Aldershot Town 2 Stockport County 2 ( FA Cup Round 2 ) Sunday 3 December 2023

 

 

County were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw by National League Aldershot Town today at the Recreation Ground.

Having gone behind early on, coming back from that to equalise in emphatic fashion almost immediately and then open the second half by taking the lead with a slick move, County looked set to succeed until a certain imprecision in their play allowed Shots back in it via a neat strike by Josh Stokes.

Even then it was just possible for County supporters to be optimistic about the game`s outcome but alas, despite enjoying much late possession and forcing a few likely looking free kicks ,the County finishing was just not up to the standard required to see the job done.

Indeed it was County on the back foot in the 96^th of 96 minutes defending Aldershot`s last throw of the dice as County`s match long propensity to give away cheap free kicks continued to the death.

Thankfully Hinchliffe did the biz….claimed the ball  allowing Referee Paul Howard to blow for time and confirm we now had to do it all again at our place in a replay- just about nobody`s pre Xmas wish!

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The match opened with Aldershot on the front foot roared on by all barring 383 in  a crowd of over 4000- Josh Stokes  first to show with a run that promised rather more than it produced.

That said, County had no grounds for complacency as within a minute Lorent Tolaj had sent Jack Barham into the box forcing Hinchliffe to save with his legs. Powell did well to run the resultant corner clear.

Then, just as we were hoping for something to come back from County, they gave the ball away with casual carelessness and Barham was in our faces again- fortunately for us he could not make the moment count and the game stayed scoreless.

It was still 0-0 6 minutes in, but Shots were again on the ball and attacking – Byrne doing really well for County to stop Tolaj as he ran onto a ball from Stokes. It was a corner and again Powell defied the lazy `lazy` jibes to head the danger away and then go looking to create something at the other end- this element fizzled out but he had made an emphatic point to his detractors!

There seemed little respite for County and an iffy free kick 2 minutes later put the pressure on the blues again- Tolaj spoiling a notional half chance with a foul spotted by Mr Howard.

County were trying to break this pattern of attacking by Shots up , but with limited success and another 2 minutes saw a blue raid break down through diligent work from Stokes who then sent Barham surging into the County box. It looked a chance but then Pye took charge with a fine tackle to stop the rot.

If County felt relieved at that escape, the feeling lasted less than a minute as Glover was allowed time on the ball down the left where he took full advantage by picking Stokes out with a precise pass. Stokes looked up and fired his shot in…… Hinchliffe had it covered but it took a wicked deflection to fly into the net giving the County keeper no chance and Shots a 1-0 lead!

It took County just 3 minutes to redress the situation and score the equaliser and it came from a relatively unexpected source.

Pye had just failed to beat the improbably monikered home keeper Jordi van Steppershoef with a half chance, when the ball landed with Neil Byrne inside the County half.

On, on, on Byrne ran with the ball apparently glued to his boot. If he had looked to his right, he would have seen Southam-Hales perfectly positioned to cause maximum damage to the Shots cause, but with most present expecting him to pass, Byrne took another pace before lashing a wonder strike beyond Steppershoef`s efforts to keep the strike out.

It was 1-1, County had maybe emphasised their pedigree with that moment of glorious striking splendour , but there was a way to go in the game which was barely 15 minutes old.

All that said, Shots came back at the blues quickly and Akil Wright did well to stop Tolaj after Glover had taken advantage of the fact that Knoyle and others stood off him as he set Tolaj up.

It went on- Hinchliffe acting quickly to stop Tolaj from Tommy Willard’s dangerous through ball.

County`s play was beginning to get bogged down in messy fouls, loose balls and a seeming unwillingness to  get early tackles in -  a situation emphasised again as Knoyle stood off Glover allowing him to drift inside and pick out Tolaj. The shot from him went a foot wide, but I chalked that down as an escape!

Now to the tackles   and twice within a 7 minute period Wright committed to clumsy fouls – getting booked for the first one and then being subbed following the second to avoid an almost inevitable second yellow.

You may think I am being inconsistent insisting on early tackles and admonishing same when executed badly, but it is that last element that counts for me , we needed to stay on our feet and attack the ball, County were just giving Mr Howard carte blanche to penalise us.

Oh, and Knoyle did well moments later stopping the rot with Stokes looking to capitalise when Wootton lost the ball in midfield.

Cotterill came on for Wright as County set about asserting themselves , Powell and Touray going close- Madden just missing out with a shot from Southam -Hales` cross.

