Wrexham 2 Stockport County1 ( Football League 2) Saturday 27 April 2024

County went down 2-1 today against runners up Wrexham in front of a fully engaged crowd of well over 12000 at the Racecourse Ground .

Evans first half goal gave County a lead that for long periods of the game they looked unlikely to lose.

Enter Referee Stephen Martin with a seemingly unending stream of free kicks that thoroughly filleted any rhythm the blues had built up, by no means all the kicks merited in my view.

The upshot of this was a corresponding up surge in the Welsh team’s confidence and a couple of goals that won Phil Parkinson`s team the game.

I thought County`s top performers were Horsfall and Pye both signing off landmark seasons containing top quality performances, with one each of the same ilk! Sarcevic always hinted something special was just around the corner and Evans emphasised his continuing value to the County set up with another fine goal.

We lost the game of course ….but the best teams lose some times ,so we look to next season and our return to League 1 remembering the good work that got us there , without forgetting the mistakes that maybe made our progress harder than it might have been .

No doubt Dave Challinor will have ideas as to incomers to enhance the squad but many if not most of the current players will no doubt be battling in blue again come the start of 2024-25, and I am sure that you dear reader will be there in support of them.

I cannot wait- can you ?

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County were welcomed onto the pitch by a Guard of Honour from the Wrexham team – a nice touch but County set about attacking early doors when play started- thwarted in the main by Andy Cannon who did an effective job of breaking up embryonic County raids.

But County continued to have the momentum – Hippolyte winning a corner 4 minutes in . Cue a little tease on the home specs by Sarcevic as the kick was prepared, and a kick that went low into the box putting Wrexham under pressure that was eventually eased when home keeper Arthur Okonkwo made the save.

Sarcevic was looking in top nick- a mazy run carrying him into the box where he went down under pressure from a defender.

I have seen them given ( mainly against us) but Mr Martin the referee waved the County appeals away- Wrexham were saved!

I recall Mr Martin refusing County`s appeals for a penalty in 2011 against Lincoln City in our first season in the National League.

Nothing adverse occurred to me as to his refereeing that day albeit he did earn a note in `red in the margin` for refusing County a penalty and then booking County`s Danny O` Connell immediately afterwards for protesting his decision, so for now I kept my powder dry.

The 9^th minute saw us treated to some preliminary vaudevillian antics from Paul Mullin- the ball eventually finding its way to Palmer who took a mighty swing at it and sent the ball flying off over the bar.

County continued to shade possession and win corners, their latest on 14 minutes severely embarrassing the home keeper who flapped prodigiously as the ball came over and he started in its general direction along with Wootton and Horsfall.

He dropped the ball-in refereeing parlance `a foul on the keeper`. It decidedly was not, but Mr Martin decided otherwise ,and Wrexham were saved again!

The next action saw Mullin and Palmer in combination for County`s opponents and looking lively , but they had not reckoned with Hippolyte and his intervention ended the angst for the blues.

O`Connor was one in red who looked worthy of keeping an eye on- his ball to Mullin setting him up nicely- it must have been annoying for him to watch the Wrexham number nine waste the chance by blazing the ball over the bar.

Alarm bells started ringing for County next as nearing the midway point of the half Hinchliffe found himself pretty much stranded way outside his area with red shirts a plenty looking to embarrass him. It was another chance then, but another spurned by the Welsh side as Hinchliffe thwarted them getting back just in time to pluck the incoming goal bound effort from Palmer out of the coolish afternoon air.

We were halfway through the half when Pye confirmed again that he was in prime form doing just enough to cut Mullin off as he sought to insinuate his way in behind the County back line.

Then just a minute or so later Mullin gave us one of his party pieces , going down in a heap entirely unassisted by anyone in blue-Mr Martin bought it, Wrexham had a free kick and another chance to take the lead. The kick was well defended by County, but the follow up , a throw by James McClean for Wrexham looked to have sent O`Connor in on goal with only Hinchliffe to beat- his shot disappointed home specs flying out beyond the back post!

We needed a reply from County , and whilst it took the blues 5 more minutes to summon it up it was a belter as Camps did fantastic work winning the ball and then turning the left side of the home cover inside out before picking Evans out with a precision pass . There was work to do for sure, but Evans did not seem to ponder this at all instead thrashing an excellent finish in off the back post- County had the lead and their supporters were loud in acclamation of the effort!

