Altrincham FC 2 Stockport County 4 ( Pre Season Friendly) Saturday 15 July 2023
County got a good work out and more today as they came away from Moss Lane with a 4-2 victory against an Altrincham side that had shown us much in the first half, but were put to the sword in the second.
Phil Parkinson`s side had bossed proceedings with some well-constructed attacking moves that made County`s back line and midfield look very under par at times. Regan Linney scored a quality goal to put the seal on a depressing first half for County and send them in at half time 1-0 down.
Fortunately, 3 changes at the re-start and a shed load on the hour for County changed matters instilling a zest and energy into their game that had been noticeably absent before the break.
Knoyle and Evans had good games going forward and the defence also looked a cut above their opponents, as possibly we had the right to expect them to be, with Ethan Pye, Neil Byrne and Ibou Touray looking the part. But star man by a mile was Nick Powell. Powell was a class act for sure, so comfy on the ball and incisive of thought and action- I tended to ignore Nick`s advance publicity but I am definitely hooked- a top quality find!
We need the other County players to get on his wavelength and then we will have chances!
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If County started the game looking composed, they maybe started to overdo this aspect our two trialists doing well to snuff out nippy runs by Justin Donowa on 2 separate occasions.
Six minutes of not that great play by the black shirted blues was interrupted by a run by Southam- Hales, but it flattered to deceive when Rydel`s corner from this was cleared by the men in red and white.
We all got a bit twitchy next to see Crankshaw ( still all energy and bursting to shoot) flagged offside on the end of a rare promising move from County.
But back came Alty -Hinchliffe dealing easily with Donowa`s shot as he`s put through by Conn-Clarke.
By 18th minute Donowa and Linney were emerging as potent forces for our hosts, and the duo linked up to embarrass County at this point Linney wriggling free of his marking defender to feed Donowa whose header flew over the bar.
Hinchliffe was busy at this juncture, perhaps more than we had expected he would be, but after Linney had forced a corner Kosylo wasted the chance.
County did show attacking ambition although the required cutting edge was largely missing – Croasdale inches from making an effort by Crankshaw count…….a free kick won by Triallist B came back out off the wall from a good central position.
Our disappointment was dispelled quickly as Rydel tracked back nicely to stop Donowa`s latest run down the right with the neatest of tackles, but only briefly as Hinchliffe was again called into urgent action from the subsequent throw to keep the onrushing Eddie Jones from Donowa`s cross- Ben did well!
Then again….just a minute later holding onto a snap shot from Osborne with County in doze mode around him.
In reply, County`s Triallist B again drew a foul and although the free kick was further out than the last one a chance emerged from it only for Madden to be unable to penetrate the red/white blockade twixt him and goal as Alty defended determinedly and in numbers.
Crankshaw was unlucky after this to see his shot deflected for a corner which saw a header by Horsfall cleared with urgency by Alty.
Then things started to go a touch off the boil for the blues as the Robins hit us with a sweet move involving Kosylo and Osborne . It ended happily for County with Hinchliffe making a good save to deny Conn-Clarke but it did not augur well for the way the game was going.
And worse followed as Hinchliffe was left terribly exposed next and , in oodles of space ,Eddie Jones reached Linney with a peach of a pass and he buried the ball in the back of the net- we were 1-0 down!
And we were very nearly 2 down within a couple of minutes Hinchliffe looking sharp to rob Linney, then 2 minutes on from that Hinchliffe again called on to make a save to stop Conn-Clarke, and then having to watch as Linney made light of the under powered challenges of 2 County defenders to shoot narrowly wide.
This was not great to watch from a County stand point, but Alty were enjoying themselves -Linney setting Conn- Clarke up for a shot on goal that , happily for us, came back out off the angle of bar and post.
That was late on in the half, there was time for County to reply but again Madden could find no way through the mass of red and white shirts from Crankshaw`s assist.
The team`s went in at the break with Altrincham 1-0 up, and I heard no one around me dispute that that was well deserved.
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We needed a response from County and it was mildly surprising to see we did not go for a fresh 11 for the second half , instead Challinor brought Ross, Pye, and Camps and hooked 3 which was about right for me- I was certainly happy to see young Ethan given time in the team- if we stick with him I maintain he will reward us!
