Stockport County 3 Walsall 1 ( Football League 2) Saturday 13 January 2024

County maintained their lead at the top of League 2 today, coming back from a lack lustre first half showing to storm to a well merited 3-1 win after the break against in-form Walsall at Edgeley Park.

It was an important win that gave County supporters a reassuring hint that, despite the unconscionably wicked run of long-term injuries that plague SK3 just now, the squad is equipped to weather the storm and secure that coveted place in League 1.

There was lots to be pleased with in the blues performance, as a team apparently cobbled together from just about all who were available and not crocked, worked their socks off to take the win that many thought to be unlikely.

The writer forecast 1-1 pre-match, and at halftime that did not look to be a million miles adrift of what it would finish up being- County had taken the lead via a belting strike from Akil Wright who had his best game in County colours today, only to see their lead snatched away within 60 seconds when we failed to defend a corner.

County struggled to keep Walsall back in the early minutes of the second half until 10 minutes in when a free kick changed it all- Camps powering it to the back post where it came back off the bar for Tanto to usher home.

The floodgates opened after that in a veritable blizzard of attacking from County, all neatly laced together with passing of the highest order.

Evans, who had taken his time to work his way back into the County rhythm, was particularly effective in the second half, with Camps having another fine game whilst Wright took the M.O.M award to acclaim.

Other than that I thought that the whole team did well ( Bristow looks OK it must be said ) and the introduction of Madden and Powell as substitutes worked a treat and killed off any last hopes Walsall might have had of getting back into the game.

As the game went on, so that prospect became less and less likely, finally being extinguished by Evans` powerful run onto Powell`s wonderful through ball that earned County the penalty so superbly put away by Madden!

Have I said that it was a good win?

It certainly was!

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There was another big crowd inside the stadium for the kick-off that saw County under early pressure from Walsall, most notably from Tom Knowles and Douglas James- Taylor who zeroed in to test the right side of County`s defence.

That was sound tactics, but in the event Wright and Evans coped well with the initial action- Wright again excelling with a solidly effective block on James- Taylor shortly after.

At this point and for a time after, Camps looked to be County`s best chance of making progress up the park- his run, 4 minutes in, pushing the visitors back into their last third where Bristow was able to win a corner. Wootton`s finish (from Croasdale`s prompt)missed out from the subsequent kick but it showed willing.

It was another 10 minutes before anything of note happened and Wootton was involved again with Bailey, but again the set piece that followed ( a corner won by Bailey) came to nothing.

Two minutes on from that last action and County gave us a glimpse of what might be possible and Walsall keeper Jackson Smith did well to claw the ball out off the line as it bounced towards goal off Tanto`s head. I actually wrote `great save’ in my notes and that`s as maybe but there was not much greatness about the keeper`s handling when the subsequent corner headed his way- Walsall survived the experience not having conceded a goal, but it was not that good from their point of view.

The 21 st minute saw County work a real chance for themselves as, having stolen possession Camps was then upended as he headed for the Walsall box. It was a free kick and only just outside the box, so I had it down as a chance, only for Camps to disappoint with just about the worst free kick I can recall seeing , and I`ve seen one or two!

That was disappointing- Wright`s magnificent blocking tackle on Hutchinson and subsequent pass to Evans was the polar opposite, but there were no takers for Evans` cross on the end of it so it stayed 0-0.

Hutchinson was not done however and determined harassment of men in blue shirts by him brought his side a worrying corner.

This was hooked clear by Wright, but within a minute Walsall were back on County`s case- Horsfall doing well to keep a James- Taylor ball from that man Hutchinson in front of goal. It was another corner and this time it was Byrne earning the plaudits for County as he prevented Donervon Daniels from making mischief at the far post!

More good defensive work followed from Horsfall for County, and another link up twixt Wright and Evans but any cracks in Walsall`s defensive armour I may have hinted at earlier was absent now and the visitors cover held.

We then saw Tom Knowles take a hand for Walsall- his shot, with 10 minutes left of the half held safely by Hinchliffe.

Then, following a lengthy break as the Danny Stand liner received attention, Knowles was in action again surging to the by-line with disconcerting ease. His cross from there was excellent- picking Liam Gordon out with pin-point accuracy, only for him to send his wayward header sailing over the bar.

More attacking followed from the visitors as half time neared- Knowles and Johnson at the head for Walsall. Byrne saw the danger off for the blues but the half was looking to be drifting to a conclusion with the minimum of excitement.

Then in the best 192 tradition so we got a shed load of it ( excitement I mean) all in 60 seconds or so, deep in added time.