But the next 10 minutes or so were not altogether happy one`s for County- they were playing well enough for the most part but a blast of the referee`s whistle would constantly disrupt their rhythm and by no means all the kicks were valid in my view.

A second goal would help though, calm my nerves but excellent work from Hinchliffe in making a catch under pressure and then sending Evans clear , ended unhappily when Evans passed to Sarcevic and his effort drifted inches wide of the keeper`s back post.

Hinchliffe did well to deny O`Connell with 7 minutes until half time and again attacking action followed from this Barry seeing a shot deflected for a corner.

The kick went short , Sarcevic on it again testing the keeper with a probing lob. The nervy Okonkwo made a Horlicks of his efforts to hold onto the ball with Kyle Wootton showing an interest- he was all at sea until Mr Martin intervened on his behalf and Wrexham were saved yet again!

A foul on Hippolyte then gave County a chance as the free kick was `interestingly placed` just outside the box, but the kick by Sarcevic missed out narrowly.

The rest of the half passed off relatively unremarkably – the exception being a loose ball from County that allowed Young to set Palmer up with a chance that Hinchliffe succeeded in keeping out with a good save.

The teams went in with the score still 1-0 to County -that was highly satisfactory, could we now add a second goal after the break !

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For the final Half Time Entertainment for this most excellent of seasons , I hope you think this Annie Lennox mix ( with a dash of Roberta Flack eased in ) is the treat I think it is……

https://youtu.be/HG7I4oniOyA?si=Vz1aLzrtMnjS5vwC

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When the teams returned to the action, Madden was on for Barry.

Wrexham looked altogether more fired up from the off, but it was still something of a jolt to see them claw our lead back .Eoghann O`Connell started it with a superb ball to Palmer over County`s seemingly static back line. Palmer had a shoo in really and made no mistake beating Hinchliffe comprehensively from close in !

It had taken our hosts just 2 minutes to equalise – another 3 and Palmer tried again- being thwarted by excellent defensive work by the versatile Evans.

Evans was there again at the other end of the park just 3 minutes later pinging a cross over that saw Madden `s shot go inches wide.

Believe it or not I have been deliberately not mentioning exasperating decisions by the referee – I realise I can become boring with this, but it was what it was as a series of palpably awful calls put County under pressure.

DC rang the personnel changes with 20 minutes left to play, bringing Touray and Richards on for Hippolyte and Powell. The new faces pressed into defending as Wrexham won the cheapest of corners.

County defended this well and weathered the storm.

Eventually County went back on the attack winning a series of corners that ended with a terrific shot from Camps fizzing menacingly just beyond the back post!

With less than 15 minutes left, County were still attacking- Evans making it to the by-line , but Richards shot wide from this disappointingly.

A raft of Wrexham free kicks followed -it stayed 1-1 though, but time was beginning to run out.

Hinchliffe saved from McClean on 81 minutes….Byrne blocking a shot from Mullin shortly after.

That was Mullin`s last action as he was then subbed Jack Marriott coming on in his place.

County were still trying to work for openings but their rhythm, so apparent in the first half, was not so as the game progressed .

That said it was another surprise when Wrexham nicked a second goal that won them the game.

County`s cover on the left flank looked in tatters as Cannon made headway down the right before unleashing a shot of punishing power that Hinchliffe got something on but could not keep out!

Wrexham had the lead, and there was 2 minutes and whatever added time left in which to right the situation!

Marriott was inches away with a shot on 94 minutes- the 96^th minute polluted when he went down in instalments getting Pye booked incredibly!

Eventually Mr Martin blew for time the game was over.

County may have lost what was a reasonably close game, but their supporters , all 1127 of `em stayed to give the team a rousing send off for the season( see hedgegrower`s video )……...

See you all next season hopefully !

Wrexham line up :-

Okunkwo , Cleworth , O`Connell , O`Connor , Barnett ( J Davies 77) , Cannon , Young , Lee ( Bolton 87) , MC Clean , Mullin ( Marriott 87) , Palmer( Fletcher 63) .

Subs not used : Howard , Tozer , Mc Fadzean .

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Byrne ( Cass 90) , Horsfall , Pye , Evans , Hippolyte ( Touray 63) , Camps , Sarcevic , Powell ( Richards 63) , Wootton , Barry ( Madden 46).

Subs not used : Smith , Bristow , Knight .

Attendance : 12562 ( 1127)

hedgegrower

first off some images from hedgegrower................