Stevenage 2 Stockport County 1 ( Football League 2) Saturday 6 August 2022

 

 

 

 

 

County came unstuck again in their second game back in the Football League losing 2-1 away to Stevenage today.

It might have been a different story entirely as County led as late as the 86^th minute via a Camps goal almost on the hour.

But then a late implosion saw the lead slip away first through a penalty after Palmer`s tackle on Earley earned him a second yellow and red and County`s opponents a penalty that Norris duly put away to level the scores.

What followed was more of less inevitable with the blues down to 10….Stevenage buoyed by the home specs late support and fresh legs having used 6 substitutes in the last half hour, County`s ten were finally overwhelmed as Reid nicked the winner on 95 minutes.

I am not that sure what conclusions to draw from this disappointing experience.

At 3 o`clock I felt that County had put a pretty decent 11 out- I looked in vain for Brown`s name and still prefer Quigley to Wootton but I was happy with the team we had out.

That said it soon became clear that the `somewhat robust` approach of the home side set County a particularly difficult mountain to climb especially as Adam Hertzog ( recently promoted from National League) was not fully attuned to the tasty mix of theatricals and over vigorous challenges from the home side.

The result was that County were for ever defending free kicks and picking up cards, a goodly number of which were iffy in my view, or waiting for another of their number to fully recover from newly acquired injury . Going down to 10 just served to finish us off!

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Optimism still abounded in a lively County following as Wootton won the first challenge of the day.

Palmer was also quickly in the mix and proceeded to get a good number of defensive headers in.

The first shot though came from Bostwick for Stevenage, but this was blocked.

Play proceeded but with no great excitement after that last action- a free kick on 8 minutes for County following a foul on Rydel, was pinged in at great height only to be headed out by Piergiani – someone well known to County!

The next minute saw what turned out to be a very significant moment as Roberts and Palmer tangled as the Stevenage man looked to surge clear down the left. It was an ungainly affair from both men and might /should ( delete to taste)have been viewed as `six of one….`instead Mr H produced a card waving it in Palmer`s direction.

We cleared the free kick, but we would rue this moment later!

Not at this point though and Palmer did well not long after to block Roberts again as he tricked his way into the box.

For 10 minutes after this County went on the attack winning free kicks and corners, but significantly were unable to make any of them count- the home back line marshalled by Piergiani were holding the line well keeping it at 0-0.

To be fair Stevenage were no better with the set pieces despite ex Hatter Piergianni`s interest in nicking one against his old club.

Rydel saw a shot deflected for another corner on 25 minutes after Sarcevic had won possession from nothing but again our set piece was poor and the home side profited.

The closest County came to converting a corner came with Palmer`s header 2 minutes later but this was put behind for a corner which came to nothing.

It was anyone`s game at this point, and Johnson did well, doing just enough to block Taylor in the act of shooting after a ball by Reeves had done for County`s cover.

Stevenage kept plugging away which was good, what was not so good was the volume of hefty challenges that County were having to put up with and after a welter of blue shirted players had had treatment and eventually resumed the action, the 39^th minute saw Collar succumb to another rib tickler   having to be replaced by Camps.

That was just what we did not need, but Madden gave us heart sending Sarcevic clear- it was but a momentary ray of sunshine dimmed almost immediately by the liners upraised flag……offside.

This encouraged County`s opponents but Wildin dragged his shot wide when well set on 44 minutes.

Then Reeves took a hand sending a cracking shot goalward that Hinchliffe tipped brilliantly over the bar- ending the County angst first with a punch out under pressure then ultimately holding onto the ball and clearing same.

Then, the half ended with Madden giving more reasons to be hopeful- Ashby-Hammond, the home keeper only just  keeping his shot out on the break- the County captain`s follow up – a diving header going narrowly wide.

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The game resumed with Horsfall the latest in the wars for County, but he was thankfully able to resume after treatment.

Palmer meanwhile was doing OK- saving the County bacon on 53 minutes with a first-class tackle to stop Reeves run into the box.

The next minute saw the action switch ends but with the County contingent behind the home goal expecting better Camps put his cross behind the advancing Johnson smack in front!

Stevenage replied but Norris did not hit the target from another Roberts break.

Then……..on the hour………… pure joy as the ball reached Camps from the left and he made no mistake slamming it beyond Ashby-Hammond into the net!

County had the lead and things were looking up.

I viewed Stevenage`s next move as being the result of panic as they then sent on 3 substitutes, but eventually they had 6 subs on, and I was clearly wrong as the fresh legs must have made an impact.

These personnel changes did bring Stevenage more into it even if the product of that was not that impressive- Sweeney dragging a weary looking shot well wide with 14 minutes left.

Hinchliffe was working hard and well in this period and Stevenage`s frustration was plain with County chasing everything at this stage.

Into the last 7 minutes of normal time and the home side had all 6 subs on, but still a goal adrift!

I was getting more and more annoyed as another home player would throw himself down and roll about- this time it was Campbell going through the theatricals at Quigley`s expense. The result was County`s rhythm was shot, and the resultant free kick put the pressure on the blues again.

So…the ball was deep inside blue territory with just 2 minutes left, as Earley went for the ball with Palmer. The resultant tackle from Palmer was adjudged a foul by the Referee who then pointed to the spot before waving a second yellow followed by the compulsory red at Palmer.

Norris put away the penalty to make it 1-1- Mr Hertzog declining to oblige the salivating home specs with a second penalty a minute later- for `handball` the hordes under the terrace roof would have it….but they were disappointed.

A variety of emotions followed in what remained of the game…

Irritation – as a home defender carried the ball several feet out of play only for the liner to allow play to continue and County`s attack to therefore founder.

Amusement- as Smith volleyed the ball way over the bar.

Despair- as the rigours of being 10 against 11 told on the blues and Hinchliffe clawed air as Reid forced the ball home from close in from Earley`s by-line pull back.

There weren`t words adequate to describe my feelings at this point, and a stunned hush descended on what had been a very supportive County following!

It was not the happiest trip home, but I said `yes` in reply to Lou`s question “ are you on for Harrogate” so maybe I`ll see you there!

 

Stevenage line up:-

Ashby- Hammond, Wildin ( Smith 82), Clark ( Earley 60), Reeves ( Campbell 73), Piergianni, Sweeney, Taylor ( Reid 60), Norris, Roberts ( Rose 70), Vancooten, Bostwick ( Read 60).  

  Sub not used:- Chapman.

 

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Southam- Hales, Palmer, Horsfall, R Johnson, Rydel, Croasdale, Collar ( Camps 39), Sarcevic ( Lewis 94), Wootton ( Quigley 78), Madden ( Hippolyte 86).

Subs not used : Jaros, Crankshaw, Brown.

 

Attendance : 2973

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