Stockport County 2 Carlisle United 0 ( Football League 2) Tuesday 25 October 2022

County gave a large Edgeley Park Tuesday evening crowd a terrific performance to remember through the cold winter nights in taking all the available points off promotion chasing Carlisle United.

Games twixt these two clubs are invariably tension ridden high octane affairs but this one, for a time with County dominating a first half that saw them 1-0 up via a superb strike from Myles Hippolyte looked anything but with County well on top. However, with Jack Stretton on after the break Paul Simpson`s side began to open up and take the game to the blues in a second half that was more of a contest.

But County just would not concede the game to their opponents who were put to the sword by a classic goal- one `for the ages` if you like via a move which was appropriately started and finished by many peoples M.O.M Kyle Wootton.

It was a cracking win, against an opponent not used to losing this season.

Crucial to County`s success for me was the undisturbed outfield line up DC chose- Hinchliffe was the only change on view and he racked up another smart clean sheet with a typically Hinchliffian performance. We again saw Wright, Horsfall and Hussey as our back three and they once more turned it on for their manager particularly Wright who I thought was outstanding – a picture of poise and solidity allied to an eye for pass!

The M.O.M arbiters had a heck of a job on. They gave it to Hippolyte, and he really did have a cracking game scoring a beautiful goal to top it off. But, if I have already mentioned Wright and Wootton in this regard I might also have mentioned Croasdale or Collar who really are reminding us in their different ways just how vital their presence is to the health of County`s midfield and thus the team`s!

I do not usually mention everyone at this point in a report but I will as no one gave less than 100 % -Brown and McDonald again looking after the provision of width to good effect, and Madden showing continued enthusiasm for the game crowned with a peach of a pass for the first goal.

It was a fine all round team performance- the near perfect mix of defensive solidity and attacking nous and flair – great stuff and a pleasure to watch to be sure!

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It was clear from the first kick that Hippolyte fancied this one forcing an early corner and narrowly missing out with a header and overhead effort within 3 minutes of the start.

County had their pressing game in perfect sync to the extent that Carlisle hardly got a kick in the first 5 minutes.

A run by Collar, cut short by a foul and a free kick from McDonald that flew just wide ended the first 10 minutes with the big crowd engrossed by what they were seeing.

It was another 2 minutes before the visitors could venture forth into County territory – Corey Whelan heading over the top under pressure from Horsfall.

County piled on the pressure next as Hinchliffe went long but Madden saw his shot come out off a defender following another corner.

Then, 5 minutes later the pressure paid off for the blues as possession was wrenched from Carlisle deep in County`s half. The ball was soon with Madden and a lovely ball from him picked out Hippolyte perfectly as he lurked menacingly in front of goal.

It was a chance for sure, but we have seen these go begging more than once, but Hippolyte made light of the moment and the 6 foot - 9 inch frame of keeper Tomas Holy to drill the sweetest of shots home to give County a well-deserved lead.

That was simply excellent, but within 4 minutes we almost had another County goal as Hippolyte toyed with the right side of the Carlisle defence before pinging the ball over to Collar at the back post. It was another chance and Collar made a good fist of putting it away only to see Holy pull off a terrific save to deny him and keep it at 1-0.

Some good work at the back by Wright, Hussey and McDonald saw off a brief rally from the Cumbrians on 26 minutes, and this teed up more excellence at the other end of the park where County were giving the visitors a hard time – Madden and Collar unlucky not to add a second goal.

Not much was coming back Hinchliffe`s way, just the occasional flurry of activity but Ben did well to keep Jordan Gibson out as he tried to latch onto a long high one from Holy as it bounced in the box.

Otherwise, the best of the rest of the half was a McDonald free kick on 40 minutes following enterprising play from Brown and Madden who seem to work well together. Calum`s kick fizzed its way across the crowded box where 3 blue shirts came within a whisker of getting a vital touch.

There was time for a reply from Carlisle which was dealt with well by Hussey and that was the first half ended with the teams going off at the break to applause.

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The second half started with ex Hatter Jack Stretton on for Jayden Harris, so we rather knew that the Cumbrians would be ratcheting up the revs here on out!

Indeed, the first 5 minutes were all Carlisle as they pushed County back on their heels- Feeney looking likely to profit from a long run into the County last third from deep, but his finish did not match the approach play and the ball missed the target by a distance.

Meanwhile Wright and Croasdale were prominent trying to get the blues back in charge, and they had some success although Collar could not apply the required finish to a long ball into the box on 52 minutes.

Hippolyte won possession back energetically from that last action sending Brown to the by-line with malice aforethought. Brown`s low cross gave County distinct possibilities but not for long as Holy threw his massive frame at the ball claiming it midst a forest of legs at the back post.

County had `the whiff` again but Holy was proving to be a formidable obstacle to their progress and another save from him stopped Collar in sight of goal not long after.

This did not mean that the Cumbrians were losing interest, but their finishing was still distinctly lacking emphasised by Gibson`s shot 9 minutes into the half that flew wide- not by much mind you…but wide none the less.

