Stockport County 1 Torquay United 0 ( Vanarama National League ) Wednesday 11 May 2022
(Words by hedgegrower, images by hedgegrower & Andrew Machin )
County went straight back to top spot in the National League last night with a gutsy 1-0 win against Torquay United at Edgeley Park, that takes them 3 points clear of Wrexham and notionally just one point from the title.
To be honest it was the most one sided 1-0 win I can recall with County dominating almost throughout- substitute keeper and ex Hatter Mark Halstead pulling off a string of `worldy`s to keep the struggling Gulls afloat.
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| Collar back and looking good ! |
With Collar restored and looking lively, the blues enjoyed massive amounts of possession…mainly in their opponents half, and with Sarcevic ,Cannon and Croasdale in commanding form in midfield a County win with a goal or two to spare looked very much on the cards as the ball whizzed about twixt one or the other from the off.
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| Croasdale and Keane doing the biz ! |
Our midfield has been our backbone and salvation this season, and the decimation of same via a clutch of dubious red cards caused the bulk of our recent problems, but the glorious one touch football that causes our opponents so many vivid nightmares, was back with a bang, and just in time!
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| Madden a constant threat ( Andrew Machin ) |
Torquay it must be said, although largely outplayed, defended resolutely and made a decent fist of almost raining on our parade late on…twice hitting the woodwork, but it was County`s night-fashioned by good teamwork and embellished magnificently by Paddy Madden`s 64th minute goal- just the job and a suitable reward for the County captain`s exuberantly bullish performance!
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The old place was jumping come 7.45.
There were over 9000 clearly intent on enjoying the occasion and helping County to a much-needed win.
Harry B had organised another impressive pre-match march to the stadium and the result was a fantastic display of supportive unity from blues fans and the younger end are to be commended for their behaviour- supportive throughout….loud with it….and not so much as a hint of a flare or pitch encroachment- in fact another valuable contribution to County`s title push- just excellent! Stand up too the older County fans who were filling all 4 stands, for giving the kind of support many clubs way higher up the pyramid would love to have.
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| This of the March from Andrew Machin ( More shots in Additional Gallery) |
So, the pressure was on County big time, and they could easily bottle it, but there was simply no sign whatsoever that this would be the way it went and the visitors were indebted to Wynter for a vital block that stopped Madden on the end of Keano`s pass after good work by Cannon, Croasdale .
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| Keano very much on the ball ! |
Newby and Sarcevic were also prominent for the blues in the early minutes, but it remained 0-0 at the 5-minute mark.
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| Newby contributing well to the County title push ! |
Wright headed wide for the Gulls a minute later, but that was as good as it was going to get for Gary Johnson`s side for a while.
County were looking lively- Madden particularly so and he was quick to pounce onto an error by Omar 12 minutes in, teeing Hippolyte up for a shot that keeper Shaun MacDonald pushed for a corner which he dealt with ably.
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| Shot from Hippolyte ! |
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| and the build up to that ( Andrew Machin ) |
The Gulls stirred a touch next winning a corner, but this brought Palmer to the fore and any semblance of danger was gone.
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| That magic hat again ! |
Cannon and Croasdale were looking in top nick and the plan seemed to be to ping incisive balls forward for Collar to run onto, and he looked very willing and able to oblige in response- Mac Donald doing well to cut him off as County broke up the park from Palmer`s headed clearance.
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| Mac Donald foils Collar ! |
Newby and Francis – Angol got early runs in but without reward and we were beyond the quarter hour mark with the game still scoreless, despite Cannon `s latest through ball sending Collar on another run- Torquay looked suitably organised to repel boarders and they did.
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| Francis-Angol makes a run ( Andrew Machin ) |
I was pleased that DC had opted to go for a left footed player at LWB and equally happy to see Zaine Francis- Angol get his County debut, more so to see him involved with Sarcevic sending Hippolyte into the box where the Gull`s defence smothered his efforts to turn and get a shot in- the honour fell to Collar but his shot missed the target.
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| Collar denied ! |
The pressure began to intensify now from County- MacDonald doing well to make the save after good work from Newby and Collar, but a hand to ball moment from Wynter, 22 minutes in, should have got County`s juices flowing but again their radar was off and Newby`s kick flew out.
Newby did better next, but his run was ultimately blocked by Omar for Torquay.
Twenty-seven minutes had gone by now and still County kept at it looking for that vital opening goal, but when a neat glancer from Madden sent Collar clear his lack of control let him down for once and the ball ran out of play.
