Salford City 1 Stockport County 3 ( EFL Trophy Group Stage M2) Tuesday 10 October 2023

 

 

 

County romped to an emphatic 3-1-win last night away to Salford City in the EFL Trophy.

It was a victory in doubt for about 10 minutes, the first 10 of the first half after City had taken an early lead.

But County rode out the early storm to thoroughly put their stamp on the game, a superb hat-trick from Paddy Madden ensuring County had their first win in the competition`s group stage sending a large County following home happy.

Skipper Madden`s contribution was immense- a superb demonstration of the strikers art- ruthless and silky smooth in one amazing bundle that was given solid support from those around him most notably Popoola whose skilful dribbling Salford found impossible to handle at times except by fouling – setting the equalising County goal up being just one part of his evenings work that earned him a rousing ovation on being subbed late on.

Mee did well, Richardson worked hard as did Camps and CJ plus it was good to see Wootton get solid minutes in from the start – all grist to the mill wheel we hope to see turning productively soon!

 

 

   

 

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There was no real hint of things to come as County took the field with a team that utilised virtually all of Dave Challinor`s available `would be` first team starters with Farrar , Pond and Wright at the back in front of Smith in goal, Richardson and Popoola providing width, plus Madden and Wootton up front- all held together by Cody Johnson, Camps and Mee in the middle of the park.

The early minutes saw us struggling however as Salford pushed on down the flanks through Luamba and Nmai who showed the blues the cleanest of heels.

As early as the second minute we were looking to be in deep doo doo as Luamba`s cross was met by Dackers who volleyed home with some relish for Salford.

Salford continued to attack down the flanks- only good work by Pond preventing Dackers from doubling his and his teams goal tally a minute later.

Gradually though it was beginning to dawn that the Salford finishing was way off the quality of their early approach play- Dackers was twice put through by Nmai only to see the chances spurned.

Dackers did get a shot on goal 8 minutes in only to find Smith equal to it between the sticks for County.

County had looked vulnerable in that early period but their reply started just a minute later as Popoola`s deep cross to the back post saw Salford keeper Joe Wright do well to tip Ashton Mee`s close in header over the bar.

That was an encouraging start, and it was already clear that our hosts could not handle Popoola`s close skills at all- Akil Wright not far away with his header from one Popoola delivery just beyond the quarter hour.

Popoola really did look to be in dazzling form and Salford`s frustration in the wake of same surfaced again as the young County wide man was brought down as he slalomed through the home back line with a mazy dribble in the box.

It was possibly Referee Declan Bourne`s easiest decision of the night- it was a penalty and with the home specs behind keeper Wright`s goal doing their best to distract him, Madden ignored the hubbub to slot the ball home to Wright`s left- it was 1-1!

County were enjoying life now particularly Madden who was sent through on goal just 2 minutes later by a neat ball by Mee. His run was good, the shot too but Joe Wright had its measure making a decent save to keep it 1-1.

Popoola continued his tormenting of the Salford defence who just about held out without repeating their earlier mistake – Ammies recovering enough to mount a counter attack via Djavan Pedro that needed excellent work from ex Stoke man Ellis Farrar to nullify after the Salford man had battled passed Akil Wright and Alfie Pond en-route.

Both teams had moments next- Akil Wright close with a header that bounced off the top of the bar after Richardson had won us a corner- then Salford responded through Liam Humbles whose pass to Nmai saw him force a corner. Pedro should have done better from this his volley going well wide with Smith exposed.

But County were looking to be the team with impetus behind them, the home keeper doing well to save Madden`s shot on 35 minutes from a Camps free kick.

Madden then turned provider his run and ball to the back post picking Richardson out nicely only for his header to fly wide.

A further break by Madden was solidly blocked by Adrian Mariappa with 5 minutes of the half left as the blue momentum continued to build – Joe Wright just managing to keep Richardson from another ball to the back post from Madden 2 minutes later.

Pedro wasted a chance for Salford in what remained of the half that ended with honours even and the writer feeling confident that County could build on what turned out to be a promising attacking performance.

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For half time entertainment hedgegrower offers a video from Rotherham fan Ian Bradley of his visit to EP to watch County v Doncaster- well worth a watch ( also on County Heaven- an excellent m/b)!

https://youtu.be/a7_uoZFfKvA?si=3bCfJM5UqvdzGhit

 

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Ellis Farrar had sustained an injury late in the first half being replaced at the re-start by Taylor McMahon, as Salford tried to replicate their first half early ascendency with more determined wing play.

County were looking more able to cope this time however but , that said, Jordan Smith had to pull off a really good diving save on 50 minutes to keep Mallan`s well struck free kick out!

Yes, Salford had put County under pressure but again they weathered the storm to take the lead 10 minutes into the half and it was a move of some beauty too as, emerging from defensive mode with Salford caught unawares, Mee darted clear to slide a lovely through ball into the path of Madden who was off heading for goal. Joe Wright was exposed. Madden was crock to Joe`s wildebeest and it was 2-1 as a shot of sublime subtlety by passed the keeper into the net!

Mee and Wootton were subbed next being replaced by Kingston Fligg and Luke Partington- Wootton getting an especially warm response from almost 700 in the away end, but County`s forward push was not interrupted at all, indeed the blues almost went 3-1 up straight off as another Madden snorter just cleared the Salford bar.

Again, County went close but there was no cigar as Popoola`s neat cross was hooked wide by Camps.

Then it was `Havana`s aplenty` for the blues as Richardson sent Madden darting clear from halfway. Soon he only had the keeper to beat and of course he did it with consummate ease -it was 3-1 and probably now `game over` and Paddy had an excellent hat-trick to add to his collection!

It was not over of course- Smith still had to pull out all the stops to keep Mallan`s shot out with just over 13 minutes remaining, and Pond  had to be alert and head a Salford free kick out after an entertainingly delayed  `stagger and fall ` by Pedro had deceived Mr Bourne who over all I thought did well otherwise.

With Harry Johnson and Joe Hillary  on for Camps and Popoola ( cue ovation) County thereafter did most of the offensive work pushing Salford relentlessly back as Madden looked for a fourth goal uncharitably.

They went really close in doing so – Richardson setting up a frenzied panic in home ranks with his run and  cross that saw both Madden and Fligg have shots saved at the last gasp by Joe Wright and Ryan Watson, Richardaon  seeing his follow up effort ushered out off the line by the keeper.

On it went – Madden rampant- just denied by a fine block from Watson again- Richardson almost squeezing a cheeky one in as his high dipping cross caused the keeper palpitations on the line- he narrowly avoided pushing the ball into the net, but it was close.

That was pretty much it, it had been a good win by County and an unexpectedly entertaining game, well worth the effort for the 653 County supporters who made it!

See you in North Yorkshire on Saturday then!

 

Salford City line up :-

Wright , Mariappa , Watson , Mallan ( Hamman 75), Nmai , Dackers , Pedro  ( Da Costa 46), Collins (Henderson 78) , Humbles , Olopade , Luamba ( Malcolm 79).

Subs not used: Torrance , Fankwe, O`Gara .

Stockport County line up :-

Smith , Wright , Pond , Farrar ( Mc Mahon 46) ( Partington 64) , Popoola ( Hillary 88), Richardson , C Johnson, Camps ( H Johnson 88) , Mee( Fligg 64) , Wootton , Madden .

Subs not used: Jones , Kenny.

Attendance : 1355 ( 653)

hedgegrower

 

 

Some images from Andrew Machin............