Stockport County 2 Forest Green Rovers 1 ( FA Cup Round 1) Saturday 2 November 2024

 

 

 

 

 

County were made to work much harder than they expected , in the First Round of the FA Cup, by a spirited Forest Green Rovers side at Edgeley Park today.

The blues duly made it into Round 2, but only after battling through extra time as Steve Cotterill`s National League side made County`s life as uncomfortable as they could with a wholehearted performance that would have pleased their 183 travelling fans.

 183 made the trip from Gloucetershire!

 

 

 

 

Fraser Horsfall`s stunning goal put County into the lead in the second half of normal time, but errors at the back by the blues  saw Rovers back in it as Christian Doidge equalised with style and relish.

No one wanted extra time but that`s what we got – Wootton winning the game for us and booking DC`s team a place in Round 2 with a typical well-ordered finish from close in after Tanto had seen a shot blocked but parried in Woots direction.

Both sides had chances thereafter- Forest Green still battling right until the end -whilst County held on , their difficulties in this respect not helped greatly by a lack of fire power where it mattered, but we had made 8 changes  to our starting 11 thus it would perhaps be naïve to expect this not to affect cohesion – and it did.

It was great to see Macauley Southam- Hales and Ryan Rydel get over an hour on the park, and both did not look out of place!

Meanwhile , Forest Green ,with a total squad of 20 players  and key player Ryan Inniss unavailable due to suspension , did extremely well and even after our second goal went in , looked capable of  clawing themselves back into it.

For ourselves – we ground out the required win- a resuIt however you look to present it , so congratulations to team and staff , but I  hope that ,for Round 2, we respect the trophy and our opponents better and play as near a full-strength side as we can.

………………………………..

The tie opened with County attacking the Cheadle End which had all its numbers crammed into the Lower Tiers – Upper Tiers being closed ( Kenny confirming that not long after the start). Both Railway End and the home portions of the Pop Side were bereft of fans also being closed thus the prevailing  atmosphere was not unlike that of a Stockport Funeral Parlour as County launched their first attack  through Tyler Onyango , but the move faded when no one showed inside to apply a finish.

Diamond looked lively from the start but his first sortie into Rovers last third fared no better than had Onyango`s- the visitors back line closing ranks successfully to deny Jack as he drifted inside.

So far so good and County kept probing judiciously for 3 or 4 minutes without ever getting the opening they desired.

Then the 7^th minute saw Rovers almost catch us cold, and Hinchliffe did well to keep Tom Knowles` shot out pushing it for a corner. Oft times perceived villain of County`s peace Ben Tozer was on the end of the corner but could not prevent his shot rising over the bar into the Cheadle End.

We were playing Jack Diamond on the right/Jayden  Fevrier left ( his less effective flank) and Tozer did well for Rovers to block Fevrier  who had combined interestingly with Tayo Adaramola 5 minutes later.

I have already mentioned the prevailing atmosphere, or lack thereof and I wondered if this was percolating down to the players as County were not as sharp as they might be on the ball and Rovers gave every impression of being more than willing to take advantage should we err too often.

Then amazingly, it was announced that specs could `sit anywhere- no adherences to  allotted ticket at all – the effect was instantaneous as the Upper Tier regulars  re-claimed their usual spots and we had an atmosphere again. Yellow Block could not enjoy the same privilege of course which was sad!

The match continued  with both teams having their moments- Quigley doing well for Rovers….Tanto for County making it to the by-line but then suffering through lack of support.

But for some of the time County were making life difficult for themselves, their occasionally loose play not only annoying but like paydirt to Rovers who were gifted time on the ball- usually in County`s half.

Then Micky Mellon , who had hardly showed in the previous 30 minutes was looking worse for wear- going down for treatment shortly after , then being replaced – Bate coming on to replace him and hopefully address a certain lack of urgency in our midfield unit.

