Crewe Alexandra 1 Stockport County 1 ( Football League 2) Tuesday 31 January 2023

( All words by hedgegrower, crowd shots by hedgegrower & Andrew Machin, emergency note writing materials courtesy of Joan Plimmer and Julie Clegg )

County came away with a point after a lack lustre performance saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Crewe at a bitterly cold Gresty Road last night.

It could have been worse for sure as our Cheshire rivals went in, not underservedly,1-0 up at the break.

County showed some metal however by coming back from this with a goal of real quality from Wootton but try as they might a win was always just out of reach, with Lee Bell`s side always hinting at maybe snatching a second goal to complement their tidy hard working game plan that constantly thwarted the yellow shirted blues.

In the end both sides had to settle for less than they came for, and maybe that was how it should be!

…………………..

The first 3 minutes were distinctly uneventful – the opposite in fact to Saturday`s horror story at Plough Lane.

Crewe were first to show with any purpose 4 minutes in forcing Hinchliffe to make his first save of the match preventing Agyei from converting Adebisi`s cross into an early Crewe goal.

Agyei was back again a minute later probing for an opening but the County` back line held firm.

Crewe looked as they pretty much always do- neat and tidy but not that likely to cause a stir but having said that to myself I was tempted to eat my words as Hinchliffe again did well, keeping his goal intact with Sambou thundering through onto another ball from Adebisi.

Croasdale headed the resultant corner out, and the defence of County`s goal was complete as Thomas fouled Hussey just outside the box.

The home side continued to have most of the possession however- the ninth minute seeing Wright in action ushering a long ball from way back clear, but I wasn`t unduly worried opining to myself that maybe this was the correct strategy……play it cool….keep your powder dry… come through late and strong. That was definitely seeming to be County`s modus operandi albeit their powder, after 10 minutes had been kept exceedingly dry!

And the attacking continued from Crewe- Wright blocking another powerful run by Sambou- Knoyle putting himself bravely between Ainley`s follow up shot and an opening goal. Wright hooked the corner clear to ease the situation for County, but our hosts were getting more time on the ball than was good for us.

It was early doors though was it not, and the 15th minute at last saw County nibbling at Crewe`s nethers registering a decent goal bound effort as Wootton headed wide from Hussey`s free kick.

Then for about a ten minute period things bucked up with County taking the game to their opponents- Knoyle pinging a series of balls over but without unduly disturbing Richards in the Crewe goal.

Pressure from Hussey and Collar followed but with no reward to show – Camps going closest for County his shot going out off a post with Richards a spectator!

It went on with Knoyle able to gain ground down the right and put pressure on Crewe but still they did not crumble !

A cool bit of work at the back by Byrne earned applause – Collar unable shortly after to trouble Richards his shot going tamely into the keeper`s arms on 32 minutes.

Then we got a bit of a warning as Nevitt was able to get a shot off having drifted inside with County seemingly standing off him. He dragged his shot wide, but we surely needed to be tighter in similar situations?

That was perhaps a warning, what followed was that and more as Crewe almost nicked the opening goal.

It started with a slip by Wright that let Sambou in on goal his fierce shot was somehow kept out by Hinchliffe , but the ball ran clear to Nevitt whose shot came out off a post .

We had escaped……just…but we most definitely had been warned!

County tried to reply helped by a foul on Hussey by Thomas, but Wootton headed wide from Hussey`s free kick on 39 minutes.

Back came Crewe and dangerously next as Agyei surged through the middle at speed – but Hussey did brilliantly doing just enough to see that his shot went narrowly wide- a definite chance !

Half time was almost upon us now and Crewe were on the ball again Nevitt forcing a corner.

The whole of Cheshire seemed to be in the box as the kick swung overbut amongst them only McDonald`s reactions were 100% spot on and the slightest of flick on`s from him undid the blues as the ball bounced near O`Riordan who turned to fire the ball home on the edge of the ruck.

That was not the greatest of shocks if I am honest, but it did nothing to improve the mood of County fans who were not best pleased next to see Thomas attempt an early shirt exchange with Wootton who was looking for a break.

The referee gave nothing but I thought generally he was fairly even handed with what iffy decisions were going.

Into added time we saw Byrne again show us why he was signed rescuing his team after a loose ball by Knoyle had sent Sambou clear on goal.

