Morecambe 1 Stockport County 1 ( Football League 2 ) Saturday 9 December 2023

This header by Andrew Machin.

County increased their League 2 lead to 6 points but made hard work of coping with what at times looked a distinctly lack lustre Morecambe team today at wind and rain swept Mazuma Mobile Stadium.

Ged Brannan`s team looked way off the pace in the first half managing just a couple of shots, but County crucially could not mount a serious enough assault on the home defences to put them to the sword.

The upshot was that, with this pattern repeating itself after the break the first Morecambe attack of real substance saw Mike Mellon put his side into the lead.

They held this until 87 minutes when at last County squared this circle as Kyle Wootton slid in to grab the equaliser as the ball reached him at the back post.

In the end we were relieved if not happy with a share of the points- a defeat would have been mightily disappointing against such moderate opposition, but we`ll take it , and look to improve !

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The weather was dire from the off today as constant heavy rain was carried hither and thither on the fiercest of winds game long!

The conditions were appalling and the first 10 minutes or so were taken up with possession changing hands rapidly and often neither side able to cope with the conditions or mount an affective attack.

We hit 12 minutes with still no shots on goal from either side- the nearest to one being Southam-Hales` cross that Smith in the home goal had to deal with at his near post.

Bailey ended the famine on 15 minutes latching onto Sarcevic`s lay off to whip a shot in that Smith sorted without undue problem.

We were soon beyond halfway in the first half and Morecambe had not mounted a serious attack or put 2 passes together that I could see so far.

Bailey was trying for County, watching as Smith again denied him from Wootton`s pass.

Then Sarcevic was fouled and had to be substituted, Camps coming on in his place- the eventual free kick from Bailey setting Tanto up for a shot that the home keeper was able to keep out.

At last we were showing some signs of taking advantage of Morecambe`s lethargy, and Bailey almost nicked the opener with a rasping drive on 27 minutes that took a fine diving save from Smith to keep it out.

Having said what I have about Morecambe, they then turned it all on its head in a 3-minute period when they could have scored not once but twice!

Adam Mayor started it off taking advantage of loose marking by the blues to try his luck and his shot missed out by not very much at all!

A couple of minutes later and County were under pressure again – Tom Bloxham able to get a shot off that Hinchliffe was just able to push around the post. Another corner followed that saw the County keeper narrowly beat Mellon to the ball from Southam-Hales` cross.

The rest of the half was distinctly forgettable as we looked forward to a windswept/ rain drenched second half in which County would be attacking the away end.

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In Half Time Entertainment something from the Doc……

https://youtu.be/Q0Q9Zc7nZjw?si=TpkdcbOQSzMzTaOK

https://youtu.be/nW1dF8YJ0CM?si=G8MmlxVbZR-5i5E-

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County started the second half still concentrating on slow methodical build up – there was a definite need for someone in blue to run at a home back line that looked average at best but the slow build up continued- Touray winning a corner for County which saw Referee Busby scorn their appeals for a penalty as both Madden and Horsfall were fouled in the box!

That was `disappointing` and more followed as Madden just missed out from benefiting from Joel Senior`s blooper at the back for Morecambe.

Pressure was beginning to mount now on Morecambe, and they were indebted to Eli King next as he beat Pye to a dangerous looking County corner.

Then Wootton was fouled and the free kick, just outside the box, gave the blues a chance to have a go and Bailey did , his kick had direction and power but did not elude Smith who made the save.

This pattern of play went on until beyond the hour when suddenly County had a wake-up call as Mellon was played clear from halfway. He looked dangerous and we looked suddenly vulnerable but the moment passed as Morecambe ran out of ideas and County were able to clear their lines.

Back came County and the next action saw Smith scrambling back frantically to tip the ball over the bar as it curled in from the right towards the far top corner. County tried again from the subsequent corner but Camps` shot narrowly missed out, but not as narrowly as 3 minutes later when another effort from County’s’ number eight fizzed centimetres over the bar with Smith a bemused spectator.

Despite County`s lack of success so far, it still looked likely that it would be them who took the honours today, but we needed to produce something special!

Alas, we were then pushed back into deep defence and by not clearing their lines County paid the price as Mellon seized on the last of a couple of half chances to slot the ball home giving his side 1-0 lead.

County replied but without being able to embarrass Smith in the home goal, indeed it was County who had reason to thank their goalkeeper as, with 10 minutes normal time left, and Mellon advancing goalward again leaving 2 blue shirts for dead, Hinchliffe did what Hinchliffe does keeping the shot out with an exceptional diving save!

We went into the last 10 minutes with Camps going close again, and DC ringing the changes taking Pye and Horsfall off for Richardson and Knoyle.

This left Touray holding the fort in central defence with Knoyle alongside him and Richardson providing width on the left.

I was slightly bemused by these changes but presumably our attacking options were slightly increased?

Then disappointment…as the ball appeared to strike a defenders hand in the box from a Bailey effort- the referee looked away…… then wild excitement as the ball was pinged in towards the back post where Wootton slid in to bully the ball into the net brilliantly!

Mayhem……County were level, could they now win it?

Southam -Hales went close- his shot just carrying the bar 2 minutes into added time.

Another 3 minutes and again we nearly did the deed as County broke from a rare Morecambe raid to feed Bailey whose shot exploded goalward- sadly going the wrong side of the angle of post and bar for County`s purposes!

We were beyond the 5 minutes mark now and Morecambe came at County with unaccustomed late verve – County perhaps fortunate to concede a corner.

The pressure continued from the kick, the ball somehow not ending up in the County net.

Eventually Mr Busby blew for time to end what was more of a grueller than perhaps County had anticipated.

Still, we had a point, possibly a vital point when we come to season`s end, so any disappointment is maybe lessened by that consideration?

Much more to do this week…..FA Cup on Wednesday……important league game Saturday – both at Edgeley Park.

Hope to see you all there then!

Morecambe line up:-

A. Smith , Tutonda , Bedeau , Songo`o ( Taylor 76) , Bloxham ( Slew 58), King , Mellon ( Davenport 82) , McKiernan , Mayor , Senior , Connolly.

Subs not used: Pedley , Stokes , C Smith , Melbourne

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Southam -Hales , Horsfall ( Knoyle 81), Pye ( Richardson 81) , Touray , Croasdale , Sarcevic ( Camps 23) , Bailey , Madden , Wootton , Olaofe.

Subs not used: Smith , Wright , Byrne , Collar.

Attendance : 4505 ( 1562)

hedgegrower

first off a few images from hedgegrower`s phone......