County claimed their 12^th consecutive win and a record equalling 2-0 win against Matty Eherington`s stubbornly resistant Colchester United side today at Edgeley Park, that takes them 6 points clear at the top of the table .

There was another big crowd inside the old place most of whom came to urge the men in blue to greater heights.

But the visitors had not come north to make up the numbers, they battled away from first to last minute making life as difficult as they could for County in a game littered with free kicks and bookings that did nothing to enhance the quality on show.

If much of the play was messy it was to County`s great credit that they kept their powder dry, waited their moment to strike doing so with aplomb– Kyle Wootton doing so at the death in the first half and Callum Camps sealing matters with a bit of a belter just after the start of the second.

Another good County team performance then, well yes- no Louie Barry, no Sarcevic and sans umpteen others, it was not bad at all thank you, and Ben Hinchliffe, having pulled off 3 exceptional win saving saves , got the M.O.M award- just how good is that ?

Very good says I, and well deserved !

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There were not far short of 10,000 awaiting kick off around 3 o`clock. Amongst the throng were over 250 from Essex and 1of County`s growing group of supporters in Japan - Tsubasa Yoshimatsu was up in the Upper Tiers of the Cheadle End ( you can see Tsubasa in his new County kit on the image alongside Michael Shoard at the back of the shot ( a couple more images of our welcome visitor from Japan are in the additional gallery at the end of the report) ……..

County opened the game attacking the Cheadle End winning an early free kick for a foul by Mingi on Collar, but Touray`s free kick soared out of play.

The first 10 minutes gave a hint of what was to follow -play simply littered with free kicks and delays that belied the 1 minute added at the end of the half.

We bucked up a touch on 12 minutes as Bailey wriggled his way by the combative Mingi before crashing down in close proximity to the United number 20, in the box.

The cry went up from the Cheadle End “Penalty!” but Referee Andy Davies would have none of that- Colchester were saved for now.

The next meaningful action saw Wootton get in the game`s first shot on target- Owen Goodman, the visitors` keeper saved it comfortably but it was a start.

Indeed, it seemed to buck County up no end and it took some excellent defending from Colchester to keep them out with Collar threatening all manner of mayhem down the right.

It went on – Bailey not troubling Goodman with a lofted effort from the corner ………Tanto inches from winning the ball on the end of a high ball over the last line of yellow shirted defenders – beaten narrowly by the keeper.

The attacking continued from County but the obdurate nature of Colchester`s defending and their occasional sortie up the park left the nagging thought that `this lot just might do something today` against the odds!

We would see, but after Collar and Wootton missed out with a promising raid not well served by Kyle`s final ball, we got rather too strong a hint on that point as Samson Tovide saw Hinchliffe somehow keep his inventive back heeled effort out pushing it onto the crossbar before gathering it from Fevrier`s run and cross.

Mc Geehan then went close 9 minutes from the end of the first half, his curling effort clawed out of the air by Hinchliffe on its way to the far corner of the County net, doing something similar shortly after to deny Chilvers.

That was excellent from Ben, but a touch worrying also, we needed something from County to put down this surprising resistance from the visitors.

Wootton thought that he just might have found that `something` as his nicely weighted ball headed for the waiting Collar in the box. The response from the County number 14 was very much as it should be but having dived headlong towards the ball he headed it wide with the goal gaping!

Wootton`s woe`s seemed to be piling up as he was then mugged by Egbo with play elsewhere- the liner could only have seen it but …hey ho he was wanting an easy life and kept his flag down as Kyle only just managed to avoid confronting the myopic official. The Ref eventually surfaced from his slumbers to play Pontious Pilate and ridiculously give both players a word but by that time we were beyond caring.

Then, karma …absolute karma as almost immediately Southam -Hales beat the visitors offside trap taking a lovely ball from Croasdale in his stride to reach the by-line before getting his cross in for the onrushing Wootton who forced it home under pressure from close in.

One minute was added at the end of the half during which time Wootton was comprehensively mugged again, this time by Tom Dallison. We`ve seen it so many times before…..Kyle gets into dangerous position, defender fancies the shirt and hauls him down – and yes, we are used by now to Kyle getting the bums rush in these situations and he did again and it still hurt as Mr Davies gave the free kick to Colchester.

