Yeovil Town 2 Stockport County 1 ( Vanarama National League) Saturday 23 April 2022

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

County slumped to a dispiriting 2-1 defeat today against Yeovil Town at Huish Park.

It was a thoroughly depressing day for County supporters who tipped up in numbers, 779 making the trip to take the sun in Somerset and support their team.

Unfortunately, County`s response was the direst imaginable in the prevailing circumstances, and despite some awful refereeing late on in the game, that did not serve County well, they largely got from the game what their performances merited- nothing!

The first half hardly saw anything of any consequence from County -the result being we went in 1-0 down at half time. Whilst the goal was perhaps a surprise it was well taken and must have buoyed Charlie Lee’s side no end, whilst County might just have rued tactics that saw them lifting high ball after high ball….cross after cross… onto the heads of Wilkinson and Hunt -2 bean pole central defenders to whom such fare is meat and drink- they gorged themselves shutting County out sufficiently to enable Neufville to add a second goal and effectively win it for the Glovers.

County pulled one back of course via Hippolyte, who must surely rate a start now, and could/ probably should have had a penalty late on and actually did `score` a second but by that time the referee wasn`t giving us anything so it did not count.

Hippolyte must rate a start ! ( Andrew Machin )

To lean on the officials deficiencies as an excuse for our demise though would be to delude ourselves- we just were not at the races -we need to examine our tactics ….get the ball down and somehow retune to the switched on play that delighted us just a few short weeks ago!


Johnno booked ( Andrew Machin )	.

We also need to look at our discipline- bookings for Johnson & Rydel and a red card for Collar showed another side of our game that we used to pride ourselves on- if not addressed it could cost us dearly!

…………………………………….

Back to just before 3 o`clock it started rather well!

There were nearly 800 County fans making a decent account of themselves from the open terrace and corner of the stand, and they had reached an amicable agreement with Yeovil to facilitate the siting of an impressive array of large flags. For myself I had just downed a superb pasty in the ground – easily the best I have come across, so the omens were good!


County press.

But it was fully 5 minutes before County showed to any effect in their opponent`s half and when they did Quigley was flagged offside.

Matters looked to improve 5 minutes later via Minihan`s high diagonal ball, which Madden fancied at the back post- but he was disappointed by keeper Grant Smith`s brave save.


Madden foiled by Smith.


and Andrew Machin`s view of that action	.

The corner from this was poor, as was a subsequent free kick after Croasdale had been taken out by Barnett. We needed to be sharper with our set pieces but instead we were grateful to Minihan for tracking back to cut off a Yeovil break following a lack lustre kick.


Quigley vies with Knowles for possession.

Quigley and company ( Andrew Machin )

Madden lofted an effort over the bar at one point but generally there was little sign of County having found their shooting boots- `and we wasted another free kick, 24 minutes in, after Quigley had been fouled by Wilkinson.


Wilkinson`s free kick for Town.

Worse occurred as we conceded a free kick ourselves right on the edge of the box. Wilkinson took the kick putting it wide- we had been warned!


Cannon v Little

Smith saved from Cannon on 33 minutes, only for play to swing to the other end where Reuben Reid did everything but score whilst hexing his way beyond blue shirt after blue shirt. He really should have scored…he didn`t, and County had escaped!

This probably stung County, who went onto the attack – Rydel going close…Cannon tripped by Neufville.


This was close too for Rydel !


header from Rydel ( Andrew Machin )

This ushered in a free kick in a decent position and Rydel got it right, but so did Smith who rose to tip the ball over the bar. Rydel`s corner from this sadly saw Cannon lift a poor effort high and wide.


Smith tips Rydel kick over !


and Andrew Machin sees it too......

It was just not the precision stuff we have got used to from County – emphasised next as Cannon`s through ball was far too strong for Quigley.

Then calamity struck as Tom Knowles skipped through a clutch of blue shirts before beating Hinchliffe with a fine finish!

County were 1 down and it was hardly an injustice!


County put pressure on Town

Just one chance came our way in what remained of the half- product of a Rydel/ Quigley cooperation- but the finish was again lacking, and Hunt ended the Yeovil angst heading the umpteenth high cross clear- the half ending with Town still 1-0 up.

………………………………………….

