Stockport County 1 Mansfield Town 1 ( Football League 2) Saturday 18 March 2023

Disappointment abounded at Edgeley Park today as County held the lead for over an hour of the game only to lose that lead deep into added time.

County had taken the first half honours along with a half time lead but crucially perhaps only scored one goal in the process- it was a pretty good goal engineered by Akil Wright and executed superbly via the head of Paddy Madden, but it was 1-0 at the break.

We definitely needed a second goal and as Mansfield grew more and more expansive as the game went on this fact screamed out at us loudly.

And the Stags really did make a game of it, pushing County back increasingly in a second half that the visitors took by a distance.

County did keep trying but without ever looking likely to nick that second goal.

Did anyone really imagine half way through added time that we definitely had the game wrapped up at 1-0 because Nigel Clough`s team made us pay dearly for the perceived insult via Lucas Akins` 93^rd minute headed goal that squared the match .

In the end I found it impossible to deny that Mansfield deserved any less than a share of the points in what had been a closely fought encounter, in fact I would say that their attacking play and their willingness to keep throwing men forward got the reward it deserved.

Two points lost? Definitely but to worthy opponents, we go again against Swindon – Rome and promotion both being not the product of a single days labour!

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Back at 3 o`clock play got underway with Wright`s run pushing Mansfield back on their heels. Knoyle won a corner from this only for the visitors to clear their lines to hoots of approval from 1407 who had travelled down from Nottinghamshire.

Some of the 1407 travelling supporters

Then 4 minutes in, Wootton`s brilliant close control surfaced for the first time as he picked out Madden. From Paddy the ball simply flew to Collar who set off up the park drifting right as he went before cutting inside – it looked a chance but keeper Pym kept Collar`s shot out with a brave save and his follow up effort for good measure.

We needed that one to go in and Mansfield quickly told us why as after Hussey had earned kudos under pressure from Mansfield , the visitors surprised us as Kiellor-Dunn`s impishly quick free kick picked Lucas Akins out deep inside the County last third and he immediately passed to Clarke who had but one thought namely a shot at goal and he went close his effort taking a deflection before clipping the bar .

The subsequent corner was only half cleared by the blues allowing Clarke back on our case again and County did well to re-group and block the forward`s progress but we had been warned for sure!

But County went back on the attack so maybe we were worrying unnecessarily?

Byrne who I thought had a fine game, started the move and Hippolyte wanted to apply the finish only to be beaten to the final ball by Pym.

Disappointment was short lived from that action as County surged forward again and only an audaciously brave last ditcher by Riley Harbottle for the Stags kept Wootton from scoring!

We were beyond 20 minutes now and County were upping the revs plainly – Madden seeing his shot held by Pym from Sarcevic`s pass on 22 minutes.

Another 2 minutes saw Byrne head wide from Hussey`s free kick being flagged offside in the process.

Cue more pressure from County as Wright pushed Mansfield back with another tasty run that was taken on by Knoyle who forced a corner. Pym pushed this out as the blues laid siege to his goal.

Eventually the visitors cracked as Wright`s pinpoint cross picked out Madden who deftly headed the ball home to give County the lead 30 minutes in!

But Mansfield surprised us again putting County under the cosh straight from the re-start- Hewitt and Akins tearing into the left side of the County back line with a purpose but no luck as the former`s shot spun fiendishly out off someone in blue for a corner.

County struggled for a time to clear their lines from the corner , but eventually a foul on Madden helped their cause and eased the angst factor.

Both sides took turns probing the other next but without success, it was late on in the half before eyebrows were raised again and it was Hewitt and Keillor- Dunn doing eye-catching work winning a corner that saw Hinchliffe do well to punch clear under pressure.

Mansfield would not go away however and I was probably not the only one holding their breath as Kieran Wallace headed for goal midst a confusion of blue and yellow shirts in and around the County box.

Thankfully Sarcevic was on hand and he did just enough to ensure that Wallace could not hit the target with his shot.

That was more or less the last meaningful action of the half- County had the lead and hopefully we could look to them to build on that in the second half!

………………………………………..

The second half was barely a minute old when that building I mentioned a para ago looked on the cards as Kilgour erred significantly by pushing Wootton to the ground in plain sight of the Referee.

County had a free kick in a good position for a pot at goal, most specifically Hussey. Hussey did take it leathering it unerringly for the top corner only for the excellent Pym to fling himself to his left and push the ball around the post for a corner. Wallace headed this out causing Wright some urgent tidying up as Mansfield looked to hit on the break.

