Swindon Town 2 Stockport County 4 ( Football League 2 ) Saturday 11 November 2023

County swept to their 13^th consecutive victory taking the game and all the available points 4-2 at Swindon`s County Ground today.

It was a remarkable win in so far as the blues had to come from behind twice against a Swindon side that showed up with more determination and desire than they have apparently shown for weeks.

But, apart from a brief while, when Mike Flynn`s side went into the lead for the second time after the break, a County win always looked the likeliest outcome of this lively match , even though at times we began to wonder if they could find the necessary in front of goal to make it so. We need n`t have doubted them as Collar`s penalty and quality goals from Bailey and Camps did the biz in emphatic style.

In the end ,4-2 did not flatter us at all, being doubly satisfying after County played most of the game without the influential Antoni Sarcevic who went off with a serious looking injury in the first half.

Everyone in blue pulled out all the stops to cover for his absence thereafter and secure a valuable win that consolidates Dave Challinor`s side`s hold on the League 2 top spot!

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The game opened in lively fashion the first attack seeing Tanto shoot wide after darting clear.

Swindon were quick to respond but Young`s run was ended by good work from Pye and Horsfall.

Another minute and County hit back but when Tanto fed the arriving Croasdale on the right his low cross was scorned by a clutch of blue shirts in the box- a second chance had gone away with the game 3 minutes old.

But we had no time to ponder on that last fact and other of the world`s ill`s as Young was at our door again like a hungry fox in a hen coop, but when he drifted inside this time and he got his shot on target, Hinchliffe`s dive saw him keep the effort out nicely.

This was a match for sure with no 0-7 romp anywhere in sight, indeed Hinchliffe had to spare Sarcevic`s blushes and save the County bacon next as a suicidal back pass notionally intended for Ben almost put Kemp in – we breathed easily again however as the County keeper reached the ball first!

We were just beyond 5 minutes now and the pace was showing no sign of relenting – Tanto again gnawing at Swindon`s vulnerabilities with a run that offered the real prospect of an opening goal until keeper Murphy Mahoney made short work of a disappointing effort by the County striker.

We were soon 10 minutes into this absorbing encounter but already Town were beginning to irk the writer more than somewhat managing to get away with numerous sly fouls presumably on the blind side of Referee Sam Purkiss as Wootton and Collar were fouled without acknowledgment from the man with the whistle.

But County were attacking with some style, they just needed to now add some oomph to the mix – Sarcevic tried on the end of a period of clever play from the blues, but the home keeper pushed his shot behind for a corner. Pye hit the bar from this, and when Bailey was upended almost immediately after, we thought we had a real chance from the free kick ,but this was poor from Bailey – Horsfall`s resultant shot flying over the bar.

We needed County to build on that and improve but instead I watched as Croasdale was bullied off the ball setting Swindon up for a corner. Swindon made little of this except that County contrived to then concede a free kick and I thought I saw Sarcevic booked in the process but I may have hallucinated- no matter Swindon could not make anything of their opportunity- Brewitt`s header was as close as they got and it flew over the bar.

Bailey and Wootton saw half chances come and go as the game entered the final 15 minutes of the first half.

County were attacking, and then they weren`t as the ball went quickly from Khan to Kemp and Swindon were away and then into the lead as Kemp`s shot was deflected into the net passed Hinchliffe.

We were 1-0 down, against the run of play , but 1-0 down nevertheless!

Swindon were rejuvenated now(all pay issues forgotten presumably)- Young firing over the bar when worse beckoned for the blues.

The final 5 minutes of the half saw my frustration mounting as Wootton was again manhandled to the deck to no redress.

This only got worse as Sarcevic surged into the box going down under pressure from a defender picking up what looked like a serious shoulder/ arm injury that saw him leave the field of play eventually being replaced by Touray.

The re-jigged blues battled on but with no improvement in front of goal- Bailey seeing a shot deflected wide- Southam -Hales shooting over the bar from Wright`s lay off following the corner.

It went on- Mahoney pushing a Wootton shot around the post from Southam-Hales cross the half ending in a raft of irritating incidents as first off Collar went down -poleaxed by a prodigious `lean` by Godwin- Malife.

