Stockport County 0 Aldershot Town 1 ( FA Cup 2nd Round Replay) Wednesday 13 December 2023

 

 

 

 

 

County exited the FA Cup at Edgeley Park last night, going down 1-0 to National League side Aldershot Town.

Aldershot came with a plan, stuck to it with great tenacity and resolve that spoke volumes for the standards at the top end of the league below us.

County by way of a response gave us `Morecambe without the wind and rain`-losing themselves in an endless wave of painfully slow passing that Shots sussed early doors. There was little in the way of attacking nous from the blues , the whole sorry display teeing  Tom Widdrington`s side up to snatch the win and a game against West Brom in Round 3 via substitute Olly Scott`s 88^th minute goal.

It was no less than they deserved!

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In the pre match Scarf My Father Wore I rattled on about the malign influence of TV companies on the FA Cup and, looking around at kick off time , we could see this writ large with less than 3000 inside for this important game.

County needed to win this, but the Danny Stand was not half full, the Cheadle End similarly under populated and in the Pop Side Yellow Block  and others were elsewhere being denied their usual places ,as only Aldershot`s splendidly noisy supporters , along with the TV cameras prevented that historic old stand from being completely empty and thus mirroring the Railway End .

The result of the above was an almost complete absence of atmosphere- it was set up, as Des rather felt in his bones, for a Shots triumph.

I had forecast a 3-1 County win -a vast conceit on my part as it turned out, but at 7.45, with those around me trying to work on there being some `atmosphere` there was still hope that County would sort matters.

I continued to cling to that raft as Wootton got in behind the visitors` defence almost straight off, but he lifted his shot over the bar.

As early as the 3^rd minute we got early warning of what would be to come as Jack Barham bore down on County down the right. Touray and Pye looked to have him policed, and they definitely thought they had but with supreme confidence and tenacity Barham refused to be cowed shrugging off said attentions to cut inside in the box- somehow Shots could not finish what Barham had created and the blues still had parity - maybe this would serve as a rallying call to County!

In this I was somewhat encouraged to see Madden and Camps both looking busy, perhaps this too would rally our forces but Camps worthy effort 6 minutes in was saved nicely by Jordi van Stappershoef twixt the sticks for Shots.

County continued with the slow methodical build up, but there was every sign that Aldershot were unfussed by it all and chose to give us another example of their National League quality through Josh Stokes who proceeded to shred the left side of the blues back line. Again, County looked dished as Stokes sent a dangerous ball across the box, and County were very happy to concede a corner with Shots perhaps rueing another missed opportunity!

And Shots were not done, indeed County were again in difficulties with Tolaj withstanding an almighty buffeting from County on the edge of the box to pick out Frost with the neatest of passes. It looked a chance but Frost froze (sorry!) and his shot did not test Hinchliffe at all.

Tolaj was looking lively around this juncture and Southam-Hales did exceedingly well to block his run in the box a couple of minutes later.

It went on- Stokes again the catalyst for Shots surging with electric pace and determination into the box where he reached Barham with another incisive ball. Chance? ..... certainly, but a vital save by Hinchliffe stopped the rot for the blues!

In response there seemed a total lack of movement from County – their counters were dealt with in disturbingly fine style by Shots.

Camps did get a shot in from a Southam-Hales pass on 26 minutes, but Stappershoef made a good fist of keeping this out much to County`s chagrin!

Meanwhile Barham continued to threaten for Shots – Horsfall doing well to block his run with 10 minutes left of the half.

Both sides looked for openings with half time approaching but neither excelled – Madden heading tamely wide from a corner for County, whilst Stokes ended a neat Shots move with a really tame effort.

It was drifting sleepily to half time, and then it all got a touch exciting as, with Southam-Hales and Wootton probing down the right , County had the ball in the net via a header from Tanto- 1-0…excellent…except it wasn`t , the liner had his flag up and the `goal` was ruled out for offside.

Stung perhaps by that action, County kept looking for a goal- Wootton denied by a fine block by Harfield close to the break.

The half`s last gasp saw a tasty run from  Haji Mnoga stopped by an even tastier tackle from Touray which achieved the considerable double whammy of saving County`s bacon and passing muster from the Referee Ben Speedie.

It was 0-0 at half time and time for a warm!

 

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For Half Time Entertainment …….. Joanne Shaw Taylor….

