Stockport County 0 Salford City 0 ( Football League 2 ) Tuesday 28 November 2023

 

 

 

 

 

County were forced to be content with a share of the points last night as Neil Wood`s `work a day ` Salford side sorted the draw they were set up to achieve at Edgeley Park.

The visitors were mightily indebted to a fine night twixt the sticks by Salford`s Alex Cairns- Madden and Powell would count themselves as distinctly unlucky not to have come away with a brace of goals apiece in the first half- Cairns somehow stopped the lot and kept his side

afloat.

0-0 at half time told a tale of maximum frustration for County, and it only got worse after the break as gradually, despite a herculean effort by M.O.M Macauley Southam-Hales , County`s game faded in a welter of free kicks any one of which might have increased their angst further but for profligate finishing by Smith and others for Ammies.

In the end, despite a lingering feeling of disappointment , the point will probably be viewed as a point won with results elsewhere enabling us to maintain a five point lead at the top of the table.

And what of the Powell/ Madden ploy?

I thought it showed up to good effect and should be persevered with -the duo`s luck just cannot be as bad again…..can it?

Let`s see on Sunday at Aldershot!

  ………………………………………

County started with veterans Paddy Madden and Nick Powell set up behind Kyle Wootton and Tanto Alaofe – Macauley Southam -Hales setting the tone for his and his sides night with a darting run that ended just shy of a successful conclusion.

Attacking the Cheadle End first was but one of the cumulative frustrations to come County`s way on the coldest of November evenings.

Salford were set up to frustrate into a well-practised not too subtle time-wasting pattern with keeper Cairns leading the way.

Other than that element in their game Salford looked pedestrian at best so it was slightly alarming to see Hinchliffe called into action 6 minutes in to make a save as the visitors mounted their first attack.

If that irked a bit the next action did rather more as, with County back attacking their opponents, Powell surged in on goal to slam a fine shot goal ward. It was heading in at the keeper`s left hand post when Cairns flung himself at the ball pushing it around the post.

County`s attempts to build on that action from the subsequent corner were ultimately kyboshed by a frankly baffling decision by Referee Yates` to oxygenate the Ammie resistance with a free kick ( don`t ask !)

For long periods after this both teams cancelled the other out – County were still doing most of the attacking with Salford now and again getting forward to give Hinchliffe rather more work to do than he looked for- it was largely routine stuff but needed attention.

Wootton and Touray had efforts blocked just beyond 15 minutes but Southam -Hales continued to be the busiest in blue – heading over a minute later and inches from a peach of a ball from Croasdale 4 minutes on from that.

Cue startled look up the park next as Luamba ambled clear for Salford only to fluff what I saw as a chance by shooting hopelessly wide.

Meanwhile Madden and Powell were showing real glimpses of quality – excellent work by Madden teeing Croasdale up nicely from close to the corner flag. Croasdale`s shot was blocked but there was promise there!

And again we saw quality from Madden as he sent Southam-Hales clear with a fine pass. The Welsh wizard took his cue perfectly sliding a lovely ball inside to where Powell lurked menacingly. Powell`s response was spot on, and his shot had force…. speed …accuracy…all the requirements except a tranquilising element to subdue Cairns who somehow kept the shot out.

This was stand out unlucky from Powell who deserved now to have notched a couple of goals ……. instead …zilch !

And Powell`s frustration increased next as Mr Yates somehow came up with a life saving free kick as Salford`s leaky dinghy looked about to capsize with Powell   terrorising the usually cool Mariappa in the box!

With 10 minutes of the half left ,Salford mounted a reply and this would become a recurring theme in the second half namely County under pressure from a Salford free kick slung deep into the box where Smith for the first time fluffed his lines by heading wide.

Back came County with half time nearing and Madden was the one to taste abject disappointment next as his header hit Smith on the line. County thought a hand was involved Mr Yates thought differently, and our angst increased again as the subsequent corner saw Smith in position to clear off the line again.

County were trying for sure and Tanto, roared on by the Cheadle End, made it to the by-line before sending a pacy cross into the box where Powell was arriving. Powell flung himself forward to reach the ball, but it flew wide.

