Stockport County 1 Manchester United U 21 1 (3-5 pens ) -EFL Trophy ( Tuesday 22 August 2023 )
County lost their opening EFL Trophy game of the season on penalties to Manchester United Under 21`s last night in front of 5000 at Edgeley Park.
Anyone who could not get a ticket for this match can console themselves with the knowledge that they did not miss very much in fact it was a tedious affair almost from the off riddled with fouls, time wasting and with a dash of eccentric reffing added in for good measure.
This started just after the hour mark when Referee Matt Corlett fancied he`d seen a foul by Akil Wright- he hadn`t but no matter it was a Man U penalty. Smith saved this but could not keep the follow up out – United were 1-0 up.
If we were distressed at that nonsense we were dismayed further to see Croasdale get a second yellow and take an early bath 15 minutes later.
Reduced to 10 men County did well to keep it at 1-0 into the final seconds of 11 minutes added time when Touray won a penalty when he and keeper Harrison came together. I have seen lots of similar situations result in no penalty but Mr Corlett, maybe fancying some late-night drama, pointed to the spot – Tanto stepping up to send the perfect penalty (first of two from him)home bringing 10 man County on level terms with the Premiership would be`s.
It then got even more bizarre – I know the Americans have traditionally hated a draw and lobbied endlessly for some manufactured alternative, but the EFL Trophy-and at the Group Stage !!!!!!!!!! It`s not the greatest competition going and it`s lost its way more than a little by allowing Greedy League Under 21 teams to compete in a tournament set up originally to provide a route to Wembley for the clubs in the lower divisions of the league, but it was 1-1 at the conclusion of added time- end of…. except it wasn`t, it was straight to penalties which were taken at the end where the away fans were stationed.
County duly lost this late/late shoot out 5-3 but didn`t we rather expect them too?
Poor game then, not saved really by the twilight drama.
Who did well for us?
I thought that the back 3 of Wright, Byrne ( deservedly M.O.M) and Pye, were outstanding against a skilful set of red shirted players. Jordan Smith did well, Cody Johnson worked hard. Popoola looks a good prospect who possesses good skills and is willing to chase dregs in the oppositions last third. I also thought Chadwick was going to set the place on fire too, but his early glister soon faded.
Oh, and I liked Tanto`s cameo- his penalties were ace, and he tried to make his pace count in the short time he was on the park.
That`s it really, so if we learnt anything from tonight it is maybe that we can operate with 3 at the back successfully and we do have the players on our books with the necessary skill set to do that particularly important job- but then we already knew that didn`t we?
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The opening 5 or 6 minutes saw County push for an opening, attacking a Railway End ¾ full of away supporters.
Chadwick looked good at this stage filling me with confidence with his easy control and eye for a forward run that won County a corner within 2 minutes of the start.
The sight of Pye, Byrne and Wright at the back induced confidence also but at this stage Man U were concentrating on defending with young Popoola gnawing away at the left side of the visitors back line causing a bit of a wobble that ended up with County`s second corner.
Pye shot over from this – Travis Binnion`s team getting their first attack with the game 8 minutes old- Smith doing well to cut Dan Gore off as he broke clear.
Smith`s clearance from this saw Chadwick glimpse half a chance before being denied by keeper Elyh Harrison.
Popoola went closer still to an opening goal with a nippy run down the middle but again Harrison and an acute angle were enough to deny him.
Columbian u21 international Mateo Mejia emerged next but Pye did just sufficient to ensure the forward`s shot cleared the County bar 10 minutes in.
For a time after this it began to look like Mejia was going to be a major irritant as he brought a save from Smith 2 minutes later and then another just 1 minute on from that as he latched onto a fine through ball from Habeeb Ogunneye.
Smith was looking OK in goal for the blues and whilst his distribution was a bit iffy he looked confident and was not slow to sweep up dangerous situations.
But …hay ho…..from an interesting start the game then took on a distinctly soporific quality – Gore caused us an issue or two at times thereafter but Mejia faded badly for the visitors.
Thus…. uncharacteristically I left my seat into the second of 2 added minutes in the first half confident nothing of note would occur- I was wrong. Gore was involved for Man U and so was Croasdale for County and a poor challenge from him provoked the Referee to book him.
