Stockport County 3 Tranmere Rovers 2 ( Football League 2 ) Saturday 4 February 2023

And with one bound the fair maid was free…….well, not quite but this was a really good start for County who saw off a tricky challenge from Micky Mellon`s Tranmere Rovers side to take all the points with a thrilling 3-2 win today at a packed Edgeley Park.

Goals from Knoyle, Wootton and Collar sorted matters for the blues but they had to battle until the final whistle which blew just after a fantastic save by Hinchliffe had brought the house down and secured the win for his team!

As victories go this was well up there…..well-earned and thoroughly deserved against a side that came to win and having mentioned Ben I will also single out Hussey for praise- he was outstanding for 90 minutes a true professional showing all who want to see just how it`s done. He got the M.O.M and I did not complain although Wootton must have run him close!

It looked for a time as though the game might be ruined and Tranmere`s cause aided as Referee Chris Pollard and his yellow flagged liner had us gasping in disbelief at some of the decisions that threatened to seriously undermine County`s cause.

It was to the team`s credit that ultimately this did not happen- pulled back to 1-1 by a penalty that quite simply should never have been awarded, they knuckled down and did the difficult stuff that was required of the situation scoring two opportunist goals that gladdened my ageing heart to seemingly make the game safe.

It wasn`t so and credit to Rovers who nicked one back late on to set up a grandstand finish- enter Hinchliffe – game over- points ours!

…………………………………

Over 10000 were packed inside Edgeley Park as the game got underway with County made to attack the Cheadle End first off.

Tranmere had the first attack of note boosted by an early free kick that upped the pressure on the blues. A long throw served to complicate matters but when Hawkes played the ball back to O`Connor his shot was smothered by the eager Hinchliffe.

Nothing noteworthy occurred for a couple of minutes and then concern as loose play by County , and the referee`s decision to ignore a foul on Madden, allowed Rovers to attack again eventually thwarted when a foul by Merrie on Wootton stopped the rot for County via the free kick.

Davies went down easily next under pressure from Collar getting no free kick ( or County booking) for his pains.

If I was thinking Mr Pollard was a cut above, it would not be long before this naïve view would be challenged.

For now though, with 10 minutes gone I was content to see Wright send Wootton clear to brilliantly win a corner.

The kick went short and another followed as Merrie just managed to push Wootton`s shot around the post.

Tranmere were under the cosh big time at this point and I was dismayed to see Hippolyte coolly and illegally blocked by O`Connor as he threatened the Rovers back line on the edge of the box. The dismay came after Hippolyte had received treatment when the referee instead of giving County a free kick gave a bounce up to Rovers.

That was diabolical but much worse would follow if not quite yet!

With play resuming we needed County to keep doing what they were beginning to do, but instead they lost possession and were reliant on Wright`s excellence to get them out of a jam- his firmly delivered tackle on Hawkes being just that and it stayed 0-0.

Back came County and with some urgency but Mr Pollard chose to ignore the fact that Davies was all over Wootton- arms hands , but the official was not interested .He was even less interested moments later when Hussey`s cross from the left headed across goal where Collar was blatantly taken out as he went for the ball.

No penalty…nothing, just anger and frustration for the County team and their supporters!

Then we got a measure of justice – not yet though as Hippolyte almost had his head kicked off his shoulders as County pushed Rovers back. The referee earned rare browny points for allowing advantage which saw the ball with Hussey who delivered it to the back of the box where Knoyle headed sweetly home to give the blues the lead!

That was sweet, seeing Wootton held….fouled and generally manhandled next for no redress was not. This gifted possession to Rovers and Hinchliffe did well to punch clear under pressure from a corner.

We awaited a reply by County, but when it came and Madden responded to Hippolyte`s brilliant ball, he was flagged offside .

County upped the pressure on Rovers next and it looked good until Croasdale lifted his shot over the bar.

Then after having to weather a small storm in the form of a corner and long throw from the visitors, County replied – keeper Mat Hewelt saving from Croasdale following Camps` pass- Collar seeing his follow up effort charged down.

It went on in the same vein- Wright narrowly unable to put Collar in at the foot of a post on 31 minutes.

This activity was interrupted by a break by Hawkes for Rovers a run that saw him surge clear to the by-line being denied by Hinchliffe`s save that had County supporters applauding.

If Rovers were looking second best to County, when they had the ball they looked likely to do something with it so we needed County to limit their time on the ball, but could they achieve this?

Certainly the blues were attacking to good effect so I contented myself with that realisation- Wootton almost able to capitalise on a defensive lapse on Rovers part- Hewelt managed to make the save but without ever looking too confident!

That said he was there to foil Madden on 37 minutes on the end of a superb pass by Wootton so what did I know?

Then, with half time just 5 minutes away, it all went pear shaped.

