Stockport County 1 Salford City 1 ( Football League 2 ) Friday 31 March 2023

County took almost 10000 of their supporters on a fair old, and not unfamiliar, roller coaster ride at EP last night , scorching into an early lead via a rather good goal from Connor Evans( his first for the Club ) only to let their lead and the game slip away via a speculative effort from Callum Hendry 5 minutes into the second half.

Bearing in mind the quality of their start it was massively disappointing for the game to end as it did .

I am sure many think, and possibly with justification, that 1-1 was a fair result, and Salford did play better football at times than they usually do when playing us, but we had the game in our grasp……

Had Paddy Madden`s strike 10 minutes after the County goal gone in instead of coming out off the woodwork, at 2-0 things would have very likely taken a very different course.

But it didn`t and that was the games pivotal moment- go in we win, stay out and it was the catalyst of Salford`s eventual salvation, and no matter how much possession County racked up and they racked up a fair bit, they would be constantly frustrated by a Salford side , annoying with their constant going to ground seeking the refs ear, and their perpetual mugging of Kyle Wootton ( largely unchecked by Referee Adam Herczeg) but resilient and playing to a plan that you have to say over all worked!

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There was an electric atmosphere abroad at 7.45 as County opened proceedings attacking the Railway End.

There were over 10000 in the stadium, with in excess of 500 Ammies fans packing the away block on the Pop Side and decisively answering jibes aimed in their direction hinting at a possible paltry turnout from Kersal Moor.

Perhaps the tension was just a tad too tasty though as after a couple of good early interventions from Akil Wright, County began to look a touch vulnerable – Wright and Knoyle combining to do just enough to ensure that Mc Aleny`s shot, within a minute of the start, flew wide.

That was good work, but an escape and another one quickly followed as Mallan breezed through the County cover to send a thumping drive goalward where Hinchliffe`s dive saw him keep it at 0-0.

County broke clear from this and the game seemed to change in an instant as the home crowd were up howling in dismay as Mr Herczeg chose to ignore what appeared a clear handball by a harassed Ammie defender with Madden on his case.

Believe it or not by this time only 2 minutes had elapsed – another 2 and Wright curled a snap shot just wide for County.

Then , with County now seemingly feeding off the buzz generated by the crowd, we had a goal and a good one too. It started with Camps who did well to pick Knoyle out near the by-line. Knoyle had loads to do but showed massive strength in weaving his way past red shirt after red shirt before slotting a beautiful pass back to Evans who buried the ball beyond keeper Cairns into the net.

County had the lead.

This was looking good but it took another 10 minutes for a second goal to beckon as excellent work by Wootton teed Madden up with a chance he probably should have slaughtered- instead with County supporters up cheering a second goal- calamity ……the ball came out off the woodwork – it was still 1-0!

This must have put wind in Salford`s sails and County felt the draught almost straight away as Horsfall just managed to deflect an Ammies free kick wide of goal. Croasdale headed the corner clear at the near post and County had it on the break until Wootton was hauled down unceremoniously just beyond half way with Mr Herczeg not at all interested.

It has to be said that, with almost 20 minutes gone, Salford had spent an inordinate amount of time on the deck and not all the instances were caused by County fouls- they were seeking the referee`s ear constantly- was it working?

But County still retained their early fire forcing a corner but being thwarted by the Pop Side liner`s offside flag.

Then County`s defence again opened obligingly to allow Hendry to thread a ball into the path of Galbraith whose fierce drive was beaten out by the diving Hinchliffe. The corner that followed ushered Vassell centre stage for Ammies but Hussey did sufficient to ensure his header flew wide of goal.

We were being tested by Salford a time or two that`s for sure and County needed to sharpen their approach and tighten up at the back.

Wright was still trying to do his bit ,keeping Horsfall`s long and slightly awry diagonal pass in play before embarking on a run that forced the visitors to concede a corner.

This immediately looked interesting as Cairns spilled Knoyle`s cross , but try as they might County could not take advantage of the moment and Salford`s defence survived intact.

Overall though County were in command of the game they just needed another goal ( just!!!!....just!!!!!!) to unlock the flood gates, or that was my thinking anyway.

But Croasdale`s shot flew wide on 33 minutes, the same player in action again 5 minutes later to good effect teeing Evans up for a shot that Cairns managed to bundle out for a corner.

Salford were again under the cosh from this but County could not capitalise on their opponents apparent distress.

Distressed no longer Salford hit us on the break with less than 5 minutes of the half left only to find Croasdale on their case stopping the rot for County with some excellent work!

Then, with half time almost on us, Wootton latched onto an absolute gift from a defender. He reacted slowly however eventually laying the ball off to Madden when a shot a touch sooner might have fitted the bill better. No matter Wootton generally has been excellent so I leave it there . The ball was with Madden but the moment was slipping away from County rapidly and the chance disappeared without trace when Madden`s shot failed to test the keeper.