That was to take on greater significance later in the game but for now we had problems as the free kick was in a very scoreable position indeed.
Thankfully Shola Shortire almost clipped me on my way to the gents with his kick leaving it still 0-0 at the break.
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Now, we bring our half time entertainment back into the 21 st Century……
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The re-start brought more attacking from the visitors – County were under pressure for sure, but their backline held firm nicely enough against an attack that had a certain powder puff quality about it.
That having been said the general play was still largely sleep inducing- the closest thing to excitement coming almost on the hour when Croasdale threatened to get the blood circulating around my veins again with a break from deep. Popoola joined him but he was kept from a Crankshaw final ball by a clutch of red shirted defenders.
Another 2 minutes and I was perking up a touch as Rydel reminded us he was playing with a shot that needed a diving save by Harrison to keep the scores level.
Then Referee Corlett added a wee touch of pantomime into proceedings as substitute Ethan Williams took a fall – it was probably Akil Wright`s after shave that brought the swoon on because I saw nothing in Akil`s actions to merit the penalty the ref awarded.
No matter it was a penalty, so we gritted our gnashers as Josh Hugill stepped up to take it and how we cheered as Smith kept it out! But he did not hold onto the ball and Hugill followed up to score.
County looked to reply but without success- Popoola unlucky with a determined bit of work down the left whilst Evans fluffed a chance to get a shot off when well placed with 20 minutes remaining to play.
Ethan Williams hit the bar for Man U not long after that last action and then we all rather lost the gist of what was happening as Croasdale took a prolonged treatment following a 50/50 tackle on someone in red.
We were still confused as following treatment Croasdale headed to the dressing room having apparently been shown a second yellow.
County made a raft of substitutions not long after this CJ, Popoola, Crankshaw making way for Barry, Collar and Tanto.
Tanto was promptly fouled but both the free kick and subsequent corner (irritatingly a short one)only pre-empted a red break and a Mee ( he had come on for Chadwick earlier)booking as he stopped the rot for County.
County`s last change saw Touray on for Byrne as 11 minutes added time was announced.
That was time enough for County to salvage this one – but instead they were fortunate to survive a break by the visitors 2 minutes into added time.
County were trying though Barry taking a fine pass by Pye to the by-line settling for a corner. This was cleared by Gore to Shorefire, and Wheatley really should have done better with the subsequent pass he received but instead he fluffed his lines and it stayed 0-1.
County kept plugging away – Barry unable to get a shot off after good work by Tanto almost smack on the 11 minute mark.
But the ref did not blow for time and the visitors were visibly rocking as the blues had a free kick, and they rocked some more as Taurey went down in close proximity to the Man U keeper Harrison.
It looked far from the clearest of penalties but hey ho…Mr C pointed to the spot and we weren`t arguing!
Up stepped Tanto to drill a beauty home – it was 1-1 and ridiculously the ref hadn`t blown for time still- we just might avoid pens and win in normal time!
But no….it was not to be so -Touray lifting County`s last chance high over the bar to an accompanying blast of the referee`s whistle -we had penalties.
This had distinct echoes of Wembley about it- penalties taken at the away end….Man U scoring all theirs ….County seeing Evans, Barry and Tanto score- the keeper saving Rydel`s.
Not sure what this game tells us about where we are currently, it will have given Challinor a chance to see `fringe` players in match action ahead of a toughie away to Mansfield on Saturday.
See you there, I hope!
Stockport County line up:-
Smith, Wright , Byrne (Touray 90), Pye , Rydel , C Johnson ( Barry 79), Croasdale , Evans , Crankshaw ( Olaofe 80) , Popoola ( Collar 80), Chadwick ( Mee 64).
Subs not used: Jones , Horsfall.
Manchester United U 21 line up :-
Harrison , Gore , Shoretire , Hugill ( Mc Neill 80) ( Wheatley 89), Kambwala , Mejia , Collyer ( Williams 60) , Oyedele , Aljofree , Ogunneye , Nolan.
Subs not used: Mather, Jackson , McAllister.
Attendance: 5000 (1331)
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