Milton Keynes 1 Stockport County 2 ( Football League 2) Saturday 16 September 2023

 

 

 

A well-deserved 2-1-win saw County take home all the points today after a lively encounter with Milton Keynes at their place.

If both sides had chances in a bruising encounter, County`s were arguably more numerous and more clear cut and it remains one of life`s great mysteries just how they contrived to not take most of them.

Thankfully Louie Barry was on hand to notch his fifth goal in 5 games to give County the lead mid-way into the first half and the latter minutes of the same half were set alight by Nick Powell who regained County`s lead with an inch perfect header after an earlier header by Mo Eisa had equalised for the home side.

 

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There was a distinct feeling of Déjà vu about as we took our places high in the rafters behind one goal- the home support a small, subdued gathering in the far distance.

The first thing I noted was that Dean Lewington was still playing for MK- on the bench today but still there and I swear they built this soulless monstrosity of a mausoleum around him – he was good way back when, but we would not find out the current situation today.

Then there was the padded seats but as Shakespeare said in one of his rare asides on the national game “ More than padded seats doth it take to a football club and stadium make` and for me the bard was spot on!

It was clear that the effect on the locals was profound- they hardly made a peep all afternoon- the away end by way of contrast was rocking early and hardly relented at all!

It must be said that, if the locals were to make any supportive noise for their team the first 5 or 6 minutes gave them every chance, but no….

Perhaps it was the ineffective nature of their sides play- as they forced County to defend claiming a raft of early free kicks in the process none of which the home side could profit on- Eisa wasting the best of them with a lifeless shot that flew wide.

Leko threatened to do better for MK next and might have done had not Croasdale and Sarcevic surfaced to block the break on the edge of the box.

The pressure on the blues continued and County were indebted to Hinchliffe whose fine diving save kept Norman`s shot out after a lay back by Gilbey from the edge of the box set what looked a decent chance up.

But that was about as good as it was going to get for Milton Keynes as County slowly began to get their act together and find their men with more regularity.

The pressure built steadily on our hosts, and they did not look that clever coping with same indeed their right flank melted away as Touray glided into the box to slip a silk smooth ball into Barry`s path. A moment to savour followed as the pass was met with the perfect finish from the Villa loan man and keeper McGillvray was done- it was 1-0 to County!

I was not greatly impressed with some of Referee Ed Duckworth`s work next as his responses saved MK from going 2 down with Sarcevic bearing down on goal for County- I just did not see a foul by Sarcevic ( as HE fell to earth) but Mr D did and the free kick stopped the rot for our opponents.

Eventually County came back under pressure and we got ourselves in an almighty tangle defending a corner that had to be re-taken – we just did not get a tackle in, the consequence being a cross to the back post where Smith bullied Touray heading the ball back across goal to where the diving Eisa headed the equaliser home!

Chances then came and went at both ends with Powell centimetres away from getting his head to Touray`s cross…….then Eisa found himself in glorious isolation as a ball from the back picked him out. He was clear…..he was offside too, but no whistle…..no flag disturbed his moment- he was in for a pot on goal for MK ! He was, but he made a wakes of it sending the poorest of efforts rolling into Hinchliffe`s right hand post.

More followed from County, Powell combining with Barry who brought a fine one handed save out of Mc Gillvray that kept his side afloat.

It was still 1-1, and then it wasn`t as a splendid team effort sent the away end AS. The move started with Croasdale before Tanto took it on laying it back to Southam-Hales whose first time cross was met firmly by Powell`s head- Mc Gillvray had zero chance of stopping it- it was 2-1 and in no time it was half time too and quite a happy one as well for County supporters!

 

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And now your half time entertainment:-

 

Robert Cray

https://youtu.be/Pn5TRUUHKZI?si=fTHfvWfKMWkrX3nD

https://youtu.be/tG6S5eHfI-o?si=c16RtQlrPikHC_Gz

 

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The second half opened with Collar dispossessed by Tucker with McGillvray exposed.

Not long after, Powell was substituted Bailey coming on in his place and he was soon battling his way into the box – it looked a good moment but Collar`s final ball had too much oomph about it and any chance disappeared.