This brought County to the fore again with both Knoyle and Wright seeing efforts miss out.

Then brilliant play by Wootton saw the ball swiftly head to Collar and then inside to Sarcevic whose somewhat under powered shot was comfortably held by Pym.

On it went with Collar picking Madden out but his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner. That was unlucky, and County`s luck was out again almost immediately as a poor clearance by Pym saw Collar latch onto the loose ball sending a shot thudding into the keeper`s chest . This looked distinctly iffy for the Stags but somehow they survived without leaking another goal.

However, the minutes that followed served to emphasise just how different Mansfield were to most other teams that take on County at Edgeley Park- they actually came to play preferably in our half and Hinchliffe and Hippolyte did vital work just before the hour keeping Mansfield at bay!

Mansfield really wanted something from this match and County were having to defend to the max of their ability to keep it at 1-0- a succession of corners giving County a good defensive work out- Hussey emerging with credit a time or two from these- Kilgour perhaps disappointed to see his header fly wide midst the flurry of incoming flag kicks.

A break by County on 65 minutes looked handy until Keillor- Dunn took Croasdale out after Hippolyte had robbed Kilgour of possession. It was a free kick of course and should have been a red card but Mr Howard was resistant to that bold thought and further disappointment came the blues way when the free kick was cleared.

We desperately needed a second County goal but instead they were defending a free kick.

They did that well, and the break from this looked OK too but despite the energy and the deftness of Madden`s chip into the box Mansfield were able to again muster a reply that had County back on their heels defending corners and crosses- Hinchliffe eventually easing the tension with an authoritative claim.

We were into the last 20 minutes now and Stretton was on for Hippolyte and Olaofe for Madden as both teams took time out to attack the other in turn.

It stayed 1-0 though despite Akins and Croasdale going close for Mansfield and County respectively.

Then some routine brilliance from Wootton sent Tanto darting clear, and it really looked good as he cut inside in the box, but Kilgour made an outstandingly brave block throwing his body in the way of the County forward`s shot saving the day for his team for sure!

Wootton was unlucky with a header from the corner that followed, as was Tanto 5 minutes later as Pym beat him narrowly to the first decent through ball I recall seeing heading Olaofe`s way since his arrival at the Club.

Then it was swings and roundabouts again as County were back under pressure, then breaking clear as Tanto made it to the by-line only to see Pym in action snaffling Knoyle`s lofted effort that followed.

It was annoying to see Mr Howard and his visually challenge liner ignore a poor foul on Byrne as he hastened to get back to help sort Mansfield`s latest breakaway.

That was 7 minutes from the end of normal time, and Stretton was fouled by Hewitt as he headed up the park down the left, but County made nothing of the free kick.

Then we got a second free kick as Stretton was again fouled as he hugged the left touchline dutifully , but Tanto slipped when trying to add a finish to the kick and another set piece was wasted.

With 5 minutes added time announced by Kenny, Camps came on for Collar – a defensive move and probably a wise one but within 3 minutes we were angst ridden and more as a throw to Mansfield midway into the County half signalled all bar Pym up into the blue half.

Wright headed the throw out but thereafter County could not clear their lines and this energised Hewitt to ping a cross over for Akins to head home.

It was 1-1 and the away end went AS and unsurprisingly so – it was a seemingly unlikely but not undeserved reward for their second half showing.

The rest was a bit of a blur and the final whistle welcome when it came.

Where does that leave County?

We remain in sixth position as Northampton won, the others in the top 5 drew.

Make of that what you will, we are still in the promotion hunt for sure it is just a touch harder for us now but not impossible.

Get to Swindon if you can , give `em a cheer they just might make the journey worthwhile !

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Knoyle , Wright , Byrne , Hussey , Hippolyte( Stretton 65) , Croasdale, Collar ( Camps 90), Sarcevic , Madden ( Olaofe 71), Wootton.

Subs not used : Jaros, R Johnson, Rydel , Rowe.

Mansfield Town line up :-

Pym , Hewitt , Harbottle ( Gale 89) , Akins , Clarke , Bowery , Perch ( Oates 57) , Wallace ( Johnson 74) , Kilgour , Keillor- Dunn , Boateng ( Law 89).

Subs not used : Flinders , Anderson , Abdullah.

Attendance : 10155 ( 1407)

hedgegrower

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