Harrogate Town 1 Stockport County 3 ( Football League 2) Saturday 14 October 2023

 

 

County stormed to the top of the league 2 points clear of their closest rivals Notts County today with a convincing 3-1 win over Harrogate Town that had the travelling County fans leaving Wetherby Road highly delighted.

Goals by Sarcevic, Collar and an own goal induced by some Louis Barry magic did the damage for County who took their time about sorting matters- taking the first half 1-0 by courtesy of a routinely excellent Sarcevic goal, without ever stretching themselves unduly.

Their tempo increased after the break as they cruised into a 3-0 lead that looked the prelude to more to come . Enter Thomas Parsons the Referee who awarded Town a most debatable penalty enabling Thomson to make it 3-1.

Notwithstanding that isolated setback, it was one way traffic there on out with County bossing matters with Madden and Wootton on for Tanto and Barry late on, playing some classy football , going close a number of times. But Harrogate rode their luck to the final whistle which was  blown by a substitute referee- Mr Parsons having retired injured smack on the end of normal time.

That was a comfortable win, and all the better for the position it now leaves us in the league- just what can we do if we hit our best form?

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There was not that much happening in the early moments of the game - Pye was busily pinging high one`s into the box- the second of these seeing O`Connor climbing all over Bailey just inside the box to no response from the referee.

The 3^rd minute saw Southam- Hales stir things up with a neat cross, but nothing came of it as County continued to probe for a clear opening.

This did not materialise, in fact we were suddenly under threat as Josh March dashed clear. Wright offered company but could not stop him sending a shot in that slammed into the woodwork before going out.

That was a bit of a shock and against the run of play, but the initial County reply ended with another Southam- Hales cross being headed over by Barry.

The blues were not finished though and when Wright blocked a move by Town, this set Sarcevic up for a run that took him deep inside home territory where he picked out Tanto . It was a nice moment and then it wasn’t as Tanto`s final ball was bundled clear by the home backline.

If that was disappointing the feeling only lasted 2 minutes where upon another Wright block set us off again. County were buzzing around the box in lively fashion but without reward when someone in yellow planted the ball out of play. It was a County throw …and more as Southam – Hales` throw saw the ball bounce invitingly in the vicinity of Sarcevic and his first-time effort flew like an Exocet into the net with keeper Mark Oxley well beaten.

We were 1-0 up and it was nearly 2-0 within a minute as Barry found himself in splendid isolation in behind the home backline. He only had Oxley to beat and perhaps should have taken his time about it, but he seemed to decide to lob the keeper and the ball climbed up and over the bar- a good chance had gone begging!

Harrogate were under the cosh after that last action, Barry unlucky with a snapshot after good work from Tanto and Southam-Hales.

That was fairly representative of County`s prevailing fortunes, but Harrogate were no better off- Hinchliffe doing well to save Thomson`s shot from Ramsay`s break down the right.

We passed the half hour with County pressing through Sarcevic but his ball into the box saw Croasdale   overstretch for the 50/50 with March to get booked.

The booking did not get in the way of Croasdale`s concentration as he wellied the ball clear next after the bravest of saves by Hinchliffe had saved County`s bacon with Ramsay and Thomson threatening mayhem through the centre of the blue rear guard.

With half time approaching I was getting increasingly irritated by the referees decision making as the next period of play saw him produce a potential double whammy for Town .

Firstly he completely ignored O`Connor`s climb of Horsfall( nothing  awarded for that), only then to give the home team a free kick smack on the edge of the box and very scorable- for what?...ask me not, I saw nothing and assume a hallucinatory moment on the officials part as an explanation.

Town had a chance, and then they didn`t as Thomson hit the County wall with his kick- the blue defence dealing solidly with what followed- chance and danger gone!

The best of the rest of the half came via a neat cooperation twixt Sarcevic and Barry who having fashioned a corner from nothing then bamboozled the home back line with a brilliant one- two near the by-line that ended with a shot from Barry being tipped over the bar by Oxley.

Not the greatest 45 minutes of football, but County had more than shaded it, and I saw them upping the revs after the break!

  

 

 

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For Half Time Entertainment tonight we have first off something wonderful from Roberta Flack…….

https://youtu.be/uSrKff0w6CU?si=InUMlkgsPeGFokOG

 

Then a number that brought Cats on Trees  to our attention briefly a few years back……

https://youtu.be/X3hJYDGSXt4?si=mnJ9XWAJHFJxYvK6

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The second half more or less followed the pattern of the first with County in control pretty much without over taxing themselves.

Then it changed in a moment with Bailey switching play from left to right where Barry was stationed.