It was half time and time to ponder whether to trail off and join the end of a seemingly endless queue for a warming coffee- I didn`t electing instead to stay put and freeze( leaving my gloves on the coach sadly was not my only mistake of the day).

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County had struggled in the first 45 to test the Crewe keeper, but it took them just 3 second half minutes to put that right by scoring a goal of some quality.

It was started and finished by Kyle Wootton whose `give and go`with Collar was a rare thing of beauty on this coldest of January nights and his finish simply sublime- giving Richards no chance whatsoever prompting a relieved ovation from over 2000 souls under the away stand roof.

County were level, but then 5 minutes of uneventful play seemed to lull us into slumber mode as Nevitt was allowed to sneak in and get a shot off that Hinchliffe did well to claw out and push around the post. A couple of corners followed for Crewe the County angst ending when an extravagant air kick by Sambou missed out at the back post.

I had expected County to be getting stronger and stronger putting more pressure on Crewe, but the opposite was happening, and Hinchliffe had to make another keen save from the middle of a ruck of red shirts in front of the blues goal.

A free kick had set that last action up so maybe we needed to tighten up in that area?

Alternatively of course we could just nick another goal and Wootton and Madden began to look like they were tuned in as far as that aspect was concerned- Hussey unlucky to see his shot deflected for a corner after some neat football from County.

The corner was cleared as was the next move from County that saw Madden and Wootton combine with Camps to good effect.

County were trying but much of their play lacked fizz at the end of it- Knoyle typified this winning much possession and going on many runs down the right without producing the quality ball at the end of same that our situation required.

A foul on County`s number three offered us some hope of better via the free kick but again though they went close there was no reward coming their way.

We were into the last 20 minutes now and County were under pressure as Agyei forced the first of a series of corners that did nothing for the BP. County were able to hold on successfully but it was not that great to watch.

County showed they still wanted the win however, but Collar could not find the required finish chasing Hussey`s through ball in the box with 17 minutes left.

Then with pressure mounting from Crewe County rang the changes bringing Hippolyte and Rydel on for Camps and Hussey.

We needed to take the game to Crewe so I was happy with these changes hoping to see whether Hippolyte and Rydel could show us some magic in the time that remained.

Wootton looked to be a stronger bet still though and the deftest of flick on`s from him sent Byrne surging through the middle at speed. He could see the white`s of the keeper`s eyes….. but Richards pushed it for a corner that Mc Donald hooked clear with some urgency for Crewe.

With the game`s end nearing County were definitely looking the likelier of the 2 teams to nick this, but would they?

A foul on Collar again gave us a lifeline via the free kick , and Johnson and Byrne really showed that they wanted it as the kick came over but Richards prevailed for Crewe with a confident catch.

We were 2 minutes from the end of normal time now and Knoyle drifted inside to pick Ryan Johnson out as he surged towards the box. A thunderous drive followed from County`s number fifteen and we gasped but it thudded into the boards barely an inch wide!

Into 5 minutes added time then, with still all to play for.

County were looking to do the biz but without giving us that lethal moment of magic to celebrate on the journey home.

McDonald was still occupying much of his time seeking Wootton`s shirt as County attacked in vain to get that winner.

I watched the last few minutes from the back of the stand- it got a touch heated at times at the death but really while we wanted 3 we would take the 1 point gained and re-group again for Tranmere on Saturday and for me it was just a relief to watch a game bereft of the `dark arts`.

I hope you are happy with this report, if you are the fact that it was written at all is entirely down to the kindness of Joan Plimmer and Julie Clegg. I left my writing materials at home and Jules was quick to volunteer a pen whilst Joan contributed another pen , some of last year`s birthday cards which I crudely tore to size and a hair grip to keep the paperwork in order. Big thanks from me to both for saving the day for me!

See you at Edgeley Park on Saturday- we can and will do better!

Crewe Alexandra line up:-

Richards, Mellor , Adebisi , Mc Donald , Thomas , Ainley ( Finnigan 65), Agyei , Griffiths , O`Riordan , Sambou ( Amoo 71) , Nevitt.

Subs not used : Beadle, Offord, Colkett, Brook, Uwakwe.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Wright, Byrne, R Johnson, Knoyle, Hussey ( Rydel 79), Croasdale, Collar, Camps ( Hippolyte 79), Madden, Wootton.

Subs not used: Jaros, Evans, Stretton, Mac Donald, Lewis.

Attendance: 5877 ( 2201)

hedgegrower

Some crowd shots first from hedgegrower…….