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| Captains game from Madden ! |
It went on- Mac Donald working wonders for the Gulls spoiling Croasdale`s work by holding onto Sarcevic`s cross with County scrapping for crumbs.
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| Keeper`s ! |
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| and a neat shot of that from Andrew Machin. |
On….on wave after wave of attacking from County battered the Gulls defences- Cannon and Croasdale again to the fore but Hippolyte thwarted by Omar who conceded a corner that Mac Donald got to before Palmer.
The same midfield combo was back centre stage again moments later but Keano`s shot thudded into the boards to his obvious chagrin!
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| Keano to the fore again ! |
It really did look like County would get the goal they sought soon…the next attack maybe … but no…after Madden had manufactured an opening for Sarcevic from nothing, a screamer from the midfielder carried the bar.
It was one way traffic -and it was all heading MacDonald`s way – a foul by Collar giving Gulls some ease via the free kick. It was probably tension induced but County were giving free kicks away and probably needed to look to minimise the long balls into space from deep but I nit-pick and surely County will square this circle soon!
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| Collar`s `foul` ( Andrew Machin ) |
But Hippolyte shot wide chasing Collar`s pass with 5 minutes left of the first half.
County began to ratchet the pressure up a notch or three, and MacDonald just managed to keep Madden`s shot out after a veritable blizzard of attacking from the blues.
This was causing Torquay major issues – Omar making a last gasp clearance off the line to stop Collar on the stroke of half time.
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| Omar`s last gasper ! |
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| That action seen from the other side by Andrew Machin. |
The pressure began to tell on the visitors and both Omar and MacDonald showed signs of wear and tear, the latter looking likely to be subbed as time began to drag and a decision on that was eventually filed for now
Play did re-start eventually with Sarcevic and Newby giving Torquay a hard time but having won a corner Newby`s delivery was poor and that was the first half put to bed.
Nil- nil was perhaps disappointing, but County would be attacking the Cheadle End in the second half so – nil desperandum!
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The re-start saw Torquay opt for the personnel change they had prevaricated over earlier as Mark Halstead replaced MacDonald between the sticks.
The Cheadle End gave the ex-Hatter a lively welcome- it was game on!
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| Palmer/ Francis- Angol fighting for possession. |
County went onto the attack from the off and it was good to see Francis-Angol getting forward…winning a free kick 4 minutes in that saw a shot by Keane drift just wide of goal.
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| Madden/ Collar just cant add a finish ! |
It went on with Torquay under severe pressure, and Newby thought he might have nicked a penalty 3 minutes later but Mr Middleton the Referee who I thought had a good game, thought otherwise.
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| The Newby run ( Andrew Machin ) |
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| ...and the appeal ( Andrew Machin ) |
Throughout all this Sarcevic`s contribution was immense- Madden and Collar vying unsuccessfully to finish his good work on 55 minutes.
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| Sarcevic in terrific form ! |
Still County kept at it…..Hippolyte finding Francis-Angol whose cross set Collar up for a header that Halstead somehow kept out !
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| The cross from Francis- Angol..... |
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| ......and Collar`s header ! |
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| and a view of that from Andrew Machin |
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| ....and Halstead`s save ( Andrew Machin ) |
The whole ground then joined in a minute`s applause in remembrance of the Bradford fire disaster that took the lives of 56 Bradford City and Lincoln City supporters in 1985- heart-warming stuff!
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| Bradford Remembered ( Andrew Machin ) |
County meanwhile kept pounding away at the visitors’ goal- Sarcevic fouled on the edge of the box in full flight but again the blues were unable to make the free kick count.
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| Sarcevic on the charge ( Andrew Machin ) |
That said- Cannon was continuing what I felt was his best game so far for us – his shot deflected for a corner after a thrilling darting run into the box.
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| Cannon in good nick ( Andrew Machin ) |
Palmer got to the corner but his downward header went wide.
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| Palmer heads wide! |
More followed from County as Sarcevic threaded a peach of a ball to Collar who did everything right in response only to find Halstead pull a worldy from his bag with a diving save!
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| Just one of Halstead`s worldy`s ( Andrew Machin ) |
At this point those County fans with longer memories of days of yore might just have been tempted to think “ I know how this pans out….County dominate…..Torquay break late on …nick one and the match!”
