Colchester United 0 Stockport County 1 ( Football League 2 ) Saturday 11 March 2023

 

 

 

County clung on for 3 massively valuable points at the Job Serve Community Stadium today against lowly Colchester, winning a disappointing and at times overly rough game 1-0.

Colchester had a new manager in charge today and it was clear that he earned his pay cheque at half time as at that stage Ben Garner`s team looked odds on to be buried in the second half after County had gone in one up via Kyle Wootton`s twelfth goal of the season.

To put it simply  County looked the better team and our hosts looked there for the taking, but it did not turn out like that as the yellow shirted blues grip on the game was gradually loosened  as Garner`s team started to realise that they had a chance in a game that looked gone to them earlier.

But try….huff…puff as the U`s did it was all in vain and County toughed it out to finish the game on the front foot, confound their critics and the locals claiming 3 vital points in the process.

As disappointing as it was to see U`s able to get back in the game  this result could be very important indeed.

I heard many repeating the ` a win is a win is a win` mantra after the game- and they were spot on- we take the points and come back to EP on Saturday for 3 more!

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Back at 3 o`clock why despite the facilities, the pies ( cue latest pie shot -below ), the readily available supply of match day programmes etc did I find my mind drifting back to Layer Road- was I the only one in today`s crowd so disposed?

 

 

 

 

 

Probably, but those thoughts had to be filed away quickly as the game was underway and within the first few seconds the U`s were deep in County`s last third and one of their number was going all RADA on us throwing himself to the ground in the box to a frenzied roar from the locals. They wanted a penalty of course but it was a forlorn hope and Mr Bourne the Referee dashed it to the four winds with a peremptory wave of his hand.

Colchester did win a corner with Tom Hopper nipping at County`s entrails but this went nowhere.

County`s first real attack involved Hippolyte winning possession and Croasdale running at the home back line from that being fouled on the edge of the box. The kick disappointingly hit the wall and Sarcevic`s follow up effort went wide to leave it 0-0 with 8 minutes gone.

Sarcevic and Knoyle put further pressure on Colchester next but without getting a shot on target – County were definitely enjoying the majority of possession- just a little extra spark was missing!

They kept working at it however Hippolyte`s run on 12 minutes batted away by a clutch of blue and white shirted U`s.

Five further minutes saw a tasty off the ball clash between Sarcevic and Ashley both just had their bruises to show for it when the talking stopped and play resumed.

That last incident was no isolated occurrence as within 10 minutes Horsfall had to be substituted after a similar coming together between him and Wood of Colchester.

Ryan Johnson replaced Horsfall and he was to make a vital contribution later to this County win !

Within a minute County looked well set as Wootton`s lay off to Hippolyte set him up, but he dragged his shot well wide .

Another minute and we had a corner as Knoyle`s run took him to the by-line, but a poor kick wasted the moment and the U`s had escaped.

Eventually Colchester replied as Ashley`s shot ricocheted for a corner off Byrne, but the U`s set pieces were no better than County`s and we watched with some relief to see the kick fly out of play.

But whilst we were far from convincing we were definitely the better side,and with 10 minutes of the half remaining we set about proving it, Collar`s cross fizzing over from the right causing U`s keeper Kieran O`Hara his first bad moment as he flapped prodigiously at the ball as it flew his way. The ball ran out to Hussey, and he unleashed a vicious drive that had possibilities but flew across goal and out!

As I say that was O`Hara`s first bad moment, his second soon followed and with clanging great gold plated Knobs on.

Again, the ball pinged in from the right where it reached Johnson who headed it on to where Wootton lurked within a whisker of goal, and it was 1-0 in a flash as he made no mistake giving County the lead.

If I was expecting County to increase the U`s angst in the 8 minutes of normal time that remained in the first half I was to be disappointed it was Colchester who had the better chance. It fell to Matt Jay  but floundered on an immaculate tackle from Knoyle that saved County`s bacon.

We did better in added time, but without adding to the score- Madden sending Wootton clear with a neat ball.  He had two defenders and O`Hara for company so it was no shoo in and O`Hara won the argument pushing Wootton`s shot for a corner at which bad moment number 3 saw him flap once more eventually escaping unscathed but no doubt a bag of shredded nerves.