Firstly, Camps pushed Walsall back with a powerful run .Disappointingly ,this looked to have fizzled out ,but the ball found its way to Akil Wright who was some 25- 30 yards out, and he leathered the ball home with fantastic accuracy giving the keeper no chance and County a 1-0 lead!

That was excellent, what followed wasn`t!

Jack Earing`s run probably achieved more than he had assumed it would as County, thinking safety first, conceded a corner.

A swing of Knowles` boot and the ball was heading from corner flag to the sharp end, and it was smack on accurate too and James- Taylor did the rest forcing the ball into the net for the equaliser.

County had held the lead for about a minute they must have been shell-shocked heading to the dressing room not long after!

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Today`s Half Time Entertainment comes from GP………

https://youtu.be/85U-b3qCL6E?si=S91NtNRcZHotPEn1

https://youtu.be/GJRosJqpoog?si=x1ZQjC0pyqntzop1

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County were under pressure when the game re-started which increased significantly upon conceding a free kick on the edge of the box. It was not central, more wide right but even so County`s difficulties still mounted – the kick being drilled in low and hard before being somehow ushered out for a corner by Wootton.

It was 3 minutes before County replied, but crucially they had not leaked a goal.

Walsall might have, had Tanto made better use of Croasdale`s pass as County`s captain broke up the park, but the shot was blocked, the chance, if it was one, was gone.

County did not look overly confident at this stage indeed Hinchliffe did well to keep a strike from Hutchinson out around this point.

But County gradually began to ease their way up the park- Evans run and cross 8 minutes into the half, deserving better.

Then the Saddlers` indiscipline wounded them for the first time as Camps took full advantage powering his free kick towards the back post where the ball came back off the bar to Tanto who ushered it home.

We were 2-1 up and Tanto was on fire, at least he was according to Cheadle End and County were lit up as well and they piled the pressure on their opponents with a constant flow of threatening passes- Wootton, Evans and Bailey all might have scored- Wootton particularly disappointed to see Jackson- Smith pull off a remarkable save at one point to deny him.

Evans was showing up to great effect, and again the keeper saved from Wootton near the hour mark.

The hour came and went with Byrne lifting a shot over the bar from a corner, and County were under pressure for a while after this dealing with a rash of Walsall free kicks , but they defended stoutly and weathered the storm.

Then we went into the last 20 minutes of the game with County back on the offensive – Bristow earning applause bringing the ball out of deep defence with an impressive run to start the blue push.

Bailey was unlucky with a run and cross, and Bristow having been fouled watched as Bailey`s free kick from this sailed harmlessly out.

At this point change was in the air as DC opted to bring Madden and Powell on for Wootton and Camps and almost immediately we saw the substitutions declare a dividend as a neat one/two twixt Powell and Evans saw the former`s delightful pass send the latter away into the box. He was clear and then he wasn’t as Gordon had scythed him down giving the Referee the simple task of pointing to the spot.

County had a penalty and Madden did what Madden does crashing a fierce drive into the net to make it 3-1 to County.

Evans and Tanto terrorised Walsall extensively after this -Evans going closest of the two stabbing a shot goalward that the Walsall keeper smothered at the near post.

Cotterill came on for Tanto late on.

Both sides kept looking for scraps- for County, Powell just kept from Madden`s pass by David Okagbue smack in front of goal- whilst Bristow did particularly well to extinguish Knowles` fire as he surged clear down the right in the game`s dying embers.

Eventually the Referee blew for time, and a very good win had been secured by County that confirmed their place as leaders of the division!

Nothing more to say really, except well done to all involved for a fine effort under difficult circumstances.

There`s a fair way still to go, and much to do before we can think `League 1` for sure, but wins of this nature do nothing to diminish the prevailing feeling that County really do have the necessary in their toolbox to see the job done!

Great stuff!

Stockport County lie up:-

Hinchliffe , Wright , Byrne , Horsfall , Evans , Bristow , Camps ( Madden 73), Croasdale , Bailey , Wootton ( Powell 73), Olaofe ( Cotterill 88).

Subs not used : Smith , Mee , Okeke , Johnson .

Walsall line up :-

Smith , Okagbue , Gordon ( Allen 79) , Daniels , Farquharson , Hutchinson , Knowles , James- Taylor , Comley , Earing ( Stirk 73 ) , Johnson ( Gordon 60).

Subs not used; Evans , Foulkes , Maher , Adboyega.

Attendance : 9742 ( 686)

hedgegrower

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