The thought lingered with me, that we definitely did need a second goal to quell any of the traditional late hostilities from our opponents and these thoughts were nurtured as Carlisle forced a corner in a flurry of attacking play. Thankfully Whelan, well placed at the back post, could not make this rare Cumbrian corner count.

Then all negative thoughts were banished in a blizzard of attacking positivity started by Wootton wide right just beyond halfway. All that then happened next took place at lightning speed as Wootton quickly hurried the ball on to Madden. Everywhere around the Irishman men in blue shirts wanted the ball but he slid it to his right to Hippolyte who in no time at all picked out Collar.

The visitors back line was in shreds by this point as Collar lifted the ball across goal towards the back post where Wootton, despite the close attentions of his usual heavy guard, gleefully headed the ball home to a tumultuous reception from the EP faithful!

Wow……instant replays from 7 different angles really bore me, but how I wanted the facility at that moment!

County were 2-0 up and deservedly so but with half an hour left in which much could happen to change the situation.

Carlisle for their part would work hard to see the situation change for sure but with a decent opportunity presenting itself via a free kick in a scoreable position they wasted it -Moxon sending a poor effort wide on 63 minutes.

By way of contrast County looked relaxed and they produced some top quality football for a minute or so afterwards, but this was interrupted by Moxon who with Gibson again took the play to County. Former blue Kristian Dennis got on the end of what was a decent move from the Cumbrians but looked on with anguish to see his shot thwack a post and come out to safety.

With McDonald replaced by Ryan Johnson County had more defending to do as Dennis again threatened but again being disappointed – his delicious dive and associated penalty claim, never looking on and denied routinely by Referee Ben Speedie who I thought had a good game.

Cards were beginning to rack up now for Carlisle as their frustration mounted, but by way of a welcome contrast County`s discipline was again holding firm and I did not see anyone in blue get a card ( might be wrong though).

That was good, and so was Hussey`s work next under pressure from Fin Back who was carded in the simmering aftermath of Carlisle`s latest raid with less than 20 minutes left to play.

Cue a response by County and Brown started it bringing Madden into play and his header saw Holy dive to push the ball around the post at the last gasp. Madden went even closer from the resultant corner his shot again was going in when Feeney swung a despairing boot at it on the line almost slicing it in.

It actually flew wide and out signalling a series of throws and a mini siege of Holy`s goal, and the Cheadle End were up en masse to claim a penalty as Wootton was brought down by Feeney as he looked to apply a finish to Madden`s cross smack in front.

The referee was not interested, but County did not waste any time brooding instead they looked for that third that would kill the game off- Brown and Wootton combining well on the break. The move ended disappointingly with Hippolyte shooting wide, so we needed to still be on or metal!

In that respect no one shone brighter than Akil Wright who followed a fine game at Salford with his best game for us yet here and his work with 10 minutes left stopped the latest Carlisle move in its tracks.

Play swung this and that way next Moxon doing well for Carlisle to stop Collar after Wootton had instigated yet another break, then Horsfall excelling when County`s opponents replied.

It was good stuff for sure as DC opted for fresh legs bringing Crankshaw and Sarcevic on for Madden and Hippolyte with 7 minutes left.

Crankshaw was quickly to the fore but a distance off with his finishing, twice looking to take the wrong option when reasonably well positioned.

But the fresh legs were serving County well and Moxon worked a small miracle for Carlisle to block Wright who particularly fancied getting on the end of a late County free kick. A corner resulted and more distress for the visitors as Brown and Collar tore into Carlisle`s left flank. It was close but Wootton`s shot from this missed the target with 3 minutes of normal time to go.

With just one minute left Holy did well to keep a Sarcevic effort out for Carlisle who then went on the break through Stretton who beat off challenges from two County defenders to then behold the whites of Hinchliffe`s eyes. It was a chance and one pretty much all the 8418 present would have felt he would have scored but that did not factor in Hinchliffe`s input and it proved to be immense, As Stretton sent a thumping drive goal ward the County keeper stood his ground magnificently beating the shot out with oodles of cool and not a little class!

That more or less sorted our clean sheet.

We had a chance of cheekily nicking a late third when Hussey latched onto the loosest of balls at the back from Carlisle, but he dragged his shot wide and I do not think anyone was unduly concerned with that- the game was won, the points County`s from another excellent team performance.

Both the team and DC deserve loads of credit for this quality showing and another one that showed we can do the discipline bit if we try- really excellent stuff all!

See you Saturday then for County v Sutton United!

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Wright, Horsfall, Hussey, Brown, MacDonald ( R Johnson 68), Croasdale, Collar, Hippolyte ( Sarcevic 83), Madden ( Crankshaw 83), Wootton.

Subs not used: Jones, Palmer, Rydel, C Jennings.

Carlisle United line up:-

Holy, Armer, Moxon, Feeney, Gibson, Guy ( Sho-Silva 78), Whelan, Mellish, Back , Harris ( Stretton 45), Dennis.

Subs not used : Charters, Ellis, Bollado, Kelly, Idehen.

Attendance : 8418( 1116)

hedgegrower

Some images taken by phone camera starting with a few from hedgegrower:-