Surely we would put him under pressure in the second half!

We would see, as Mr Bourne blew for half time.

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An early booking for Kelleher for U`s enlivened the second half`s early minutes and we nearly had our second County goal as a superb free kick from Sarcevic thudded into the angle of bar and post with O`Hara a helpless spectator.

That was encouraging but try they as they might   in the follow up action County could not nick that second goal- Johnson seeing his effort blocked- O`Hara eventually emerging with the ball from Wootton`s header to end the home side`s agonies.

It went on with Knoyle`s cross just eluding Wootton, but an altogether better notional chance also went begging just before the hour mark when Collar`s final ball, having broken clear, gave Madden and Wootton no chance to apply a finish allowing the home defenders to clear their lines.

Maybe that was the moment that U`s realised that they might have a chance after all?

For sure they looked interested when the referee gave them a free kick in a decent position on 62 minutes, and Wood did make it to the by-line only to find no takers for his cross.

They again looked interested a minute later as Ashley`s cross in from the right found Hopper who looked quids in with the goal gaping but he somehow missed the target with his shot!

Madden was blocked close in 2 minutes later for County, but play was increasingly in County`s half Hall perhaps unlucky on 67 minutes to see his shot blocked.

This triggered a double subbing by County with Madden and Sarcevic replaced by Olaofe and Wright.

It changed nothing immediately though with Colchester fancying their chances more and more, winning a corner then wasting it as Kelleher headed the ball over the bar.

By the time we were deep into the last 15 minutes it had started to get distinctly tasty again as the interestingly monikered Emyr Huws pasted Olaofe with interest. County`s support yelled for a red but Mr Bourne thought yellow and I thought overall he controlled the game well.

At last, with 9 minutes left, County took the game to the U`s a Wootton/ Collar combo carving great caverns in the home defences before sending Knoyle darting into the box.

He could almost taste O`Hara`s after shave and might have done rather better but instead he ballooned a lulu of an effort high into the away end- have I said `disappointing ` yet? Well, it was.

Collar made a good block under pressure next but was replaced almost immediately by Camps having taken a knock in the process.

The last 5 minutes of normal time saw County pressing again through Wootton and Hippolyte to send Camps clear. He was in the box and needed to get his shot off sharpish but before he could Akinde saved the day for U`s with a terrific last ditch tackle. The keeper punched the corner out …..it came back…..Akinde rose to head out .

Alarmingly Colchester then had it on the break until Johnson  saw  the threat off albeit at the expense of a free kick and a booking which the home specs urged a red but was yellow- Johnno had again proved his worth to County when the chips were down!

Of course cries of `handball` came from the locals from the kick and a corner but this was wasted and County were into added time with a glimpse of 3 points  almost in their grasp.

Colchester came back at County winning another corner that Hussey headed out , and when Ashley latched onto the ball he would have been disappointed to see his shot drift wide.

There was time for Hinchliffe to keep his latest clean sheet intact by smothering the ball as it spun to him in the next U`s attack.

Eventually County were able to run the ball up the park, win a corner then hang on long enough for Mr Bourne to ease our torment with the final whistle.

That was hard work and far from pretty at times, but we take it don’t we?

We surely do, look to sort our shortcomings and go again on Saturday at Edgeley Park against Mansfield – a big ask possibly but who amongst us say they have not got it in them to do it?

See you there then!

 

Colchester United line up:-

O`Hara , Chambers , Chilvers , Kelleher , Ashley ( Huws 75) , Newby ( Sears 75) , Jay ( Akinde 84) , Tchumadeu, Wood ( Feurier 70), Hopper , Hall.

Subs not used : Smith , Greenidge , Miranda.

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Knoyle , Byrne , Horsfall ( R Johnson 26) , Hussey , Croasdale , Collar ( Camps 82) , Hippolyte , Sarcevic ( Wright 67), Madden ( Olaofe 67), Wootton .

Subs not used: Jaros , Stretton , Rydel.

Attendance : 3530 ( 473)

hedgegrower

 

And now some crowd shots from hedgegrower`s phone .....