On it went with McGillvray doing well to deny Barry on the end of a through ball as MK struggled to contain County who ,when they kept the ball down and found a blue shirt with it, looked really good!

The degree of struggle MK were experiencing, was perhaps personified by a really awful challenge by Robson on Croasdale. He was booked, we got the free kick, but would we punish the offenders?

Well, we tried but Pye`s goal bound shot , from Barry`s neat pass was somehow kept out by the keeper who pushed it around the post for a corner. This was headed clear, but Barry was back again jinking through a maze of legs in the box before setting another chance up but neither Pye nor Sarcevic could do the necessary when called upon to do so- Sarcevic again missing out shortly after when played clear screwing a poor effort wide.

We were beyond the hour mark now and County were beginning to look irresistible – perhaps inevitably drawing a series of poor fouls from the home side ,Smith being booked next for a limb threatener on Bailey. The free kick had possibilities, or it would have had perhaps had Rydel been on the park – Southam-Hales lifted this one to the back of the box nicely but we were bossed off the ball – we needed a shot on goal, but it was not to be.

County kept plugging away looking for a third goal that would make the game safer but when Croasdale`s head emerged above the parapet a wild challenge by Gilbey ended the MK angst and stopped County`s break.

We had a free kick of course but no Rydel and this was cleared comfortably enough by MK.

No matter, we kept the forward push going via Sarcevic and some lovely play looked to have set Tanto up, but his tentative finish was meat and drink to McGilvray- chance gone!

At the other end thankfully MK were not improving – kept to a diet of long range shots by County`s excellent defensive work our hosts continued to lift limp efforts high and wide of the target- troubling Hinchliffe not.

Then, MK found their range or substitute Payne did and it took a terrific save by Hinchliffe to keep his shot out- fantastic work!

Back came the blues next via Tanto whose run took him to the by-line before he crossed the ball low into the danger zone where a goal looked on, but neither Collar or Barry could apply the finish required and a real goal chance was no more!

Barry was replaced by Wright not long after as County kept the pressure on the home goal but a promising run by Collar fizzled tamely out when the onward pass saw Tanto unable to test the keeper.

Hopefully we would not regret these missed chances – County gave us reason to be cheerful on that point though defending the umpteenth MK corner well enough to emerge on the break with real chances again.

Tanto had it and he had just 1 man to beat before testing himself against Mc Gillvray but before we got there he was hacked down by Harvie. Harvie looked resigned to a red…I thought he deserved one, but Mr Duckworth flashed yellow – he`d bottled it, and MK had been thrown a lifeline.

The kick and subsequent corner came to nought, so MK were doubly satisfied with Harvie`s work!

Work for Hinchliffe followed catching incoming MK free kicks as the referee began to add County names to his book.

But County were not done at the sharp end either- lovely play by Collar and Croasdale lighting the place up for a second or two- somehow MK held out under severe pressure , but , into added time we really should have punished them, Collar missing an open goal as Bailey`s shot came back to him off keeper McGillvray`s parry.

MK tried to get that equaliser right into added time but without testing Hinchliffe – Wright doing excellent work under pressure at one stage.

Another MK attack- a break from this Tanto onto a long ball. The MK defence stood firm and blocked him, Mr Duckworth ending the game with the appropriate blasts on his whistle.

The celebrations started on the away end as team and supporters exchanged salutations.

It was a hard won and well-deserved win- as usual not perfect by any means but we are operating in the real world and we do not have a divine right to all the points.

Any imperfections will be attended to for sure before Wrexham next Saturday when the team will again need the sort of support from us that they received today from the 1064 who made the trip today.

 

Milton Keynes line up :-

Mc Gillvray , Norman ( Tomlinson 66) , Tucker , O`Hora , Leko , Gilbey , Eisa , Smith , Robson ( Dean 66), Harvie , Devoy ( Payne 66).

Subs not used : Kelly , Lewington , Harrison , Stewart .

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Southam- Hales, Horsfall , Pye , Touray , Croasdale , Sarcevic , Collar , Powell ( Bailey 52), Barry  ( Wright 77), Olaofe .

Subs not used : Smith , Madden , Cotterill , Pond , Richardson.

 

Attendance 7085 ( 1064)

hedgegrower

 

Afew more crowd shots:-