It took just 3 minutes for Bate to have some impact, as a neat ball sent Diamond streaking clear testing Rovers` keeper Jamie Searle with a tasty shot. The keeper made the save but could not hold the ball , but Bailey reacted with funereal slowness as the ball headed his way and the chance was gone….the ball cleared by one of a clutch of relieved defenders!

Play swung from end to end next- Doidge putting pressure on County on the break for Rovers…….Fevrier and Diamond switching wings to good effect for County- Fevs responding well winning a corner, which sadly came to nought.

Hughes then did well for County with a sturdy block as the visitors pushed County back- Searle excelling twixt the sticks for Rovers somehow getting a hand to a shot by Bailey that looked on its way in, with the first half almost done.

It went on with County attacking - Horsfall sending a tantalising lob into the box where Tanto lurked, but he was inches away from reaching it!

Onyango and Fevrier had their moments as the game went into 2 minutes added time still scoreless, and that`s how it was as the teams went in for a word in the ear from the respective Managers.

…………………………….

 

Diamond continued to shine as play resumed for the second half- Fevrier was looking to shine too but he was disappointed to see no takers when he drilled the ball in low across the box.

From that failure to engage the visiting keeper we looked likely to reap the whirlwind as Knowles hit us on the break- it was good for County that Onyango was on hand to apply the break and snuff the raid out but less so knowing the potential danger to us sprung from one of our attacks!

And Forest Green looked encouraged , and it took a brilliantly executed slider from Adaramola to stop a run by Kyle McAllister on 56 minutes…..the hour mark arriving with a Fevrier shot poleaxing a defender and winning a corner that sadly again came to nothing- the kick flying out.

If I was alarmed at a certain lack of precision in some of our play ( corners in particular) it was heartening to see Rovers losing their discipline a time or two and ruining potentially good moves with fouls that Referee Scott Tallis wasn`t missing.

We had another free kick  64 minutes in, and Bate lifted it into the box where a queue of blue shirts awaited the balls arrival. It landed in front of Fraser Horsfall who then produced his candidate for `goal of the season` with a superbly struck volley that by passed Searle before slamming into the net- County had the lead!

Ten minutes of County pressure ensued next- Diamond bringing a save out of Searle again….Fevrier teeing up a possible chance with a run that sadly found no one in blue able to apply the required finish.

The visitors were still working at giving County trouble ,but they were not having great success- McAllister dragging his effort well wide when well set with 10 minutes to go .

By this time Macauley Southam- Hales and Ryan Rydel  were on the park and what a joyous sight that was- both did well and definitely did not disappoint- coming on for Norwood and Adamarola!

Wootton and Touray were also now on for Onyango( who had picked up a knock)and Diamond.

But FG had made a raft of changes too and their`s seemed to claim an early divi as , with 8 minutes left, they equalised.

There seemed to be minimum danger…yes…Rovers were attacking  , but County had bodies where bodies needed to be  but Bailey , sold short by Horsfall,was caught napping – losing the ball to Doinge who then buried the ball expertly in the back of Hinchliffe`s net.

It was 1-1, and now , at best, added time beckoned!

County set about replying but an ambitious ball from Southam- Hales was just too strong for Tanto.

But our Welsh Genius did better next, stopping the rot with some good work as Knowles threatened.

That was an example of what was required  , but a foul by Touray put us under the cosh from the free kick , and we only escaped when Harvey Bunker reacted too slowly as County`s back line were in jeopardy from a tasty through ball!

Back came County though through Southam-Hales, but when the raid broke down ,we looked to be toast for a moment or so as Cardwell   broke up the park. We could have panicked…we didn`t. Instead Hinchliffe`s quick thinking paid off as he managed to put the ball out of play with Doidge on it and looking to double his tally!

Cardwell`s  shot carried the bar from the throw with barely a minute of normal time remaining of the half.

