Stockport County 2 Forest Green Rovers 0 ( Football League 2) Tuesday 3 October 2023

County secured 3 more valuable points to aid their promotion push last night at Edgeley Park where a goal each from Tanto and Sarcevic was enough to ensure the a win against Forest Green .

Rovers were clearly second best and the first half was very good indeed from a County viewpoint- we scored a couple of good goals and generally took control of proceedings in a manner that suggested perhaps a second half to remember.

The re-start saw County pile the pressure on only being kept out by a string of tremendous saves from Green keeper James Belshaw.

Then Marcel Lavinier`s `indiscretions` earned him a second yellow reducing his side to 10 and notionally improving County`s chances yet again forcing the excellent Belshaw to make several more terrific saves to keep David Horseman`s side in the game.

County were clearly the better side but a welter of substitutions late on brought back memories of the last 15 traumatic minutes against Accrington as they invited the visitors forward.

Thankfully, Rovers apart from a couple of shots that Hinchliffe had to work hard to keep out, never really looked that likely to tip the County apple cart over and perhaps I should be looking to see the bigger picture in this situation namely keeping a stretched squad fit, well and winning!

In the end the blues saw the game out comfortably claiming all the available points, and with us not really majoring in Saturday/ Tuesday`s traditionally that`s to be applauded.

It was a good business like team performance worthy of much praise especially the contributions of Sarcevic who is in superb form just now- working…passing….now scoring …my M.O.M, Tanto -so sharp in sniffing scraps out of nowhere-his early goal so vital in setting the mood and tempo last night, Barry got the sponsors M.O.M -ran and ran the Rovers back line ragged at times and his contribution was immense , and I thought both Pye and Southam-Hales stood out in a team that is working for each other well, and promise much to come in the months ahead!

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The game started with Rovers deep in County territory and Akil Wrights first actions involved heading a dangerous cross from Kyle McAllister out midst a mix of pink and blue shirts in the box.

County took a couple of minutes to reply but when they did it looked the business as Sarcevic joined a lightning break by Barry and Bailey to torment the visitors back line. The shot on the end of the good work did not trouble Belshaw however, which was an early disappointment.

But County kept the foot pressed firmly down on the accelerator as Hinchliffe gave a hint of things to come with an early example of how to use a long ball well, and Barry followed this up with another terrific run responding to Sarcevic`s pass- the final ball missing out again unfortunately.

It was encouraging though- County were chasing everything, especially Tanto, and only fine work by Belshaw kept him out 11 minutes in.

Tyrese Omotoye came to the fore next for Rovers, but his shot did not have enough on it to trouble Hinchliffe. But he was back again almost immediately, and Mr Joyce the Referee aided his cause with a free kick for a perceived foul by Sarcevic on the visitors` number 23.

This looked an error on the refs part but by and large I thought he did well and the free kick was a poor one anyway and County were able to clear their lines easily enough so no big deal.

The next action was however, as Bailey tested Rovers to the full with a free kick that put them under the cosh. They looked like maybe holding out until the ball reached Collar and his delivery to the back post was every bit as good as Bailey`s had been and …bingo….Tanto was on the end of it making no mistake with a header from close in.

We were 1-0 up and looking good.

Rovers fashioned a quick response only for Lavinier to drag the poorest of shots wide when well set.

Credit where it`s due, the visitors did keep at it and Pye did really well, a vital block from him stopping Mc Allister as he bore down on goal from the right.

Cue another amazing run from Barry that filleted the Rovers defence thoroughly, but his final ball from the by-line found no blue shirted takers.

The midway point of the half heralded some action at the County end with Croasdale doing well to concede a corner as Rovers hit us on the break. The corner was only partially cleared and Rovers still fancied their chances none more so than ex-Premier League operator Troy Deeney and he did get the ball in the net only for the effort to be correctly ruled out for offside that had been signalled earlier by the saintly Danny Stand liner. This was something of a double whammy from the liner who thus saved the refs blushes after he had failed to spot handball by a Rovers forward in the build up!