This was followed immediately by something similar wide right on Wootton. The free kick unaccountably went to Swindon- a situation then made considerably worse by Wootton insisting on some verbals for the liner`s benefit- Mr Purkiss was not amused, Kyle was booked unnecessarily which could cost him and us later in the campaign.

Thankfully that was the last of the frustrating stuff, at least for now – it was half time!

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For Half Time Entertainment this week we have some Ry Cooder..

https://youtu.be/6efQ_GyQW3o?si=soPtSjOcstixnlrZ

https://youtu.be/NvG5sWjmtts?si=jR0SK5w98XV58O7M

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County were in command when the second half opened , looking determined and attacking with some wit and 10 minutes in they had their equaliser – Southam -Hales forced to earth by keeper Mahoney on the end of a penetrating run down the right.

The Referee pointed to the spot, County had a penalty and the tension racked up enormously as Collar stepped up to take it with the home specs trying all manner of verbal tricks to distract him. It was to no avail as Will sent his kick low and hard to the keeper`s left into the net- it was 1-1!

That was great but Hinchliffe had to pull off a great save within 2 minutes of the equaliser to deny Young as he skinned the County cover on our right flank.

That said, County did look to have the bit twixt their gnashers so I felt reassured, even though Wootton`s header drifted wide following a neat one/ two by Wright and Southam -Hales.

But was I wholly wrong? The thought did flit through my head as Swindon hit us down our right side again and we were punished big as Young turned brilliantly in the box to score with a fine strike.

County replied, Croasdale to Collar saw him floored in the box but it was no penalty but they were giving Swindon too much time on the ball at this point- and giving away free kicks in decent scoring positions too – one such kick , by Kemp next was happily deflected for a corner and this was cleared but we needed to tighten up a touch.

But then maybe…just maybe…attack is the best form of defence, and the blues went some way towards proving this theory next as with just over 15 minutes of normal time left the perceived clouds lifted in a blizzard of brilliant passing twixt Tanto and Touray that ended with Wootton heading home from close it!

It was 2-2 and game on as Hinchliffe then went long sending Tanto clear but Mahoney did the biz for Town to keep it at 2-2!

Another couple of minutes and Wootton turned provider laying the ball off to Bailey who cut inside before lashing an absolute screamer home to give County the lead!

The game went into the final minutes of normal time with County ringing the personnel changes bringing Powell, Camps and Madden on for Bailey, Wootton and Tanto, and Swindon seeking to get back in the game.

But free kicks…corners came and went for them with no change as County`s back line looked solid in response- Hinchliffe there when they needed him to gather Hutton`s effort with his side sniffing for scraps.

A better effort came from Kemp, but his shot flew wide after Godwin- Malife had made disquieting headway into the blue box where his progress faded forcing the pass to Kemp.

They were still looking for that equaliser with normal time more or less up, when great defending by Southam- Hales saw the ball go from Collar to Croasdale whose sweeping run saw him pick out Camps who was lurking by the back post- it was 4-2 in a heartbeat as the County number eight fired home to acclaim from the noisy County following!

Seven minutes of added time were announced and both teams did their best to take advantage of the extra minutes, but County knew that really the dye had been cast, the game was won and eventually Mr Purkiss blew for time and a superb County win was reality.

Massive credit is due to DC and the County team for this win and the consecutive win record run that this continues so magnificently.

It was of course a team effort, but I thought Collar stood out today- a player now back to his best and how glad we are of that!

The team for Bolton on Tuesday will probably see a good few changes from today`s side, then it`s back to serious business on Saturday against Colchester- hopefully I will see you there!

Swindon Town line up:-

Mahoney , Hutton , Blake-Tracy , Mc Eachran ( Kinsella 74) , Young , Khan , Kemp , Brewitt , Kokolo ( Shade 74), Godwin- Malife , Austin ( Hepburn- Murphy 62).

Subs not used: L Ward , Genesini , Dworzak , Minturn.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe ,Southam -Hales, Wright , Horsfall, Pye , Croasdale , Collar ( Knoyle 90) , Sarcevic ( Touray 42), Bailey ( Powell 83) , Wootton ( Camps 83), Olaofe ( Madden 83).

Subs not used : Smith , Byrne .

Attendance : 8475 ( 770)

Hedgegrower

First some images from hedgegrower......