Nine minutes added time was fairly lively…..Tanto thwarted on a run for County…..Hinchliffe in action saving a shot by Rovers` Doidge…..Horsfall close with a header…

It was very frenetic stuff, and it nearly ended badly for County as, into the last minute of added time ,Touray upended McAllister in plain sight of the Referee who promptly awarded the free kick.

This was  drilled hard into the box where Hinchliffe punched out under immense pressure – the ball being hit back with venom by Cardwell but thudding into Southam- Hales enroute!

We were saved- the second half was over- we had added time to sort now!

…………………………………..

 

 

Straight from the kick off  County almost scored- Wootton sending Tanto clear but Searle keeping his goal bound shot out with his legs!

Again , play was lively but Southam- Hales spoiled good work by a foul on Robson as he threatened Rovers down the right.

Mr Tallis was missing nothing- the free kick clearing danger for Rovers who quickly latched onto a loose ball from the blues – Southam- Hales called on to rescue County with Knowles bearing down on goal at speed!

Forest Green kept their nerve and remained on the front foot – McCann shooting wide after Doidge and Knowles had engineered a break !

Then midway into the first half of extra time County struck - it was a neat move ,and heartenngly Rydel had involvrement, starting it off with a pass to Bailey , the ball moving swiftly on to Tanto whose shot was  saved but only parried by Searle to Wootton who stroked the ball home with practised ease.

We were 2-1 up – there was still over 20 minutes left but…………

So, FG needed to respond but when they did Doidge`s shot drifted wide.

Rydel by this juncture was looking comfortable and getting involved, his prompt winning County a corner that Knowles did well to head out- the follow up by Rydel flying wide.

Into the 2^nd half of added time then and this saw a small tizz in front of Hinchliffe`s goal where he struggled to clear under pressure from the dangerous Doidge.

We survived but it wasn`t great to watch!

County did their best to forget that last action- Searle somehow bundling a shot by Tanto around a post for a corner. That was close, and so was the next action- a shot by Rydel  which   brought an altogether better save from Searle to keep it out!

We were into the last 10 minutes now- providing we did not concede again and thus did not proceed to penalties.

Doidge definitely wanted penalties ( or better) but Horsfall`s untidy challenge succeeded in blocking his progress with 9 minutes left.

County broke from that action through Fevrier who was on one of his irresistible runs- he did everything right…and then he shot wide!

FG replied quickly – Knowles shot deflected for a corner that Hinchliffe punched clear under pressure- FG persisting with the attacks forcing another save from Ben keeping Knowles probing ball from Doidge out.

Time was almost up, and County still led 2-1,with ideas on getting a third goal as Fevrier again burst clear at speed after winning the ball, sending a terrific pass inside to Tanto ….then in position to receive the return – he had done everything correctly once more…..then he slid his shot wide!

That was disappointing particularly as County were still not 100% sure of a place in Round 2.

Rovers had made a final raft of changes and were pulling out all the stops to dish County at the death- Adam May going down expectantly but inexpertly in the box under the gaze of Mr Tallis- it was a good try but never on, and not long after the Referee blew for time and the blues had a place in Round 2 of the FA Cup sorted!

Not perfect, but a win is a win, and it is good to be in the second round of this prestigious competition!

Wycombe & Bolton to deal with before then- hope to see you at both!

Stockport County line up:-

 Hinchliffe; Onyango (Wootton 76), Horsfall , Hughes, Adaramola (Rydel 67); Bailey, Norwood (Southam-Hales 67); Diamond (Touray 76), Mellon, Fevrier, Olaofe.

 Subs not used: Addai, Collar, Connolly, Fiorini.

Forest Green Rovers line up :-

 Searle; Long (Jenks 116), Tozer (Cardwell 70), Moore-Taylor , Robson; Bunker, May, McCann; Knowles (Lavinier 119), Quigley (Doidge 80), McAllister (Omotoye 119).

 

Attendance: 4624 ( 183)

hedgegrower

Additional Gallery from @machinsports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

``