Barry took off like a ferret up a drainpipe. He had Gibson and Thomson in close proximity both struggling to hold him legally. Put simply, Barry had no way through, no right to expect to do so, but we have seen it so many times before in the short period of time he has been with us, and he did it again twisting this way and that leaving the duo gobsmacked in his wake. Then…upon reaching the by-line he released a typically fierce cross that saw a clutch of defenders competing to get to it- Burrell made it but could only push the ball into the net to put County 2-0 up- the away following rose to salute Barry in response!

Within 2 minutes of that last epic action Barry was back and in reprise mode turning the unfortunate Burrell inside out before skipping impishly by him to replicate his earlier cross. The ball somehow stayed out from this and frustratingly twice more as Bailey tried and failed narrowly to add a third goal- one he richly deserves!

All that Barry action was on the right, the next saw him on the other flank teasing his way beyond Ramsay with impudent ease. The cross set Southam-Hales up to win a corner – Sarcevic going oh so close from this from Bailey`s kick.

We were beyond the hour now and County looked likely to add to their laurels any moment particularly if Barry was involved, but the 63rd minute saw a potential turn of the tide as Matty Daly tore the County cover to shreds with a raking run that took him inside the box.  The area was crowded so it was a miracle if Hinchliffe saw anything of Daly`s shot until it was upon him, but none the less a terrific save followed to keep it to 2-0 much to Daly`s chagrin!

That was an aberration and County set about proving that prognosis with a series of increasingly sharp moves- Barry twice probing for an opening – Sarcevic following up seeing a shot saved by Oxley as County piled the pressure on with Collar joining Barry and Sarcevic and then Bailey who was just kept from a Sarcevic ball in the box by excellent defending by Ramsay.

The sustained period of County pressure ended on 68 minutes when a Barry shot flew wide.

Did I say “ended”? Well, not so as the town angst was ratcheted up again big time- started by a great slight of foot by Barry out on the right touchline that sent Southam- Hales clear. This initial thrust ended disappointingly when O`Connor did fine work for Town to prevent Tanto reaching the Southam- Hales cross smack in front of goal!

That was a razer edge moment, and another followed on rapidly as Barry lofted the ball back towards the back of the box where Collar climbed to head the ball firmly home to make it 3-0 to County!

County were well in charge – Harrogate well short of parity and there appeared nothing to get overly alarmed about as Pye and March went for the ball in the box. But March went down lighting the otherwise silent home specs fuse as they bayed for a red card. We waited and waited for a decision – the ref had awarded a penalty what next….red or yellow ?

Eventually he chose neither option not even an admonishing word that I saw, the penalty looked an increasingly iffy call to me based on these two additional factors but that mattered not as Thomson foreshortened argument by slotting his penalty into the net to make it 3-1.

Tanto and Barry gave way to Wootton and Madden next – a good move worth a go I felt and Wootton was soon showing his close control and potential value to the team going forward.

The best action around this point saw Pye send Collar clear but then find no one in blue attacking his cross when it came over.

Action then at both ends- Bailey dazzling down the left winning a corner off Falkingham. But Folarin wellied this clear putting County briefly under the cosh a situation remedied by prompt action by Hinchliffe with his goal under threat- County`s cover had been blown apart and but for Ben`s response…….!

Thankfully the County attacking resumed- Bailey seeing a shot rise over the bar with just over 5 minutes left.

It went on with Oxley in action punching clear under pressure for Town, and then rooted to the spot as another effort from Bailey thudded into the foot of his left-hand post.

County were all over Harrogate like a rash- Oxley doing really well to hold onto a strike by Collar on 88 minutes.

Then we had delay as the referee went down injured…..I momentarily and perhaps  unkindly wondered whether he would give Harrogate a penalty from this but eventually he was replaced by a grey haired gent in black- I cannot recall him being announced but I could be wrong!

The 7 minutes added time were largely spent admiring some sublime football by Wootton in unison with the equally switched on Collar and Southam- Hales – it all went down right in front of the away seats- lovely!

The last action was a flurry of moves from the blues culminating in a Bailey corner being headed out by Thomson……..Burrell cutting off a Madden run followed by more excellence from Wootton setting Sarcevic up for a final effort that drifted wide.

Game over, points won, team top of the league!

From any angle that`s a result and a great credit to the team, the manager and the coaching staff- well done all !

Plenty still to do starting with Grimsby at home next Saturday but with the backing of another full house anything is possible!

 

Harrogate Town line up :-

Oxley , Falkingham , Burrell , Thomson , Cornelius , M Daly , J Daly ( Folarin 67) , O`Connor , Ramsay , March ( Muldoon 76) , Gibson .

Subs not used : Thomas , Sims , Sivi , Foulds , Armstrong .

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Southam- Hales ,  Wright , Horsfall , Pye , Croasdale( Camps 83) , Sarcevic , Collar , Bailey , Olaofe ( Madden 74) , Barry ( Wootton 74).

Subs not used : Smith , Hippolyte , Pond , Richardson .

Attendance : 2360 ( 450)

hedgegrower

 

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