Stockport County 5 Vauxhall Motors 0 ( Cheshire Senior Cup- Final) Tuesday 26 April 2022

( Words by hedgegrower, images by hedgegrower & Andrew Machin )

County got their hands on some silverware last night, their first of the season, as they won the prestigious Cheshire Senior Cup beating Vauxhall Motors 5-0 in the Final at Edgeley Park.

It was a well crafted victory but one that Motors made them work for, County`s first goal ( the only one of a closely fought first half ) coming just 4 minutes from the end of the half.


Reid keeps scoring ( Andrew Machin )

Alex Reid kept up his goal scoring record in the competition with the opener and it came at just about the right time for County with the visitors beginning to get a touch competitive close to the break.

It was not to be however for the men from the Wirral as goals from Newby, Duffus and a neat brace from CJ built on Reid`s work and brought the trophy home to Edgeley Park for the first time since 2016 when Jim Gannon`s side triumphed against another team from the Wirral- Tranmere Rovers.

There was much to be happy about with the way the game went.

DC took the opportunity to give match time to a clutch of potentially key players going forward and gave us another opportunity to see some of the blues talented younger players in action and they did not disappoint – Cody Johnson again looked assured throughout and took the sponsors M.O.M award.


Cody Johnson & Scott Holding in the thick of the action !

I liked Scott Holding`s game also – he looked in good nick in the centre of a back 3 with captain Jordan Keane and Zaine Francis- Angol who got progressively more assured as the game progressed and he could be fed the ball and get forward which he did to good effect in the second half!


Francis Angol looked the part !

Of the other Academy players Kai Johnston got the most minutes on the park and was not shy in making his contribution down the right for County- good stuff!


Good minutes for County Acadamy lads tonight (Andrew Machin )

………………………………………

There were just shy of 2000 in the stadium for the kick off, the County support housed in the Danny and Cheadle stands and the latter were in good voice pretty much throughout.


In excellent voice ( Andrew Machin )

A decent number (128) followed Motors to Edgeley Park and they were mainly in block 2 of the Pop Side.

Away End Early doors ( Andrew Machin )

County went onto the attack from the start, but there was no sign at all that the visitors were going to be cowed, indeed the early minutes saw them defending a rash of free kicks.


Reid down ( Andrew Machin )

They were defending well though -Gouldbourne`s block seeing off an early effort from Reid.

Riley was prominent for Motors next, sticking to and successfully blocking CJ not long after- captain Tom Mitchell doing a similar job on Duffus.


Duffus blocked early on.

The first response from Motors came 4 minutes in but was promptly cut short by the liners flag for offside.

Reid replied for County but was hauled down by Mitchell who took an early booking from Referee Robert Jones.

This set County up for a while, the free kick was defended well by the North West Counties Premier side , the follow up, from Duffus, not so- his shot just kept out by keeper Ciaran O`Loughlin.


Stinger from Duffus !

Duffus shot kept out by O`Loughlin ( Andrew Machin )

The ball went wide, and the resultant corner was cleared, but it was an early boost for the blues.

Newby meanwhile was building up his usual head of steam – a run and cross from him thwarted by a neat last ditcher by Drummond after 11 minutes.


CJ- influential throughout !

Francis-Angol`s first contribution pushed the Motormen back again, but the subsequent shot by CJ went wide.

It took CJ just 5 minutes to re-wind and go again but he was disappointed once more to see a decent header twang the cross bar and fly to safety.


CJ twangs the bar ( Andrew Machin )

The County impetus continued via Reid who, within a minute of that last action, was one on one with keeper O`Loughlin going down in the process that saw the keeper emerge with the ball. Danny Standers were wanting a penalty but Mr Jones was not impressed and I cannot say yay or nay.


Captain Keano - top man !

Play continued with O`Loughlin`s clearance coming back in his direction as Keane, Holding and Cody Johnson tidied up and set County rolling again – Whitfield seeing his effort blocked by Riley on 20 minutes.


A rasper on the way from Whitfield !

O`Loughlin was in action again soon afterwards saving from Holding with his legs.


Another coolly incisive pass under pressure from Co Jo !

Scott Holding was looking the part as was Cody Johnson oozing confidence that augurs well for their County future.


Holding - looking the part ( Andrew Machin )

Meanwhile Motors were finding Sarcevic a real handful , but a `coming together` twixt him and Gouldbourne got the County man booked, but he would go on to underline his value to us for the remainder of the season.

That said his free kick on 34 minutes went wide, and a free kick to the visitors ushered in a notional chance that disappeared almost as soon as it arrived when Cairns lifted his shot high into the Cheadle End.

Motors were beginning to venture forward by this point – Garner- Knapper fizzing over a cross from the by-line that Holding dealt with in fine style.