And history tells us it has been so, so many times in the past- but not this time……
A sweet / sweet ball from Sarcevic sent Collar clear but somehow Halstead was able to keep it out, but it was a parry and Madden was in the vicinity ….pouncing and with a strike of croc on wildebeest proportions it was 1-0 as his shot bulged the back of the Torquay net!
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| Madden makes it 1-0 to County ! |
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| Cue Deep Joy ! |
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| Deep Joy II |
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| Madden`s goal as seen by Andrew Machin. |
Some wonderful scenes of joy mixed undoubtedly with relief followed as County supporters saluted their team!
And Sarcevic was still running …chasing everything and nothing.
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| Another lung bursting run by Sarcevic ! |
Cue long memories and understandably negative thinking, `County could still leak a goal and spoil the moment` and both Palmer and Hippolyte gave free kicks away teeing their opponents up for a rare tilt at goal.
Madden ran the first kick to safety, and the second saw Sarcevic turn defence into searing attack only just contented with a corner from which Madden`s header just missed out.
It continued- Omar`s under hit back pass seeing Halstead just get the ball before the predatory Madden could double his tally with 20 minutes left.
Crankshaw came on for Cannon 5 minutes later and was soon in the thick of the action- Halstead again prominent for the Gulls saving from Keane with 10 minutes remaining to play.
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| Great balance from Keano in this shot by Andrew Machin ! |
At this point we got a warning from the visitors that a second goal just might be good to get as Wynter missed a sitter heading over unchallenged from Duke- McKenna`s corner.
This warranted and received an appropriate response from County and I swore Crankshaw had made it 2-0 as his run took the visitors defensive cover apart- but his shot had hit the side netting !
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| so close from Crankshaw ( Andrew Machin ) |
That was the 83rd minute, more followed from County the best being a Sarcevic pass that sent Cranshaw cutting through that Torquay cover again. Again, the shot was true from Ollie but so was Halstead`s response and another belting save saw him push the ball up onto and over the bar!
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| Another cracker from Ollie ( Andrew Machin) |
Wow hardly covers it, but it went on- Newby sending Crankshaw in again being blocked at the last gasp. The ball ran on to Hippolyte and 2-0 looked on as he honed in on goal only to be thwarted, and thoroughly exasperated I guess by the umpteenth cracking save by Halstead!
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| Duke- McKenna / Halstead combine to thwart Hippolyte. |
Sarcevic by now had gone off to an ovation, replaced by OJ, and the Torquay cadaver began to twitch and an almighty scramble in front of goal at the wrong end saw Hinchliffe push Wynter`s header onto the crossbar.
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| and Andrew Machin saw that magic from Ben ! |
Have I said WOW? Ben had just saved our bacon!
Having survived that small trauma, County went looking for the killer goal but Crankshaw`s latest coruscating run saw him upended by Chiori Johnson in full flight! The booking and free kick were but small reward for County as …err….you guessed it….Halstead saved Madden`s free kick!
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| slight foul ref !!!! ( Andrew Machin ) |
Into added time we went still traumatised every time the visitors even hinted at lumping the ball high and long towards Hinchliffe which they were beginning to do- CJ doing well to run one such punt back up the park.
There was time for another Crankshaw run….a Francis- Angol throw that almost declared a late dividend until Hippolyte was denied by another last gasper from Halstead.
A late/late punt up the park by Torquay….an anxious look at my watch as Torquay win a free kick- surely not….surely we would not ship one at the death would we?
Answer no….the kick flew harmlessly wide and Mr Middleton signalled time- an epic win was County`s !
Great celebrations followed with the playing surface well respected by County supporters in the doing thereof. It was good to see Halstead acknowledge the Cheadle End at the close and even better to know we were back on top of the National League with a three-point lead on Wrexham.
Fantastically well-done County…everybody…. See you on Sunday for another vital game and just maybe a well-deserved celebration to top them
all!
Stockport County line up:-
Hinchliffe, Keane, Palmer, Newby, Francis- Angol, Croasdale, Cannon ( Crankshaw 78), Collar, Sarcevic( C Jennings 87), Madden, Hippolyte ( Hogan 94).
Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Quigley.
Torquay United line up:-
MacDonald ( Halstead 45), Wynter, Martin, Omar, Lemonheigh- Lewis, Wright ( Koszela 76), Little, Johnson, Duke- McKenna, Felix ( O`Connell 67), Lewis.
Subs not used: Moyse, Edwards.
Attendance : 9402 (121)
hedgegrower
Additional Gallery ( all from Andrew Machin ):-
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