 

https://youtu.be/JbkfXapebSo?si=_ePMLilAWdNTBE0U

https://youtu.be/XgimVVNKgHs?si=HyKd-LPrnpTg-mTu

 

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The second half opened with Shots on the front foot in County`s half -the best of the early action from them seeing Glover ping a dangerous cross over and Barham head it goalward where Ben ( in his 351^st County game) kept it out.

County did respond being denied by a tenacious tackle from Harries on Bailey 5 minutes into the half- the corner then disappointingly sailed into Stappershoef`s waiting arms!

Tolaj then sent a volley just wide for Shots as County swapped Southam- Hales for Knoyle.

                   Southam -Hales has been the wholehearted mainstay of most that County have done this season so I was sorry to see him substituted but I am guessing even he must be challenged by his workload.

That said, County looked as lively as they had all evening next, but Croasdale flattered to deceive winning possession brilliantly and then squandering it with the loosest of final balls.

But I was buoyed by the sight of an excellent one/ two between Bailey and Tanto who looked distinctly fired up as he took the return inside the box with the keeper to beat. Then Tanto`s control let him down and the chance was gone in a heartbeat!

Gradually County sank back into the slow build up routine giving Shots time to adjust which they did – Hinchliffe having to pull off an excellent save after the hour to deny Stokes after Tolaj had ferreted his way into the heart of County`s defences.

Aldershot`s confidence, in evidence in shed loads from the start, was now burgeoning as they kept County pinned in their last third – they just needed a little something extra.

Unfortunately the otherwise excellent Stokes then gave us some vaudeville – it really was entertaining…..the finest of dives in the box for sure….but no penalty and I swear I saw Mr  Speedie laughing like a drain….I certainly was!

County then made changes bringing Wright and Richardson on for Croasdale and Bailey.

The fresh legs looked to be injecting some life into proceedings both Wright and Richardson getting involved – Richardson played in sweetly by Tanto a couple of minutes after coming on only for a terrific save by the Shots keeper to deny him!

Richardson was again to the fore not long after but after great work by Madden near the Danny Stand touchline Jayden was robbed by another finely timed intervention by Harfield.

We were into the games last 10 minutes now with the horror of extra time weighing heavily on our thoughts and it was irksome to see Coby Rowe spoil an otherwise exemplary showing with a panto offering following an immensely innocuous `coming together` twixt him and Tanto.

Mr Speedie awarded Shots the free kick( for what – I was baffled!)- didn`t book Tanto just dithered the night away as time drifted on and Rowe continued with his five courser!

The stoppage was probably a useful ploy for the visitors who upon the resumption took full advantage.

They looked well motivated as, pushing forward, Shots won a series of throws – a couple from Rowe being blocked the next by Mnoga resulting in serious issues for the blues as the ball bounced about in the box and Shots endeavoured to get a shot in.

Eventually they did as Barham`s deft flick on picked out substitute Olly  Scott ,who fired the ball home!

County were 1-0 down and staring defeat square in the face, and Aldershot were still pressing with their 274 travelling supporters now in party mode!

Byrne was now on for Touray – a move that saw Horsfall head up the park as a makeshift forward!

He had an early glimmer of hope that it would be a fairy tale switch but running onto a long ball as prescribed and seeing the ball rebound to Tanto the moment then faded away via a decisive tackle from Rowe.

We were deep into 6 minutes added time now – County were trying but without ever looking like disturbing Stappershoef`s evening.

County did get a late/late glimmer of hope again via a foul on Wootton . The fee kick was usefully situated so it was a notional chance until O`Keefe found touch.

Tanto had a go after this but his shot was blocked and soon after it was celebration time for Aldershot`s travelling fans who had deserved their moment for sure!

For County, they go again on Saturday against Sutton!

We need the stadium packed for that one, and as noisy as h’’ll- I am sure we can manage that can`t we County fans?!

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Southam -Hales ( Knoyle 53) , Horsfall , Pye , Touray ( Byrne 92) , Croasdale ( Wright 74) , Camps , Bailey ( Richardson 74) , Madden , Wootton , Olaofe .

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

 

Aldershot Town line up :-

Stappershoef , Mnoga , Harfield , Harries , Rowe , Frost ( Thomas 70) , Tolaj , Stokes ( O`Keefe 92) , Glover , Barham , Willard ( Scott 79).

Subs not used: Weston , Bray , Haigh , Ghandour , Mullins , Turner.

 

Attendance :2855 ( 274)

 

hedgegrower

 

Some crowd images via hedgegrower`s phone.....