Wrexham 3 Stockport County 0 ( Vanarama National League) Sunday 8 May 2022

( Words and images from hedgegrower. Crowd shots in Additional Gallery by hedgegrower & Andrew Machin )

County`s promotion push stalled big time today at the Racecourse Ground where Wrexham had far too much nous for Dave Challinor`s side who flattered to deceive in the first half when they looked well capable of winning this one…….for 34 minutes !

Then it all imploded as the white shirted blues failed to defend one of a game long series of long throws , and Ollie Palmer punished them, his looping header giving Hinchliffe no chance.

That was a shock as with Sarcevic in impressive form and Madden and Hippolyte not that far behind him we had looked set to do well.


Sarcevic impressive in the first half.

But the goal seemed to drain all the zest and energy from County`s play and we leaked another goal late on in the half going in 2-0 down. The goal was well taken by Mullin but there was background to it that needs to be taken in- of which more later!

Notwithstanding them shipping a couple, I still felt, based on what I had seen prior to the first goal, that we could still get something from the game, but an iffy free kick saw Ollie Palmer double his goal tally heading in largely unchallenged!

Thereafter County could make no impression on the Welsh side who, but for Hinchliffe`s heroics might have doubled their final tally!

All that said, the title race is still in our own hands and, despite Wrexham being table toppers now, we are still better placed to take the title , but we need to win our last 2 games!

…………………………………………

The atmosphere was electric and then some as both sets of supporters belted out their repertoire of favourites to the annoyance of the other as the game got underway.


In good voice !

The football on view was similarly styled- both teams looking intent on being first to score in front of an expectant crowd of over 10000.

County looked the better option though, pushing Phil Parkinson`s side back on their heels.


Croasdale the cement that keeps it all together.

It was mainly County for sure and Sarcevic looked particularly lively- Hippolyte too and a real chance surfaced in the first 10 minutes when Myles was upended by French, the free kick revving the volume up from the County faithful under the Wrexham Lager Stand roof.


Down goes Hippolyte !

It was close…..Palmer wanted it……went for it but had to settle for a corner , which Mullin was able to run to safety for Wrexham.


No luck for Palmer !

Rydel cleared up for County from this, sending County up the park looking for a goal. Sarcevic was involved again, but it was Hippolyte who shaped better on this occasion ,firing in a decent shot that Dibble in the home goal parried and then held at the second attempt.


Decent shot by Hippolyte !

The 13^th minute saw County face their first long throw – they survived the experience intact, but we have struggled against this weapon in the past , so I was not totally filled with confidence should our hosts start pinging shed loads at us from the next County.


Palmer v Palmer as County defend.

County were undeterred though- Hippolyte just kept from Sarcevic`s through ball by the combined efforts of Hosannah and McFadZean.

I had just scribbled the legend ` Sarcevic and Madden are immense` and felt justified in so scribbling and Madden looked to provide evidence in support, but his cross found no takers on 15 minutes.


Madden threatening first thing !

Sarcevic joined in too- Dibble doing well to keep his shot out on 17 minutes as the pressure from County continued to build.


Good effort by Sarcevic.

Dibble was more comfortable holding Sarcevic`s next effort 3 minutes later, and less comfortable but still able to do the biz claiming the ball in a one on one with Quigley not long after.


Not the 1 on 1 shot but Quiggers here inducing panic.


.....and drawing dfenders to him.

Hogan was doing well at this point in his unaccustomed roll on the left side of a back 3, but all County`s back line were caught out on 28 minutes as another long throw saw Hinchliffe in action brilliantly tipping Mullin`s scissors kick over the bar.

County defended the corner and broke clear through Sarcevic, but he was hacked down from behind when in full flight by McFadzean. I thought this was at least a yellow, but then I remembered that the Referee was Martin Woods – whose laisez faire approach to football discipline thrilled us so when Solihull Moors tipped up at Edgeley Park. Sure enough, it was a free kick to County and the briefest of words for the offender from the man in black.

The free kick was cleared, and McFadzean would be well pleased!

County went back on the attack once more ,but Madden lifted his shot over the bar from Newby`s run and cross.


good run by Newby.........

Madden flying still !

This was beginning to get a familiar ring about it…reminiscent of the FA Trophy game here in which County were punished late on after squandering a raft of chances.

And the half chances were coming with reasonable regularity- Hippolyte setting the next one up with a neat bit of opportunism, winning the ball in improbable circumstances.

The ball flew on from Hippolyte to Madden to Newby who had to settle for a corner, which despite Palmer`s interest sadly came to nothing.

We were 10 minutes from the break when our peace of mind was laid waste with the award of another long throw ( cue ritual towelling down of ball- surely there must be a law against this practise- if not can we have one please!), and we were punished for not taking our chances.

The throw pinged over like a veritable Exocet on to Ollie Palmer`s head and his looping header soared into the far corner of the net with Hinchliffe well beaten.

