Stockport County 4 Newport County 0 ( Football League 2 )Monday 10 April 2023

This was a bit special as, on the vilest of days, County chose to lay on one of their best performances of the season and in so doing swept majestically into the third automatic promotion position with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over an honest but limited Newport County side. In doing so they swept Carlisle and Stevenage aside as they went both having drawn -the former against 10 men.

It was a cracking showing from the blues and so…..so good to see Kyle Wootton leading the charge with 2 good goals. The team was laden with star performers today but Kyle`s claiming of the M.O.M award was well deserved.

There were goals too from Stretton and Knoyle, both taken with confidence and aplomb. Add another Hinchliffe clean sheet behind the finest of performances from our back line and midfield so skilfully organised by captain Ryan Croasdale and there seems to be grounds for a modest celebration tonight for the Blue & White Army.

It was top notch, not perfect of course but it most definitely will do thank you very much.

A word too for Newport.

They were very much outplayed, only really showing up as an attacking force for 10 minutes or so in the second half but, that said they kept trying to get something from the game( a rather thankless task against this County outfit) and never once did I see them stoop to alleviate their distress by resorting to the dark arts or time wasting- a nice change for teams in this division!

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Fittingly there were people from all around the globe in the 9000+ crowd at EP today including I.O.M Hatter Peter Quirk who bobbed by the Grassy Knoll pre match for a welcome word!

Peter with Treasurer Dave Marchbank.

Then thoroughly drenched it was into the stadium to pick up the 100th edition of the excellent Fanzine `When I Was Young & Lazy` from Lancs……

Then it was game on, and County were attacking but not that well to begin with as Hippolyte sprayed a hasty shot well wide within a minute of the start.

Then I began to get a touch irritated as we started to opt for several passes too many at the back with an over indulgence( in my view anyway) in passing back to the keeper- and we very nearly paid for the practise 3 minutes in, the County back line recovering their control just in time.

From there it gradually improved with the blues playing a neat passing game at the right end of the park- Newport`s.

It really did look good, and it was no great surprise to see County take the lead before the game was 10 minutes old.

It started in County`s half where Croasdale took off on a run that had green shirts scattering before him as he ran. Looking up the County captain picked Hippolyte out with a fine ball and the result was a lovely cross that the likes of Wootton dream of and he did what was required planting the firmest of headers beyond Joe Day the Newport keeper, into the net- County had the lead their supporters craved!

One more minute and Day was in action again but less stressfully keeping Stretton from Rydel`s long ball by a whisker.

All was perfectly OK following this for 4 minutes with County looking every bit a side in control, but the 15th minute almost saw Newport hit back as Horsfall passed his way into trouble allowing Omar Bogle a run at goal. It was a real chance for sure and Bogle was on target with his shot but kept from glory by Hinchliffe whose diving save kept it at 1-0 and saved a few blushes.

County recovered their composure quickly though and proceeded to work at getting that 2^nd goal and some of the football was good to watch particularly from Croasdale whose intuitive pass teed Rydel up to force another corner.

County had umpteen unsuccessful attempts at nicking a 2^nd goal from the kick before the move ended with Horsfall shooting over the bar.

This signalled a response by the Welsh side and Byrne did well to head Cameron Norman`s cross out on 21 minutes as Newport began to press.

A somewhat fortunate free kick served to add buoyancy to the visitors attack but Hinchliffe punctured that by snaffling Wildig`s kick when he lifted it into the crowded box.

Around this time Croasdale took a knock becoming the latest in County`s camp to test our stocks of bandages- a lengthy period of treatment ending with his head swathed in same in time honoured fashion!

He was continuing though, and so was Akil Wright whose strong run put Newport under pressure as play eventually resumed.

But County could not capitalise on Wright`s good work, however neither could Newport whose instant reply, a break by Norman, ended with him missing the target with a poor effort.

We were beyond 30 minutes now and treated to some Hippolyte/ Rydel magic which ended with the latter`s cross headed narrowly wide by Wootton.

And again, we saw the Hippoyte/ Rydel combo in action just 2 minutes later as the duo exchanged passes before teeing Knoyle up for a header that again was just wide.

There were 10 minutes left of first half normal time now and it was high time that Newport showed us something, but when they tried to and Scott Bennett sent his volley on target, he found Hinchliffe in his way holding onto the ball with obvious confidence.

On it went with County replying via Rydel, but his underpowered effort was comfortably dealt with by Day.

Then we had a moment or two of panto with Cameron Norman the only man in SK3 who was wondering why he had been booked by Referee Carl Brook after comprehensively carting Hippolyte in front of the Danny Stand.

We went into added time with Horsfall and then Hippolyte making good defensive headers as long throws from County`s opponents flew into the box putting the blues under pressure.

The pressure continued and Hippolyte did well to stop a run by Bogle 2 minutes into added time, but the referee did less well moments later as County looked to break, and the official chose to ignore a foul on Wootton that stopped him in his tracks.

Newport did get a free kick a minute later but then made a wakes of it as Mickey Demetriou headed wide.

Then with minds drifting to pies, pints whatever the blackest most dismal of April days suddenly got brighter as Horsfall`s brilliant ball picked Rydel out perfectly. Rydel did what Rydel does and planted a peach of a cross into the box where Wootton drilled it wide of Day into the net to double County`s advantage.