Tanto was beginning to come to life now, but the composure was elsewhere as Wootton found him in the box with a slick pass only for Tanto to lose his footing letting any perceived chance slip away.

On it went- County pressing….Madden unlucky again to see Cairns dive to claw his header out!

After the extravaganza of time wasting we had witnessed it was bizarre to hear 1 minutes added time announced- it was not enough for County to square this particular circle and it stayed 0-0 as the teams went in at half time.

 

…………………………………………….    

 

    

 

Now, for Half Time Entertainment, something for those of a certain age – some very early Lonnie Donegan, well before his later commercial stuff……..

https://youtu.be/KhvlqOys_DU?si=SFcZv4SYPrHOGiMA

 

https://youtu.be/UERQbqkjc84?si=y8MF8nrCRRVs05IK

 

……………………………………………………..

 

When the action resumed Akil Wright was on for Knoyle with the County back line now alternating twixt a 3 and a 5.

But the action early on was at the other end where Southam- Hales, joined by Wootton and Madden resumed where he left off before the break.

Somehow ……midst all the attacking from County, the ball stayed out- Powell unlucky to see a shot deflected for a corner at one point from a Southam- Hales cross. Then Wootton went close, and another shot was ushered off the line by an unidentified defender.

Eventually Salford replied but Humbles` shot went wide only for Mr Yates to surprise us again by awarding a corner- Powell did well to head this out off the line as we hit the hour mark and then the 61^st minute when the crowd forgot the action briefly to honour the passing of long time County fan Ian Duncan with a minutes applause- a fitting tribute  nicely observed!

 

 

 

 

 

Play had been paused briefly as Croasdale had racked up the booking that probably now sees him sidelined for a while ,with a clumsy lunge from behind as Salford attacked. The kick was well scoreable but was suitably seen off by Hinchliffe whose eyes were firmly set on another clean sheet!

County then proceeded to leak free kicks at regular intervals – Smith again inches from applying a finish to the latest on 65 minutes.

This was not great work from County who were tested again from a similar set piece a couple of minutes later. This time we had frustration and irritation to spare as Powell did brilliantly to snuff the free kick out and then pick out Tanto with a superb long ball. It was a belter but Tanto couldn`t get a shot in and what could have been a game changing moment, wasn`t!

Cotterill came on for Powell on 70 minutes, and he did try to inject urgency into matters but, into the game`s final 10 minutes and Southam-Hales was still the County `look to `man of choice- massively over worked by pass after pass.

He was doing the biz for sure, if lacking luck- Wootton and Cotterill denied by very good saves from Cairns .

On we went with a foul by Horsfall putting County under the cosh late on. Again, the free kick flew across the box to where Smith was, and again he could not hit the target with his header – we were so lucky!

Salford kept trying in what remained of the game- Pye doing well for County to beat Mc Aleny to a dangerous cross with a couple of minutes left.

The last action in normal time saw Tilt head tamely wide from a Salford corner.

Amazingly Mr Yates could only find 3 minutes added time ( 4 now in total in the game) – the game ending with the points shared.

We really should have won that, based on the first half alone, but it is what it is and we take the point in the knowledge that we are sustained at the top with a 5 point lead intact.

I hope we persevere with the Madden/ Powell deployment- only a modicum of good fortune was missing last night- Aldershot could see that change for the better!

See you there!

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Southam -Hales , Horsfall , Pye , Touray , Knoyle ( Wright 46) , Croasdale , Powell ( Cotterill 70) , Madden , Wootton , Olaofe.

Subs not used : Smith , Byrne , Richardson , Mee , C Johnson.

 

Salford City line up :-

Cairns , Mariappa , Watson , Mc Lennon , Tilt , Smith , Mc Aleny , Nmai , Vassell , Humbles , Luamba .

Subs not used : Wright , Collins , Lara , Hamman , Malcolm .

 

Attendance: 8790 ( 360)

hedgegrower

 

A few crowd shots from Andrew Machin.......