. By that I mean that County took their time to assess the opposition who it could be said looked good in the first half playing some neat controlled football, but inside my head I kept hearing the siren cry “ where`s the beef” and there wasn`t any from the visitors and County even took the first half despite the neat stuff from the visitors – Cannon slamming in the first and Crankshaw unlucky not to be credited with the second which went in apparently off a defender.

By the re-start County had sussed Crewe out and proceeded to tear them asunder via a fine brace from CJ and a late Reid goal to secure a final tie with Vauxhall Motors.

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County`s starting line-up showed 11 changes from Saturday with Keano taking the captain`s arm band.

All the new signings were on show -Francis-Angol in a back 3 with Pye and Keano ( I think, but things were a bit County fluid really).The back line  showed good poise throughout never looking under that much pressure even in Crewe`s brighter moments. Cannon scored a belter in the first half and won a pen in the second so he will be pleased as I think will Duffus who had a rare turn of pace at times and looked interesting!

 

 A nice turn of pace from Duffus !

 

 

 

Elsewhere it was a mix of players with first team games behind them this season and Academy lads and it was good to see it knit together so well eventually. The crucial factor for County was their fitness, the FL side just could not stay with the blues when they stepped it up a gear or two after the break- but this was all to come at 7.45 as the teams took the field to a noisy welcome from the crowd of over 1200. 

 

 

 

 

 

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 The first five minutes saw County probing the Crewe defences via the flanks where Crankshaw and Newby had set their stalls out. Crankshaw looked particularly lively but it was Newby who presented County`s first opportunity his cross finding Reid whose header flew over the bar.

 

 Reid heads over the bar...

 

 

There was no time for sulking though as Crankshaw was `head down heading for goal` down the right. His pass picked CJ out but his shot was blocked, the ball running clear to Cannon who slotted a neat finish beyond anything Will Jaaskelainen could do in goal for Crewe.

 

 Potent  home debut from Cannon ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

County had their lead, but Dave Artell`s side looked to reply, finding Francis-Angol firmly in their way blocking progress.

 

 Francis- Angol comfortable all evening ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

That said, despite more attacking from County, Ashby-Hammond was called on to make a decent save ,14 minutes in, as Onyeka broke through the blue defences after a period of that neat football from Crewe that I spoke of earlier.

That was good to see from the young County keeper who gave a sound showing throughout the game.

 

 Duffus- blocked by Lawton.

 

 

County responded in kind – Lawton doing well for Crewe to stop Duffus on 15 minutes........

 

 Reid has company ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

........ Crankshaw unlucky to see his cross ,2 minutes later, fly narrowly over the bar off Reid.

 Crankshaw - in good nick throughout!

 

 

 

 

Reid did net the ball on 20 minutes, but it was ruled out presumably for offside.

 

 Reid nets.....liner flags...( Andrew Machin )

 

 

County were getting closer and closer with each attack, and Jaaskelainen made an excellent save to deny Crankshaw next beating a fierce shot out bravely at his near post- making another top stop shortly after pushing a shot by Reid around the post.

Jaaskelainen does well to keep Crankshaw`s shot out !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duffus had a tasty run turning defence into attack, joined by Crankshaw and Newby but there was no addition to the score- Duffus and Cody Johnson both testing the keeper again as County started to find their range  but Jaaskelainen proved up to the challenge keeping it at 1-0.

 

 County press !

 

 

 

That`s how it looked like the first half would stay, but County had other ideas- Cody Johnson doing well to start the move that doubled County`s advantage, ushering the ball to Crankshaw.

 Neat play and assist from Cody Johnson !

 

 

 

 

 

 Ollie needed no further prompting and set off for goal beating the keeper with a neat chip which Reid and Woodcock followed goal ward -the latter apparently depriving Cranks of the goal by getting a touch as the ball crossed the line.

 2-0 courtesy of Ollie !

 

 and Andrew Machin sees Woodcock apply the final touch !

 

 

 

Two- nil was a good return for the effort that the blues had put in in that first 45 minutes, and the Danny Stand  let them know that they loved it with a prolonged ovation as the players left the field.

 

 Danny Stand there in decent numbers & supportive ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

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 County opened the second half in lively fashion- Duffus surging clear down the left only for him to be unceremoniously upended by Billington. 

 

 Duffus about to be carted by Billington !

 Pre- kick prep....

 

 

 

Newby and Crankshaw lined the free kick up ……and Keano wanted it at the back post but narrowly missed out.

 Keano close at the back post !

 

 this shot from Andrew Machin shows just why Keano could not nick it !

 

 

Crewe had no answer to what was coming at them although Lawton did well to block Crankshaw`s run but they could only watch and hope as the ball flew inches wide as Reid tried to convert a dangerous ball from Cannon.

Surely a third goal would not be far off, would it?

Well, Duffus did his best to facilitate it, thwarted in the act by Billington who did well to concede a corner. 

 

 Cannon detects a whiff of a goal....

 ...then down he goes !

 

 

 

 

Crewe looked to be defending the kick well enough, but they just could not cope when Cannon darted into the box looking to double his personal goal tally. He looked on to do so when Gomes sent him crashing to the ground.

 

 

 

 And 2 shots of the penalty kick from Andrew Machin ................

 

Referee Thomas Kirk   pointed to the spot, and CJ did the rest calmly slotting the perfect penalty kick home to make it 3-0.

Crewe`s pain only increased after that last action as Crankshaw and Cannon set about carving out another goal. They fancied another penalty as well as there appeared to be a `hand to ball` moment on Crewe`s part as shots rained in on Jaaskelainen and his co defenders.

There was no second penalty- or fourth goal just yet as Reid saw a shot drift wide off a defender.

With Kai Johnston now on for Cannon County`s quest for a fourth goal came to fruition as CJ met Newby`s corner with a glorious header beating Jaaskelainen comfortably – 4-0!

 

 Fourth goal on way ( Andrew Machin )

 and there you go as CJ`s header nestles in the net ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

The Crewe corpse twitched somewhat next through Onyeka who forced a decent diving save from Ashby- Hammond as County rang the personnel changes bringing Toby Green and Millenic Ali on for Crankshaw and Duffus.

Another effort, a `dipper` by Onyeka  flew over the angle of bar and post but it was still County calling the shots – Reid inches from nicking a fifth goal with 15 minutes left.

 

 Reid tees up that fifth ...( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

Just 4 minutes later and both Reid and County got what they craved- that fifth goal, as a snap shot from the County striker went in off a post ( and possibly a defender I hear ).

No matter it was 5-0 and despite a flurry of late attacking from Crewe, , that`s how it stayed with County well able to sort another excellent clean sheet and with it a well deserved place in the Cheshire Senior Cup Final!

Well done County!

 Keano still doing his captain bit after the games finished ( Andrew Machin )

 

 

 

 

 

Another Semi-Final beckons on Saturday- see you in Wales then!

Oh….and here`s a random shot of Todd White (Irish Hatter)…….

 

 

And then something not so random from Andrew Machin:-

 

 

 

 

Stockport County line up:-

Ashby-Hammond, Keane, Pye, Francis-Angol,  C Johnson, Newby, Cannon ( K Johnston 59), Crankshaw ( Green 73), C Jennings, Reid, Duffus( Ali 67) .

Subs not used : Schofield, Barugh.

 

Crewe Alexandra line up:-

Jaaskelainen, Onyeka, Lawton, Lundstram, Bhatti, Billington, Gomes ( Lunt 69), Griffiths, Salisbury, Kashnet ( Woodcock 39), Sant.

Subs not used: Booth, Finny, Wood.

Attendance : 1289

hedgegrower