Stockport County 0 Gillingham 0 ( Football League 2 ) Tuesday 7 March 2023

The weather forecast was dire, -2 or worse tonight it told us, and by well before 7.45 it felt colder than that, and with the economic forecasts still indicating that the UK is on course to go to hell in a handcart we really needed something to lift the spirits at EP last night.

OK, we had a full moon shining brightly early (` worm moon` they told us)and it looked fine but what we really needed was a County win but in the event that remained as elusive as wise words from government spokes persons as County `s quest for essential promotion points was restricted to just one by the direst of dire showings by Neil Harris`s Gillingham side that sat back, parked the bus and everything else in their own half for 90 odd minutes daring the blues to penetrate their defences.

To be fair, if you like that kind of thing, they did a top job as County , probed as diligently as they did almost the whole match, just did not show that they had the necessary wherewithal to sort matters, which is disappointing as we know they can and have done it this season .

They did try for sure, and looked really comfortable on the ball all match but the required cutting edge was missing from the passing game which too often took a rather familiar sideways, sideways, back course.

We needed someone to run with the ball, maybe someone to also play to Tanto`s strengths -his speed off the mark, but neither happened and the game drifted slowly away from us as, for the fourth time this season, County racked up a 0-0 score-line at home – an absolute anathema in a promotion season.

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There were over 8000 inside Edgeley Park as County again kicked off towards the Cheadle End at 7.45.

Byrne for Wright was the only change in the County starting line up and they again started brightly through Rydel whose early run down the left produced a cross that deserved better but no one in blue attacked it.

County`s cover held comfortably as the Gills offered up the illusion that they were going to have a go a couple of minutes later.

A neat diagonal ball from Davenport opened up possibilities for the blues as Byrne got forward onto it pushing the visitors back, but it all went pear shaped when, after winning a corner , Davenport fouled Nicolls to ease any Gills angst via the free kick.

County`s play down the left , with Sarcevic and Rydel feeding off Hussey prompts, looked good at this point but still the final moment lacked something as the cross , on 9 minutes, missed out both Tanto and Wootton.

County then set up shop in the Gillingham half where with the exception of Abrahams who stationed himself somewhere near halfway, the visitors looked content to give keeper Glenn Morris some company and thoroughly frustrate the blues with bodies behind the ball.

They did actually sneak into County territory midway through the half but then failed totally to take advantage of Referee Ben Toner`s generosity in giving them a free kick- County`s blushes spared when Masterson drifted into an offside position !

If much of this period is unrecorded by the writer here ,it`s because it was not especially sparkling stuff to watch- the 28^th minute rather summing it up as a foul on Sarcevic gave County a free kick which they failed to capitalise on.

Then, at last something to get up out of your seat over as a terrific one/ two twixt Sarcevic and Rydel saw the latter ping the ball towards goal where Tanto went after it. It looked iffy for Gills but Will Wright earned his pay with a priceless intervention on the line to thwart the County man!

We were beyond the half hour now, and County were still looking comfy on the ball if lacking in penetration, and this point was emphasised next as Sarcevic spun around in the box to attempt to set a chance up, but it eluded us and Davenport`s shot when it came was substantially under powered and gave Morris no difficulty at all.

Two minutes on from that last action and Hussey`s cross caused some concern for the Gills back line so much so that I was not necessarily alone in thinking Nichols had handled the ball in the box – the move ending with Collar missing out in front of goal.

Collar did better a short while later getting a decent block in to see Abrahams off on the rarest of raids from the visitors.

County went back to attacking next and Gillingham`s discipline started to creak a bit- a good sign, but again the blues did not use the free kick to their advantage Horsfall kept from the incoming by a clutch of yellow shirted defenders.

The pressure continued- Will Wright positioned well to head Rydel `s cross out after I swear that Tutonda had brought Knoyle down. Mr Toner thought otherwise and despite 2…3 times looking so close to a first goal in the minutes that followed that reward eluded County.

It eluded them again on 43 minutes when Rydel laid Wootton`s cross to Tanto whose shot twanged the bar with Morris beaten.

Into 1 minute added time we went with angry shouts emanating from the Cheadle End as again Wright appeared to upend Knoyle in the box. Knoyle tried to stay on his feet – honest for sure but it helped Mr T wave a pen away to send the teams in at the break with the game still goalless!

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The re-start saw County make 3 changes bringing Hippolyte, Madden and Croasdale on for Rydel, Olaofe and Davenport.

The shake up was probably worth doing but I was puzzled as to why Rydel was hooked as his link up with Sarcevic had possibilities.

County promptly re-commenced the siege of Morris`s goal – Wootton denied by the keeper 3 minutes in.

Then a foul on Hussey ushered in a free kick and a chance but Madden`s header was held onto comfortably by Morris.

The 54^th minute saw Gills on a sortie up the park but it all ended badly as Abraham`s volley went well wide from Tutonda`s cross.

If the 200 or so under the roof of the away block on the Pop Side got at all excited by that it would not be a constantly recurring experience for them.

No, it was back to all behind the ball for Gillingham who again managed to see off a County free kick, as Knoyle`s header from same drifted across goal and out.

County kept attacking but frustration piled upon frustration as they were thwarted by the offside flag which seemed ridiculous with so many yellow shirts in and around the vicinity of keeper Morris.

Still County pushed on but without that spark- Hippolyte seeing a shot blocked after a rare flap from Morris as a County corner came over.

Hippolyte persevered his work winning County another corner which we again failed to profit from, making me think just how good Rydel`s input from set pieces has been for us, but he is down the free kick/ corner pecking order now it seems and hey…..not even on the park at this moment!

Twice with around 20 minutes left we won further corners only to see them come and go without tangible reward accruing to us, and we were now starting to see a succession of balls pinging into the box giving Morris comfortable catching practise-where was the fire …the inspiration?

Soon it was time for the Gills to upgrade their time wasting with a 5 minute break for the introduction of 4 substitutes-it irked me and most of the other 8000 present and seemingly Mr Toner too as he booked Tutonda for some additional panto nonsense .

Sarcevic then gave way for Stretton with 13 minutes remaining to play as I looked up to see another delivery from deep disappear down Morris`s throat.

Into the last 10 minutes we went then with nothing much changing and our frustration building by the second , but we thought the circle just might be squared only to see Knoyle`s effort cleared off the line.

Hinchliffe then sent it long forcing desperate measures to be taken by Gillingham who were again grateful to one of their number who once more ushered a Knoyle effort out off the line!

We were into added time now with the blues still pressing and Gills not that particular where they sent the ball as long as it was far far away from their goal.

It went on….Tutonda blocking a shot by Knoyle on 91 minutes…..Madden heading over the top from Hussey`s cross on 93…..Williams clearing in a hurry on 94….

Soon enough the game was over, and we had to settle for a single point.

I think I have commented enough already in this offering so I will content myself by again urging we stick with the team in the run in which is still far from over.

See you at Colchester? I hope so!

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe , Knoyle , Byrne , Horsfall , Hussey, Rydel ( Hippolyte 45), Davenport ( Croasdale 45) , Collar , Sarcevic ( Stretton 77), Oloafe ( Madden 45), Wootton.

Subs not used: Jaros , Wright , Camps .

Gillingham line up:-

Morris , Alexander, Tutonda , Wright , Ehmer , Jefferies ( Lapslie 74), Coleman , Nichols ( Hawkins 74), Masterson , Abrahams ( Mac Donald 74) , Dieng ( Williams 74) .

Subs not used: Turner, O`Brien .

Attendance: 8168 ( 212)

hedgegrower

Some images first from hedgegrower`s phone…..