Back came County – Mike Burkey doing well to break up a lively bit of work by Johnson and Keane.


O`Loughlin hangs onto Holding`s header !

The County push continued via Newby who won a corner with a tasty run down the left.


County go close ( Andrew Machin )

This promised much for County – O`Loughlin putting a damper on their prospects however with a good save to keep Holding`s header out.


Cody Johnson- Mr Cool under pressure again !

County kept the attacks coming but Sarcevic was cut off by good work from Cooper who started a VM reply. It did look interesting for a moment or so, but Johnson earned applause in contributing to the move`s breakdown.

Then, just when it seemed a goal would never come, it did!

Duffus started it. He had been foiled by O`Loughlin moments earlier but came back firing on all cylinders pinging a neat cross into the box where Reid did what Reid does heading County into the lead.


Reid( partially hidden by Mitchell) heads the vital first goal home !

Reid`s header from the other side( Andrew Machin )


...and just for fun ( Andrew Machin )

Both sides wasted set pieces in what remained of the first half, the teams going in at the break with County 1-0 up.

…………………………………….

After the long wait for the first goal, it took County just 2 minutes to nick another when the game re-started after the break. It was started by a Sarcevic throw and finished emphatically by CJ who leathered County`s second home from the edge of the box!

CJ blocked this time, immediately prior to his goal


and here`s CJ`s strike seen by Andrew Machin.

County were not content with 2 either, they wanted a third – Thelwell doing well at one point to head clear with the pressure mounting on Mick McGraa`s team. It went on with O`Loughlin saving from Duffus on 54 minutes.

A third looked not long coming, but we suddenly had to perhaps rethink that as a mix up at the back for County almost gifted their opponents a lifeline goal. I say `almost` but really it was an absolute gift…a sitter…Cairns should have scored but looking at an open goal he somehow sent his shot wide of the far post- an amazing escape for the blues, and a miss that Motors would rue!

Not immediately though as Whitfield`s shot cleared the bar for County, and a run by Burkey saw Motors win a corner and a free kick, but without making them count- Newby running the ball clear.


Newby runs it clear !

It was at this point that Francis- Angol linked up with Reid for the first time and they stretched the Motors back line to bursting down the right.

Then …..joined by CJ the duo went at Motors again and when the ball reached Newby from CJ it was 3-0 as the County number 7 lashed the ball home.


Newby - goal coming !


...and there it is !


and Andrew Machin gets a cracking angle on that Newby goal !

Again County wanted more- Whitfield unlucky to see his strike clear the bar after more good work from Reid and Francis- Angol – the keeper saving a Reid effort not long after.


Francis -Angol -looking good on the ball!


Ditto Reid- despite the gloves !

At this point Kai Johnston came on for Sarcevic for whom the 70 minute work out would have been just what was needed!


70 Quality minutes from Sarcevic (Andrew Machin)

It took just 5 minutes following the change for County to add a fourth goal. It came from a corner won by Whitfield and it was a belter from Newby and CJ made light of a fair old angle to double his tally with the smartest of finishes- it was 4-0!


4-0 courtesy CJ !


Andrew Machin`s shot of CJ`s goal.

Kai Johnston was looking confident for County down the right contributing well to keeping O`Loughlin working harder than he might wish to.

We had 5 minutes left when County added a fifth and Newby was the catalyst for this, his cross from wide right beautifully weighted enabling the fast-arriving Duffus to plant a firm header in the back of the net from close in!

Duffas does Newby`s cross justice...5-0 !


...the cross from Newby Andrew Machin)


...the aftermath ( Andrew Machin )

At 5-0 County had the prize in sight, bringing Toby Green and Keane Barugh on for Whitfield and Newby late on.


Newby - gave us his usual Mr 100% game !

Soon enough Referee Jones blew for time and County had won the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time since 2016!

It only remained for Jordan Keane to collect the trophy for the celebrations to begin, and credit to County …the team gave the supporters a good view of the silverware taking time out to acknowledge their support!

Well done County, now back to National League business and Borehamwood`s visit on Saturday.

See you at Edgeley Park for that then!

Stockport County line up:-

Ashby-Hammond, Keane, Holding, Francis-Angol, C.Johnson , Sarcevic ( K Johnston 70), Newby ( Barogh 86), Whitfield ( Green 86), Reid, Duffus, C Jennings.

Subs not used: Scofield, Tanswell.

Vauxhall Motors line up:-

O`Loughlin, Gouldbourne, Drummond, Thelwell, Mitchell ( Kelly 70), Cooper, Garner-Knapper ( Sample 78), Riley ( Heath 73), Cairns, Holmes, Burkey.

Subs not used ; Scarisbrick, James.

Attendance : 1978( 128)

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