It started with a break by Rovers but this was cut short abruptly by the yellow flagged liners up-raised flag. His rigid right arm told the world `that man is offside` and he was…..

So I wasn`t paying that much attention when the players continued `going through the motions` or so I thought- I did see a tackle go in and Hemmings go down as if dead.

Play would now restart with a free kick to County wouldn`t it? except no…..the liner ( with Rovers fans to his back and to his right) now had his flag down and the referee had awarded a penalty.

County protested…it was useless and Hemmings did the necessary from the spot to make it 1-1.`

Wootton lifted the gloom with a fine header but it hit the angle of bar and post and despite County`s protests the raid ended with a free kick to Rovers.

Then, justice as Wootton induced panic in Hewelt increasing the keeper`s distress by slotting County`s second goal home.

County had the lead deservedly and it stayed 2-1 as the teams went in at the break.

…………………………………..

The second half opened with a Saunders shot apparently taking a deflection before going behind. Croasdale headed the corner out- Collar sorting the follow up from Davies conceding a corner .

Hussey headed this one out only for it to come back at speed- Morris dismayed to see his flicked header fly across goal and out.

It was end to end for a while after this , both teams getting forward without nicking a goal.

The hour mark saw Hemmings lean back to fire tamely over the bar for Rovers, and another minute saw Hewelt flapping prodigiously at the sight of Wootton`s rapid approach for a back pass aimed for the keeper.

I was forced then to forget Hewelt for a moment as at the other end a shot by Bristow thudded into the angle of bar and post with County looking challenged at the back.

Then within a minute County had a corner that went short to Camps who ushered it on to Wootton. A cracking shot followed but it hit the bar to the great disappointment of the majority in attendance!

Rovers continued to look for something from this game, and County seemed to be allowing them too much time in possession, but Chalmers calmed my concerns a touch dragging his shot wide after 66 minutes, but we were still just 1 up and needing to stay vigilant.

We now had Rydel and Olaofe on for Camps and Madden and Hussey continued to shine doing excellent work to outsmart Dacres- Cogley as he chased a through ball.

This served to light Rovers fuse and County were indebted to Hinchliffe as he beat Burton to a dangerous through ball on 73 minutes.

Hippolyte went close on 75, before on 79 County increased their lead.

It started with new man Tanto Oloafe in keeper Hewelt` face chasing down a loose ball. Hewelt opted to punch but could only send the ball to Collar on the edge of the box. A couple of strides by Collar…a shot and it was 3-1 to County and Hewelt`s misery was complete!

Credit to Tranmere , they kept plugging away – both Byrne and Hussey getting good work in for County as Dacres- Cogley turned the screw for Rovers pinging the ball in from the right.

It continued into the last 5 minutes of normal time where Hussey did well to block Burton`s dangerous glancing header. He sorted the resultant corner also, but not what immediately followed on from it .

It was a throw and Bristow hurled this a prodigious distance to Burton who played it back to where Morris lurked and he made no mistake firing his shot into the net through a forest of bodies.

It was 3-2, and the game was notionally on a knife edge, but no one had told Hussey who surged up the park to the by-line before being denied by Hewelt.

It was getting hectic now ,with 2 minutes left, and it was good to see the calming sight midst it all of Hinchliffe claiming a ball under pressure in the busy County box.

It was even better to see Knoyle press on and test Hewelt with a shot , but Tranmere were still not done and Hinchliffe did well to beat Lewis to the ball smack on 90 minutes.

We had 5 minutes added time to negotiate next( and no BP pills to hand). It looked like I needed them next as Wright and Croasdale performed miracles to block the most dangerous of Rovers raids from getting a shot in- it was way above and beyond, but then so was what followed as Hinchliffe twisted upwards and backwards to tip a goal bound effort by Bristow over the bar to a thunderous ovation from the County following.

The game ended almost immediately thereafter to rapturous applause from the County faithful.

It had been a well deserved hard fought win that sees us on the right track for what is to come.

Well done County in fact very well done!

Next test in 7 days’ time at Harrogate- see you there then !

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Wright, Byrne , Hussey, Knoyle, Hippolyte , Croasdale, Camps ( Rydel 68), Collar, Wootton, Madden ( Olaofe 68).

Subs not used: Jaros, Stretton, Lewis, Rowe, Grayson.

Tranmere Rovers line up:-

Hewelt, Dacres- Cogley , Bristow, O`Connor ( Lewis 85) , Davies , Merrie , Morris ( Hendry 59) ( Chalmers 59), Hemmings ( Mumbongo 85) , Hawkes, Turnbull , Saunders ( Burton 72).

Attendance : 10 231 ( 1597)

Hedgegrower

Some crowd images from hedgegrower`s phone camera……