Then just 10 minutes after Jones` limb threatener on Sarcevic had been passed off with a cursory `word` from the ref, the same official saw fit to book Quigley for a `6 of one, half dozen of the other` pushing situation…and I had left the BP tabs at home!

I needed them as well, as I looked up to see Hinchliffe keep an effort from Mullin out with just 4 minutes of the half left to play.

County were under pressure as the break neared and the impetus was now with Wrexham.

That said, we did sneak another halfie….Hippolyte stealing possession neatly only to be fouled by Cleworth. The free kick might have offered us a way back but when Sarcevic hoisted it into the box and Palmer went for it, the ball flew wide and the chance was gone.

But….I perked up as County came back at their opponents via Quigley , but as the County forward set about making something of the moment he was pushed blatantly in the back by Tozer in the referee`s clear line of sight.

It was a no brainer….a County free kick….but no…. Mr Woods would have none of it looking away allowing play to go on….which it did……..quickly as Jordan Davies slipped a neat through ball to Mullin who made it 2-0 with the tidiest of finishes!

There was barely time to draw breath and curse the fates ( and the ref) before it was half time and County went in 2 down!

…………………………………

I had just scribbled another forgettable legend ` Seen enough to think this isn`t over yet!`, but I was to be quickly disavowed of that miss judgement.


CJ on for Quigley....

County had come out early for the second half which was good, with CJ now on for Quigley......


3-0 ( From Andrew Machin`s phone)

........... but what followed, 2 minutes in, was more angst as we went another goal behind, teed up by a foul by Rydel that I still need convincing was such.


Quietish game from Rydel.

Mr Woods thought it was….Wrexham had a free kick which Davies planted on Ollie Palmer`s head and he responded by heading home with County`s back line in disarray.

In the space of 3 minutes the game had slipped away from County who were looking at a possible drubbing now if fortune continued not to favour them.

And those long throws were still heading Hinchliffe`s way to make life even more angst ridden for County.


County under pressure.

Mullin was beginning to run us ragged again – fortunately he forgot himself and fouled Hogan and the opening he was looking to seize was gone via the free kick.

Madden replied for County but hooked his shot over the bar after Cleworth had lost possession, but the zest and energy so evident for much of the first half was absent now from County as Wrexham kept us busy at the back- Palmer`s shot deflected for a corner that Hinchliffe punched clear under pressure.

Punch u/p from Ben ( from Andrew Machin`s phone)

If County were now struggling, they did keep trying and chances did come their way occasionally – Newby hacked down as he cut inside on a run by McFadzean, but the free kick flew wide.

With just under 25 minutes left Crankshaw replaced Rydel for County and for a while Wrexham were under concerted pressure .This curtailed sadly when Madden had a `hand to ball `moment in front of goal.


County press .

Then our hosts gained a free kick ,in exactly the same spot as the one for the 3^rd goal. It was a nervy moment for County but the nerves settled as the kick from Davies went straight to Hinchliffe.

Back came County, Hogan heading over when well placed…….then Wrexham replied through Davies who stole the ball from Newby only to be promptly and stupidly fouled by the County man .This ushered in another notional chance for the Welshmen via the free kick but this was poor and County survived.

Ben- good catch u/p ( from Andrew Machin`s phone)

Back to the Wrexham long throws, and the latest saw Hinchliffe save the day for his side with a confident catch under pressure.


Sarcevic still working.

We went into the last 10 minutes with County looking to salvage something from the game`s ashes- a goal now could be vital in the final analysis, but the 81 st minute saw Madden`s header drift wide – Keano faring no better 2 minutes later seeing his shot clear the bar.


Wide from Madden !

But if I was at all tempted to think County would now start to dominate matters, Wrexham soon put that idea to bed- Hippolyte doing well to block Mullin`s progress with 3 minutes left.


Hippolyte on the ball !

It went on with Ollie Palmer blocked by the County Palmer ushering in another long throw that found Tozer latching onto it before leathering an almighty shot goal ward that Hinchliffe somehow kept out – that was outstanding keeping!

Oh…he then got up to then punch clear under pressure from the subsequent corner.

A foul by Hippolyte on Hosannah put more pressure on County from the free kick and earned Myles a late booking, but County held out, keeping it at 3-0 at the end.

Not a great result, in fact a major disappointment, but as I said earlier ,we can still win the title- it is still very much in our hands- win the last 2 games and we are champions!

Get behind the lads on Wednesday for the visit of Torquay, and we are halfway there!

See you Wednesday!

Wrexham AFC line up:-

Dibble, McFadzean, Tozer, Davies ( O`Connor 86), Young, Mullin, French, Hosannah, J Jones, Cleworth, O Palmer ( Ponticelli 90).

Subs not used : Camp, Mc Alinden, Jarvis.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Keane, A .Palmer, Hogan, Newby Croasdale, Hippolyte, Sarcevic, Rydel ( Cranshaw 66), Madden, Quigley( C Jennings 45).

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

Attendance : 10118 ( 1200)

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