A bit of tidying up by Wright as Newport sought to ping in another long throw, and that was the first half put to bed, and a very satisfactory half it was too!

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County went looking for another goal when the second half started, but Drysdale did just enough to prevent Wootton from getting to Rydel`s cross after Croasdale had stolen possession.

Newport replied and County did well to concede a corner as Norman`s cross came over on 49 minutes. This might have summoned in a chance but instead Demetriou shot wide.

Back came Wootton for County but he again found Drysdale on his case keeping him from the product of a tasty cooperation by Collar and Knoyle.

Then we thought that 3rd goal beckoned as Croasdale and Knoyle won us a corner but when the ball landed at Hippolyte`s feet from the kick he leant back to balloon the ball into Row R.

That was disappointing but County were looking likely to at some stage …. maybe…..nick another, and a powerful run by Wright hinted it might not be too long in coming but he was halted by a strong challenge by Lewis. I say `strong` but also felt he was perhaps lucky not to have been booked by the referee.

No matter, County still looked well capable of sorting matters but Newport`s cover held next preventing Wootton from reaching Stretton with a dangerous ball.

Still County pressed but their quest for a third goal was thus far having no success- Knoyle foiled by Demetriou one minute, Croasdale and Wootton unlucky the next.

Then on the hour we suddenly looked a touch unsure for some reason, our defence having its` Red Sea Moment` parting obligingly to allow Bogle to send Mc Neil deep into blue territory.

It was a `hearts in mouths moment `now for sure but Mc Neil fluffed the chance missing the target.

Newport`s confidence unbelievably was beginning to grow seemingly and Horsfall did really well to keep Bogle out with a neat tackle 2 minutes later.

On the rally by Newport went, as long throws pushed us back- Hinchliffe doing good work to grab and hold onto a bouncing ball in the box with substitute Will Evans looking very interested indeed for the Welsh side.

There had been 7 minutes of fairly consistent Newport pressure when suddenly the metaphoric clouds lifted as Horsfall gladdened County hearts by winning possession before picking Rydel out wide left.

It was the mixture as before as Rydel fired the ball across the box low and hard to where Stretton emerged to drill another top-quality finish home!

Simon George captures the moment Stretton made it 3-0 !

It was 3-0 now and the game was more or less over despite there being almost 25 minutes left to play.

That was perhaps why Challinor chose to take Stretton off at that point replacing him with Madden, also bringing Sarcevic on for Hippolyte- it made sense to rest players and give others a run out with the hard battles yet to come.

Sarcevic took 3 minutes to announce his arrival seeing Day stand firm to keep his volley out with 20 minutes left.

Rydel forced a corner next only for the ref to spot Horsfall`s climb on Drysdale.

The changes continued with Evans and Olaofe coming on for Collar and Wootton as Newport rallied a touch forcing a corner with County defending well and awaiting their moment and it came when Tanto latched onto the loose ball following Moriah-Welch `s searching ball into the box.

Tanto was away, Moriah-Welch doing just enough to concede a corner rather than a goal.

Evans and Rydel cooperated from the kick but the latter was unlucky to see his effort miss out narrowly beyond the back post.

Tanto then forced another corner off Farquharson - a poor kick followed from Knoyle keeping it at 3-0.

We were into the last 5 minutes of normal time now, and Newport to their credit were still trying to get something from the game – getting a free kick that the Newport Evans saw Rydel head clear……then another that Hinchliffe did well to punch out under pressure.

Cue a break by County as Newport`s impetus waned a tad and Evans ran the ball clear for County to Tanto who found the way to goal blocked by Moriah-Welch.

A corner it was then and Rydel`s delivery was excellent, but Horsfall was unlucky with his header at the back post with 2 minutes left.

We hit 90 minutes to the sound of loud cheering from the County supporters as they had just seen a fourth County goal and it was another belter.

Started almost inevitably by brilliant play from Rydel who, with defenders transfixed before and around him , picked out Madden with an inch perfect pass and Paddy did the rest sliding a terrific ball across the box to where Knoyle lurked menacingly and he wasted no time before slotting a fine finish home!

Sarcevic was replaced by Hussey at this point as 3 minutes added time was announced.

Newport again tried to make a late impression winning two corners forcing Hinchliffe to make a diving save from one and Croasdale headed the other out.

Knoyle`s throw ended what had been a decent game one in which County stood out head and shoulders above their opponents in every sense ,and thoroughly deserved their win which truly does set them up well for what now follows on from this.

Gillingham and Carlisle then, is it?

See you at both hopefully!

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Wright , Horsfall , Byrne , Knoyle , Rydel , Croasdale , Hippolyte ( Sarcevic 66/Hussey 90), Collar ( Evans 72) , Wootton ( Olaofe 72) , Stretton ( Madden 66).

Subs not used : Jaros , R Johnson .

Newport County line up :-

Day , Norman , Drysdale , Bogle , Lewis ( Waite 71), Kavanagh ( Evans 59) , Bennett ( Bowen 88), Baker ( Farquharson 71), Mc Neill , Wildig ( Moriah- Welch 59) ,Demetriou .

Subs not used : Townsend , Rai.

Attendance : 9179 ( 344)

hedgegrower

A few more images from hedgegrower`s phone........