Sutton United 1 Stockport County 3 ( Football League 2 ) Saturday 6 April 2024

 

 

 

A devastating display of goal scoring brilliance from Paddy Madden saw County cruise to a comfortable 3-1 win at Ganders Green Lane today.

An early strike from Paddy established the blues` credentials rather denting any pre match confidence in the process the U`s may have had. Two further top quality first half  goals  from County`s number nine settled the issue conclusively , despite a Sutton penalty ruining Ben`s chances of another clean sheet.

Thereafter County kept the back door locked and their total mastery of game management saw them home with their 4-point lead still secure at the top of the League 2 table.

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Good omens abounded pre match as not only did the Ganders Green Lane catering unit provide me with a superb hot dog and onions but allowed me to retain the top on my bottle of water.

This could not last,could it ?

Well, we would see as County were welcomed onto the pitch by almost 1000 of their supporters.

County`s selected 11  had  the look of a 3 ( notional 5) about it but I was not fazed by that as the three (Byrne, Horsfall and Pye) were all recognised centre backs- Knoyle and Touray unsurprisingly providing width in front of them.

I was pleased to see Tanto starting although Powell was on the bench as DC presumably opted to husband his resources with games arriving thick and fast.

In response Sutton threw in a clutch of bean pole centre backs in Omar Sowanmi , Lois John and Joe Zizzi.

But this sturdy trio needed more than a reassuring bulk to thrive today, and County were in no mood to mess around giving home defenders zero respite winning a corner within a couple of minutes of the start.

This was met by Byrne, but his header hit the woodwork before heading downward to Madden whose precision strike gave home keeper Steve Arnold no chance whatsoever.

It was 1-0 and the away end erupted in a wall of noise!

That was precisely what we needed to happen and Steve Morrison`s side must have been crestfallen.

They had little time to ponder life`s many unhappiness’s  though ,as County kept coming back for more – Knoyle a particular irksome element needing Sutton`s immediate attention.

Sowanmi did his bit for U`s, heading Knoyle`s probing cross out  a few minutes later after Hinchliffe had sent Madden clear with a free kick.

County were looking confident, Sutton just looked under pressure relying heavily throughout the first half particularly, on some `disputable` flaggings from the liner to my left- Madden  thwarted by such a happening as a peach of a pass from Tanto sent the County captain clear- offside we were expected to accept!

On it went in the same vein- Sowanmi and John doing well to block Madden within a minute of that last action, as he ran onto a through ball.

Then I became really unhappy with the officials next as first off, that same liner`s flag did for a run by Tanto that looked perfectly valid. Then we quickly had another free kick to defend , with attack now defence for County, and Byrne penalised for a perceived foul just outside the box.

It was central and scoreable and Lakin`s kick was hit hard and heading  in when Hinchliffe flung himself to his left and made a brilliant save!

That was excellent, again just what we needed , had Sutton scored then the game might have taken a different path than that which it did!

Tanto continued to probe- in behind and not flagged offside but thwarted as the home back line re-grouped with commendable speed to re-establish their cover in front of Arnold.

And that cover was sorely needed as Tanto again broke clear stretching Sutton`s defences that were then probed again by Sarcevic – John`s headed clearance looking to have stopped the rot for the U`s.

I say `looking to have` as it hadn`t quite as Bailey was back on Sutton`s case pinging a cross fizzing into the danger zone where Madden was oh so close to getting a touch and making it 2-0!

Tanto`s booking had me cursing the referee next – I saw no offence !

But maybe County would overcome these distractions and irritations- they had to really if they were to keep their title push on track.

Sarcevic and Tanto went close shortly after my tantrum as I then received the answer that I required to the matter I had just pondered as County doubled their lead.

It came via a free kick ,Knoyle bringing the ball down under control instantly before sending the ball low inside to Madden who wasted no time in drilling another perfect finish into the net.

County had their 2-0 lead ; their title push was indeed firmly on track!

Then about 5 minutes later with Sutton attacking and County defending in numbers Mr Gill stepped centre stage to point to the spot as Coley went to ground in the box.