When the teams came out again for the second half Hippolyte was on for Cannon and Crankshaw for Hogan.


Crankshaw on for Hogan.


Just 45 minutes from Hogan.( Andrew Machin )

Hippolyte`s first contribution was to give away a free kick that Palmer dealt with nicely, but the ex-Glover did much to reaffirm my belief that he deserves a start!

We were just 10 minutes into the half when things went from bad to worse as a loose ball allowed Neufville space and time to head for goal- it was missable for sure, but miss he did not, slotting a neat finish into the net to double the Glover`s lead.


County reply.


Smith keeps Johnno`s header out....just!


and another angle on that action from Andrew Machin .

That was thoroughly depressing, but Hippolyte tried to galvanise County, winning a corner. Hunt headed this out only for it to come back via Johnson whose header was only just kept out by Smith.

CJ ( on for Quigley) couldn`t force the ball home following good work by Crankshaw.


CJ close....


same action caught by Andrew Machin.

County were showing urgency now but still that magic ingredient was missing- Madden`s shot deflected wide from another Crankshaw feed.


Urgency from Crankshaw....

It was getting a wee bit frantic now and the blues almost got something from a free kick with 20 minutes left.


Almost ......

It was cleared but sent back again by Palmer freeing up CJ and Crankshaw to try to force it home. It did not happen, but when the ball came back to Hippolyte it didn`t matter as another of his polished finishes made it 1-2 to the delight of the large County following.


Hippolyte makes it 1-2 !

Andrew Machin sees it.......


so do they, and they love it ( Andrew Machin )

Back came Yeovil, but County seemed to have weathered the storm when Collar won the ball, but he had gone in high and Gorman made a five courser with side dishes of the moment going down like a dead man. Greg Rollason the Referee quickly waved a red card at Collar- County were again down to 10 men!

Meanwhile Gorman recovered with commendable speed and thoroughness to take the free kick- but it was a poor effort and County escaped but could they save the day with 1 man short?

I do not want to dissolve into ` ref robbed us` mode as County were largely the architects of their current demise, but it was now obvious that the officials were not going to give us owt- witness Minihan`s run down the right. As he prepared to round the defender he was nudged to the ground by same only for the free kick to go Yeovil`s way!

Anything approaching contact by County on anyone in green was being penalised, but there were 7 minutes left and we could still save this!

Hippolyte was certainly trying , but his shot drifted wide on 89 minutes….then…in a frenzy of activity the ball was in the Yeovil net – as Crankshaw and Madden vied to put the ball in. It was Madden I think , but it mattered not the officials had decided it was no goal- I saw no foul and it certainly was not offside.


Looked a goal to me.....


and one from Andrew Machin from that action.

We were into added time now and Reid had just fluffed a half chance for Town.

Back came County and they had a free kick when Knowles fouled Rydel. Hunt headed this out…Palmer headed it back….Johnson latched onto it but took a knock sending him to earth. It looked a penalty to me, but we were never going to get it were we!

The last minutes of the game saw County pinging it long into the box from deep….


Palmer joins attack.....

CJ`s in there too ( Andrew Machin )

.............Hippolyte won a free kick midst the mayhem…..Smith saved a Johnson header from CJ`s cross…..Croasdale lifting the game`s last chance up and over the bar.


Last gasp effort from Croasdale.....

We had lost!

It is no shame to have lost, or to have put in a below par showing- but we really do need to ensure we can put it right and at the soonest opportunity.

For sure the team will need our support, and they will get it starting with the Cheshire Senior Cup Final on Tuesday and Saturday`s game with Borehamwood.

Be there at both

Yeovil Town line up:-

Smith, Little, Barnett, Hunt, Wilkinson, Gorman, Reid ( Yussuff 78), Knowles, Williams, D`ath ( Bradley 86), Neufville.

Subs not used: Evans, Robinson, LO-Everton.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Hogan ( Hippolyte 45), Palmer, Johnson,Minihan, Croasdale, Collar, Cannon ( Crankshaw 45), Rydel, Madden,

Quigley ( C Jennings 58).

Subs not used : Ashby- Hammond, Francis- Angol.

Attendance: 2783 ( 779)

hedgegrower

Additional Gallery:-

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