Several times after this County went close without success- Barry again exciting us with searingly dangerous runs that brought no reward.

Through all this Belshaw was a rock for Rovers snaffling Southam-Hales` effort with about 10 minutes of the half left, following good build up work by Croasdale and Collar.

Rovers looked like they would keep it to 1-0 for the break and then things went pear shaped on them when Tanto turned provider picking Sarcevic out with a well-directed cross. County`s number 10 did the rest claiming a well-deserved goal with an emphatic finish.

We were 2 up now and Tanto wanted a 3^rd but twice in as many minutes Lavinier fouled him as he made headway down the right picking up a yellow card he and his team would regret later.

The free kick was nicely taken by Sarcevic who set Bailey up for a shot that was not that far away.

It stayed 2-0 though, and that was how it was when the teams trouped in at the break.

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And for Half Time Entertainment….some medicinal advice….

https://youtu.be/vV0yYcN9QnE?si=UnUWvJn3P0AylxgQ

https://youtu.be/9ILyWFhuf3Y?si=M7d39fkEloCwhqIT

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If the first half was good, the re-start saw County firing on all cylinder determined to add to their laurels as the Rovers cover wilted before them.

By the 48^th minute County had already looked on the verge of going 3-0 up when Sarcevic snapped up possession and headed goalward. A shot of devastating power followed and surely a goal, but no….somehow Belshaw managed to get something on it sending the ball crashing into the bar before thudding onto the line and out to safety- wow!

A shot by Welch for Rovers, saved nicely by Hinchliffe punctuated an expanding raft of County efforts – all close without claiming that cigar!

And it went on and on- Southam-Hales twice foiled by Belshaw- the second was particularly brave from the keeper in a 1 on 1.

Tanto ….Barry both kept the pressure on Forest Green without adding to the score, and just beyond the hour, Lavinier`s `indiscretions` caught up with him and his latest foul saw him second yellowed and red carded off the park reducing Rovers to 10 men- Bunker just managing to block Pye on the end of Sarcevic`s free kick in the immediate aftermath.

It was 10 minutes before both teams started introducing substitutes- 3 for Rovers and 2 for County as Barry and Sarcevic were replaced by Madden and CJ who I was delighted to see given minutes on the park!

There was no change in County`s play indeed with 15 minutes left they were piling it on with emphasis – Belshaw pulling off 3 top quality saves to deny Tanto, Collar and Madden – the latter two being particularly fine work from the keeper.

I was pleasantly surprised to see County still looking for a goal with a shade over 10 minutes left- less so to see Belshaw again rain on our parade with another important save to keep Madden from a delicious chip by Collar from Baileys free kick.

Tanto and Collar were next to be subbed in favour of Cotterill and Richardson and at this point County`s attacking impetus took a back seat to seeing the game out – Forest Green trying their late best to give 125 real supporters from Nailsworth something to shout about apart from the County pies.

County did their job in the face of much activity from Rovers but little in the way of final ball impact- the points were ours, valuable points too .

It will not always be pretty going forward, we will occasionally win `ugly` but this was way…way far from that- a decent win well deserved.

See you at Edgeley Park again on Saturday for the visit of Doncaster – play as we did last night and we will be quids in!

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Southam-Hales , Wright , Horsfall , Pye , Croasdale , Collar ( Richardson 87), Sarcevic ( C Johnson 73) , Bailey , Barry ( Madden 73) , Olaofe ( Cotterill 87).

Subs not used: Smith , Pond, Mee.

Forest Green Rovers line up :-

Belshaw , Lavinier , Bernard , Innis , Mc Allister , Mc Cann ( Robson 80) , Taylor ( Maddox 66), Deeney ( Dabo 66),Welch , Omotoye ( Morton 66), Bunker .

Subs not used : Searle , Stevens , Bendie .

Attendance : 7517 ( 125)

hedgegrower

Some photos from hedgegrower ......