County protested but it had zero weight with the referee and eventually Charlie Lakin stepped up to beat Hinchliffe with a well taken kick that Ben did well not to get a touch on!

So, it was now 2-1 and presumably the U`s would be buoyed up a touch.

They certainly attacked a bit, solidly aided by a raft of iffy flaggings and free kicks  ,but Hinchliffe was not greatly troubled throughout this period , indeed County might have had a penalty themselves with half time approaching as Tanto was brought down crudely by Sowanmi in the box.

The ref was nearby, the liner level with the action, but zilch was awarded by the officials.

Mr Gill did better 5 minutes later , but only marginally, as Sarcevic was hauled down as he headed for goal by the increasingly irksome Sowanmi.

Sowanmi was booked…we had a free kick , but the chance had gone  and Madden was unable to turn Camps free kick into the magic of a third County goal.

County did keep possession however- Knoyle winning a corner that piled pressure on pressure providing a hand to ball moment for the officials to ponder and dismiss with the U`s stretched to the limit-  keeper Arnold pulling of a terrific diving save to deny Camps almost on 45 minutes!

That was a brilliant save, but it mattered not as within seconds County , and Madden, had their third goal as the seemingly endless County pressure saw the ball reach County`s skipper who lashed perhaps the best of his 3 goals home as added time was announced.

A brilliant goal, a fantastic hat-trick from Madden, and County celebrated with their fans briefly near the corner of the away end before   returning to shut Sutton out for what remained of the first half!

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Half Time Entertainment today is a favourite cover with a pretty good accompanying drop-down menu also….

https://youtu.be/FyFwko9O2UE?si=bSN74Sx-qDubnA20

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Wootton was on for Bailey when the teams returned for the second half that would see County unfurl another masterful example of game management- shutting out the U`s almost totally without ever hinting at parking the bus.

Indeed , with Wootton busy on arrival, County set about pushing Sutton back in the half`s early minutes – Tanto a hairs breadth away from applying a finish to Touray`s probing cross 5 minutes into the second 45.

Tanto and Sarcevic were giving U`s a hard time – the duo frustrated by a series of offside calls- one example being particularly annoying as Tanto `s block and pass to Touray ended an embryonic Sutton move, only for a blizzard of swift County passes ending with Tanto on the end of same but again flagged offside.

Sutton did win a corner , 8 minutes in, as  a shot by Coley ricocheted out off a defender, but Hinchliffe claimed this with typical aplomb to send County on the attack again only for Sowanmi to clatter Knoyle thus earning County a free kick which Touray sent into Arnold`s waiting arms.

The game entered the last 20 minutes with the black shirted blues still attacking – Arnold again doing well in Sutton`s cause to keep a strike by Sarcevic out.

County now had Evans on for Madden who left to an ovation from the away end, and Powell on or Sarcevic who received the self-same accolade 10 minutes later!

County spent the time that remained giving a masterclass in game management – doing just enough to thwart and frustrate their opponents without forgetting their attacking needs.

In fact Sutton were well held- their only shots of any note coming via a free kick and a penalty- County had the out field play simply wrapped up !

We now head to Colchester , watching the weather of course, but knowing another tough task awaits us.

Today told us though that County have what is required of those who seek great rewards, so lets hope the rains hold off on Tuesday and we can get down to Essex and see them to another 3 points!

 

Sutton United line up :-

Arnold , Adon-Malaki , Sowanmi , John , Zizzi , Hart , Lakin ( N`Guessan 46) , Beautyman , Sanderson ( Patrick 65) , Coley( Tume 89) , Smith.

Subs not used : Kerbey , Williams , Clay , Moore.

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Knoyle , Byrne , Horsfall , Pye , Touray , Camps , Sarcevic ( Powell 81) , Bailey ( Wootton 46) , Madden ( Evans 72) , Olaofe.

Subs not used :  Smith , Croasdale , Hippolyte , Richards.

 

Attendance : 3852 ( 959)  

 

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