The first 5 minutes were pretty humdrum as both teams re-sussed each other having both undergone shuffles of their packs. This was rounded off on 50 minutes by Linney tearing great holes in the right side of County`s cover forcing a good save from Ross that kept it a 1-0.
If we were at all tempted to be blasé about an ever so slight improvement in County`s play we had immediate cause to recant as Sarcevic latched onto a loose ball in the box to drill County level!
That was a good finish, and a further 4 minutes saw us nick another.
If this was of a lesser quality ` ignore the quality, feel the width` the man said some while ago – they all count, and we definitely needed this one from Camps who would have been as surprised and amused as the rest of us to see his shot fumbled into the net by the keeper to give the blues a bonus 2-1 lead.
It was at this point that the PA that had studiously avoided announcing many of the changes in playing personnel, cap their performance by announcing that the gate of 2097 contained a mere 902 citizens of Stockport- hmmm is all I will say to that!
County took the opportunity to introduce 8 more subs on the hour and we indeed now had our completely different second half team on and they wasted little time in announcing themselves- Knoyle particularly to the fore winning a corner in cooperation with Partington who otherwise struggled. Knoyle`s corner from this was kept out by the Alty keeper who followed this up by holding onto Powell`s introductory effort – a powerful free kick!
Powell was already looking a class act, so football savvy, but Knoyle`s shot from his pass again saw the keeper in position well to make the save and hold onto it!
We then saw a hint of part of a likely problem as Powell swept forward languidly gliding beyond a clutch of red/ white shirts to lay a pass off neatly for either of 2 County men who should have been ready for it but weren`t- instead…back on their heels the moment passed!
Everyone was happy to see Tanto on the park and the covered terrace told him so loudly, but the 70th minute saw his lay back to Powell end with the subsequent shot flying over the bar.
But no matter, County had the proverbial bit between the gnashers now and a flurry of shots the best of which ended with Tanto , Powell and others watching as shots were blocked or charged down by the men in red and white.
Then justice was forthcoming as the very next move saw both Tanto and Powell vying for the honour of applying a finish to a chance hewn as water from the deepest of wells – Powell won the chase and County had a 3-1 lead.
Camps was unlucky almost immediately afterwards from a Knoyle cross, and Evans was even less lucky a couple of minutes later as his effort rattled the bar and stayed out.
That was the 74th minute, the 75th brought reward for Evans who applied the perfect finish to Knoyle`s firmly delivered cross- it was 4-1 and the first half was forgotten, for now!
Alty had a go in reply without success, and County laid into burying their opponents in a blur of attacking football, that saw Knoyle`s shot kept out brilliantly by the home keeper, and another rasper from Powell rattle the bar from Touray`s tip top cross.
We hit 90 minutes thinking `that`s it folks` but it wasn’t as Amaluzor slipped clear to lob Ross and make it 4-2.
Evans was not far away near the death but after the trials of the first 45 minutes most travelling back to the Borough looked well pleased with the way it ended, if less so that in time honoured fashion the heavens opened bang on the moment the stadium gates were opened to let us out!
Having said a lot earlier in this piece, I will leave it at that.
There was plenty there to keep supporters continuing to make the turnstiles click on match days- some stuff to sort of course but that`s what the management are paid to do.
Altrincham FC line up.
Byrne ( Gould 60), Donowa ( Banks 59), E Jones ( Triallist 59), Baines ( Trialist 59) , Roscoe ( German 82) , Kosylo ( Trialist 59), Osborne ( Mc Geady 82), Linney ( T Jones 71) , Conn-Clarke ( Wilson 59) , J Jones ( Trialist 60), Cooper( Amaluzor 59).
Stockport County line up-
Hinchliffe ( Ross 45), Southam-Hales ( Knoyle 60), Wright ( Byrne 60), Horsfall ( Pye 45), Rydel ( Taurey 60), Croasdale ( Camps 45) , Sarcevic ( Evans 60), Crankshaw ( Partington 60), Trialist A ( Mee 60), Madden ( Olaofe 60), Trialist B ( Powell 60).
Attendance 2094 ( Upwards of 1000)
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