But Shots were not finished – Glover inches away with a decent shot following good work from Stokes and Willard in the build-up.

Willard then rather blotted his copybook with a booking after a hefty heave on Powell`s shirt as the County man darted clear, but Willard cared not I guess he had `taken one for the team`, and County made nothing of the free kick.

Into 4 minutes added time we went with Shots attacking and Glover and Willard showing up well down the left and through the middle, but the half ended with Powell urging County up the park – unable to test the home keeper with one shot but doing better winning a corner in combo with Southam -Hales shortly after.

The corner was cleared, the half was at an end.

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Half Time Entertainment today is another touch of class from France

Tatiana Eva-Marie & Avalon Jazz Band

https://youtu.be/UM0SSu8iclw?si=A0SGgtR6aWAFdkT_

 

https://youtu.be/a5Za8pKGT2E?si=wHudaZV4XnNgVRx2

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The second half opened in a blur of attacking by County started down the right where Southam -Hales skinned Hatfield comprehensively before slipping the ball inside to Powell. Powell quickly shrugged off the attentions of Cody Rowe to then slide a precision ball to Madden, who made no mistake  beating the keeper with relish.

County were 2-1 up and their supporters had cause now for real optimism.

I have criticised County for their `free kick count` but there was also a number of same that were nurtured more than somewhat by crowd agitation and   player simulation on the pitch and the 49^th minute saw Pye the victim of just such- receiving an unjustified booking and Shots a free kick on the edge of the box. Glover hit this wide , but Pye only lasted another 10 minutes having sustained an injury in the process of executing what I saw as perfectly legitimate tackle.

And County were looking to add a third goal- Madden and Touray going close and Touray again almost in on the end of a neat pass from Powell, but thwarted by the keeper.

Horsfall was now on for Pye so I looked for no change in the solidity at the back for the blues as County continued to seek to attack- Bailey`s shot disappointing on the end of a slick bit of attacking work by the Hatters.

Then it all went pear shaped as Kwame Thomas, who had only been on the park for 14 minutes, slipped clear down the left to pick out Stokes who was arriving at speed through the middle. In no time at all Stokes had the ball under control before steering the ball home to make it 2-2.

Crestfallen or not, County tried to reply – Bailey seeing a shot saved neatly by van Stappershoef 68 minutes in, the keeper increasing Baileys and the blues angst again with another brilliant save just 2 minutes later.

County were trying for sure, but the end product was woefully lacking in quality the best coming via a Madden / Powell cooperation that saw Horsfall head wide after the keeper had saved and parried Powell`s shot.

It wasn`t all County- Hinchliffe was called on to make a save with his legs with Thomas in the process of bamboozling the blue back line.

Madden shot wide with 10 minutes of normal time left to play and this was his last contribution as he and Powell gave way for Tanto and Sarcevic.

Sarcevic started well, stealing possession sending Tanto clear- the keeper kept Tanto`s shot out but it was a good start!

But that was about where the good stuff ended.

We were into 6 minutes added time now.

County were trying to prise open the home defence but without success- yes, they won a free kick 2 minutes into the added time only for Sarcevic to lean back and send the ball way over the bar.

It went on, another blue attack almost smack on 96 minutes but with exactly the same result.

It was dispiriting and more so as right at the death County gave another free kick away.

It was some way out and wide left but, with our fortune……for sure the kick made its way into the crowded box but Hinchliffe was there to make the catch and end our angst and , perhaps thankfully, the game.

Not a result we would have wanted.

I would have played our strongest line up with a shot at  one of the `big boys` just 1 win away but it is what it is and credit should be given to the effort that Shots put into gaining that 2-2 result- they did not look a bad side at all ( as their lofty position in the National League gives testament to) so we attend the replay and support whatever team is put out to the hilt .

Meanwhile see you at Wigan and then at Morecambe next Saturday.

Aldershot Town line up :-

Van Stappershoeff , Mnoga , Harfield , Harries , Rowe , Frost , Tolaj , Stokes , Glover , Barham ( Thomas 53) , Willard .

Subs not used : Weston , O`Keefe , Bray , Jones , Scott , Haish , Mullins , Turner.

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Knoyle, Wright ( Cotterill 35) , Byrne,  Pye ( Horsfall 59), Touray , Southam -Hales , Powell ( Srcevic 82 ) , Madden ( Olaofe 82) , Wootton , Bailey.

Subs not used:  Smith , Croasdale , Pond ,  Mee , Johnson.

 

Attendance : 4756 ( 383)

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