The 3 minutes of added time saw matters potentially boil over as a series of poor fouls on Wootton ( ignored by the Referee) and Wright had County supporters raging at the officials.

We actually did get a free kick for the foul on Wright but made nothing of it, the first half ending with the score still 1-0 to County.

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The second half opened with County seemingly still in control of matters. Croasdale was still to the fore and Wootton heading wide from Hussey`s cross.

Then it all went pear shaped!

It did not seem to be a moment when we should be at all concerned, after all , although Salford were in our half they were marooned circling unspectacularly near the Pop Side touchline. I missed out the ` seemingly` before `marooned` a mistake…..as Hendry swung a boot at the ball sending it in an unstoppably zany parabola into the net.

Salford were level, fortunately perhaps but we would have celebrated this improbable strike every bit as much as did the 584 in the away block, had we nicked a cheeky one like that!

Frustration mounted for County after this Mr Herczeg`s ` eccentricities` not endearing him to the County faithful- be it his propensity to see every 50/50 in the Ammies box as a foul on the defender or yet another mugging on Wootton and we saw another on the hour that made temperatures soar.

Midst it all Salford had a chance only to see Bolton fluff the opportunity to punish County.

It was high time that we made a change or two and just beyond the hour Challinor replaced Evans with Sarcevic and Madden with Hippolyte.

I was not that sure that taking Evans off was quite the right move to make and whilst I thought Hippolyte was a good call I would have liked Tanto or Stretton to be given a chance to run at Salford.

It was what it was though and Sarcevic was welcomed to the fray by a tasty foul by Mallan who got a booking for almost removing the former Bolton captain`s head. The free kick put Salford under pressure but Rydel ( who I thought looked well out of sorts to this point ) failed to read Hippolyte`s return pass thus ending the Ammies angst.

Mr H was getting the hang of `this booking mallarky` now and Hussey soon followed into his book for a foul on substitute Barry.

This caused a ripple or two of concern because the free kick was just outside the box but centrally positioned so scoreable but Mallan`s effort flew just wide.

County were beginning to get the free kicks now and when Bolton hacked Hippolyte down, we had another only to waste it as Knoyle `s low effort went straight into Cairns` arms with just over 15 minutes left.

Croasdale, to his credit, was still trying to coax/ drive County on but nothing was working at the sharp end at all, and it was no surprise when Stretton came on for Camps the only surprise being it had been left until 10 minutes from time so to do.

County forced another free kick and this time ( and at long last) Rydel took it and very nearly worked some magic- Wright only just kept from a decent kick by a defender. The corner came to nought being headed clear by Hendry.

We were into the last 5 minutes of normal time now and Salford were fraying at the edges a touch Leak at last being punished for hauling Wootton down. Remarkably Mr H had seen it as it was and we had a free kick in a good position and Rydel again came over to take it. It was a belter too and it took a great save by Cairns to keep it out and keep his team afloat!

Belting free kick, belting save, belting image by Andrew Machin.

We thought we had a chance from the corner, but the referee saw a foul on a defender that strained credulity to its limits and sustained the Ammies rearguard action.

On it went – we had probably now settled for a draw but that said, Horsfall did well to get a block in on 88 minutes and thwart a Salford move.

Then smack on 90 minutes Mr Herczeg went full on pantomime villain on us and how we railed at him as a Rydel break won us a corner only for keeper Cairns to fall over defender Bolton allowing the ref to award Salford a stupefyingly erroneous ,lifesaving, free kick!

It went on into added time – Wootton hauled down trying to get on the end of a free kick……..County pressing with Knoyle`s cross seeing a colossal coming together of Rydel and Bolton. No foul was involved but Salford got a free kick none the less after a lengthy stoppage whilst Bolton was tended too.

Salford rallied in the game`s dying embers putting the blues under some pressure, but we held out well enough to share the points.

Not what we came for but things are serious now at the sharp end of the promotion battle and no points are going to be easy to obtain.

We check out what we have done wrong as a team and come again and as supporters …well….we support them starting with Sutton next Friday!

See you there!

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe , Knoyle , Wright , Horsfall , Hussey , Camps ( Stretton 80) , Croasdale , Rydel, Evans ( Sarcevic 64) , Madden ( Hippolyte 64) , Wootton.

Subs not used :Jaros , Byrne , R Johnson , Olaofe.

Salford City line up :-

Cairns , Lowe ( Barry 62), Watt , Hendry , Mallan , Galbraith , McAleny ( Morton 86) , Bolton , Leak , Mc Laughlin ( Touray 36) , Wassell.

Subs not used: Bellagambi , Lund , Mariappa, Smith.

Attendance : 10305 ( 584)

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