Half time came just about in time, and me without the BP pills!

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Something relaxing in Half Time Entertainment-Wildwood Jack Performing Cancion Mixteca( and there`s a bonus version by Ry Cooder on the drop down!)

https://youtu.be/FlzK9oaYdBg?si=UbkFjGpaZJ0AHKii

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Camps was on for Wright when play resumed after the break, and within 60 seconds County had doubled their advantage.

It started with Tanto winning a corner, and ended with Southam-Hales` corner emphatically volleyed home by Camps` first touch of the ball!

County were 2-0 up but not coasting, they kept trying to add to their lead but with results commensurate with the effort put in by Colchester and the obduracy of their defending in response.

But County kept plugging away and some decent football was beginning to surface here and there midst it- Camps upended on the edge of the box- the free kick defended well by Colchester- Bailey and Tanto missing out with a neat bit of work.

Still, we needed to remember to keep the back door bolted as the visitors continued to look to hit on the break when they could and Fevrier looked a touch adept running at us at pace down the right with only Touray offering cover. Thankfully Touray`s offering was spot on and Février’s chance was gone.

Camps continued to attract fouls as the game progressed with County pinning their opponents back in their last third as corners, free kicks, shots aplenty rained in on the men from Essex to no addition to the score.

Then Mr Davies excelled himself booking Wootton – probably verbals (and could you blame Kyle really?).

On it went-Goodman beating Collar to Touray`s cross just passed the hour followed by a weighty reply by Colchester as Greenidge, Chilvers & Mingi tore into County with a will their final ball seemingly setting McGeehan up rather nicely. But they needed to have factored the arrival on the scene of Ben Hinchliffe into their equation and arrive he did- stopping McGeehan in his tracks ending the danger to County!

But more danger surfaced with 20 minutes left as Tovide latched onto a tasty through ball heading into the box with Pye for company. It looked a possible chance but ….no more….as a fine block from Ethan allowed Hinchliffe to gather and ease County`s pain.

Play began to swing from end to end now – brilliant work by Croasdale setting County up to win a corner, but this was well defended by Matty Etherington`s men who then set about a reply….

The inconveniently monikered Brad Ihionvien had only been on the park seconds when he surged into the box. He had Horsfall for company but this one looked an even better chance than the last one for the visitors, but Horsfall did brilliantly to ensure the forward`s shot missed the target!

Tanto made nothing of an inviting ball that sent him scurrying up the park next which was disappointing, but more looked on the way as Colchester hit us on the break via Fevrier. His run looked good but we looked to have a goal kick but we hadn`t, the ref had given a corner which sent pulses racing and the temperature soaring as the kick came over to be impressively claimed by the excellent Hinchliffe.

Mc Geehan then had a shot and a header saved by the County keeper as Knoyle and Madden came on for Croasdale and Bailey.

We were soon into the game`s dying embers – Wootton was still trying to ignite a spark in Tanto sending him clear only to see him drift ever wider before missing the target with his shot.

Wootton looked to momentarily fall awkwardly – he arose looking no worse for wear eventually, but it was a relief to see him subbed smack on 90 minutes, Powell coming on in his place.

County attacked in the 3 minutes of added time, but the score stayed 2-0 and that was quite good enough – I heard nothing but applause and cheers at the end for the County team and rightly so!

Not that pretty to watch at times today but there are after all 2 teams out there for every match and Colchester were determined not to roll over - making a match of it, making the eventual win that much more worth getting!

On to Newport next- hope to see you there then!

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe , Southam -Hales , Wright ( Camps 46) ,Horsfall , Pye , Touray , Croasdale ( Knoyle 83) , Collar , Bailey ( Madden 83) , Wootton ( Powell 90) , Olaofe.

Subs not used : Smith , Byrne , Richardson .

Colchester United line up;-

Goodman , Greenidge ( Ihionvien 71) , Dallison , Tovide ( Hopper 71 ) , Chilvers , Mc Geehan , Mitchell , Read , Egbo , Mingi ( Cooper 83) , Fevrier.

Subs not used : Kelleher , Jay , Smith , Terry .

Attendance: 9664( 263)

hedgegrower

First off some images from hedgegrower`s phone....