Stockport County 3 Brackley Town 1 ( FA Cup- Round 2) Saturday 30 November 2024

County duly won their Second Round FA Cup encounter with Brackley Town but not without an almighty fight as Gavin Cowan`s National League North side made them fight all the way in a competitive second half today at Edgeley Park.

Looking at the situation at half time the game seemed all but over with County leading 2-0 through goals by Will Collar and Kyle Wootton.

The Saints had worked hard, but were unable to make a couple of half chances count , their lack of pace up front a crucial factor-that was the only commodity Connor Hall & Matt Lowe did not possess.

But things changed in the second half as Brackley, spurred on by a bizarre own goal from Callum Connolly , realised that they might have a chance, and they certainly gave it a good go- getting the ball in the County net with 15 minutes left only to be denied by the Pop Side liner`s upraised flag( offside apparently)

Anyway ,County were lucky to escape that time, and rode their luck sufficiently to hit Saints, who were still looking to score late on, on the break – Tayo Adamarola setting Tanto up to make it 3-1 and essentially kill off a brave effort by our visitors from Northamptonshire.

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Ever since the FA Cup 2^nd Round draw was announced, I have been awaiting this game with relish !

I remembered Brackley Town of old of course , and not without a degree of affection – which you may be tempted to view as being perverse as from the 16 games played twixt the 2 clubs Town have won 7 to our 4 with 5 draws.

But, as well as the bruising battles on the park I also have fond memories of seeing the wonderful ( then 102 years old)George Haigh turn up at a damp St James` to see County- unforgettable!

The Saints were always tough to beat , as rugged as f@@@ but purveyors of welcoming hospitality and wondrous hot dogs at their splendid St James` Park home .

So, come 3 o`clock I was well up for this one and eager to join over 5000 others at the start!

The game opened to a decent roar from the 395 Saints fans who had made the trip from Northamptonshire.

Horsfall was first to show for County but his high probing ball to Collar came to nothing as Brackley covered Jonny Maxted`s goal well.

The visitors looked to be discomforted by the next action as the ball headed over into their box from the right, but County , having won a corner, then wasted it.

It was 3 minutes before anything stirred as far as attacking was concerned from Brackley , and it came down the middle where Horsfall managed to usher the ball back to Addai for County with Hall very interested.

County then replied with their first effort on goal via a break by Ibby Touray, but his cross was headed over the bar by Wootton.

Touray was looking the man for the blues at this point lifting another incisive cross into the danger zone – where Brackley defended tooth and nail somehow ensuring the ball stayed in play and out of Maxted`s goal.

It had been more or less all County so far, but they got a reminder that it`s not just community clubs and excellent catering in National League North- Brackley really had come to play as Hall ran onto a tasty pass by Lowe heading for goal.

He was well set- he had company but looked favourite to spoil County`s party until he reached the edge of the box where he opted to shoot and fluffed the chance scuffing his shot under pressure from a couple of blue shirts.

Chance gone then, but Hall was not done -he was again in action a minute later running onto a neat pass from Lowe - only denied by excellent defending by Horsfall.

This was a bit of a purple patch for Brackley – Kade Craig getting in a fine tackle to stop a run by Macauley Southam- Hales but frustrated in his attempts to then send Hall clear.

But it mattered not as Brackley were gnawing away at the County back line again through Lowe who was played through on goal – County relieved when Addai made the save with an outstretched leg!

George Carline reached the corner that followed only to be pulled up by the Danny Stand liner who flagged for offside.

We were almost 15 minutes in ,and whilst County had mullered possession- Brackley had shown that they were well able to strike on the break – County just had to hope that that extra yard of pace would remain elusive to their opponents.

The 15-minute mark saw County at last ratchet the revs up a tad via Wootton and Collar, but they had help on the way as keeper Jonny Maxted could only parry a shot from Odin Bailey -allowing Woots to pick out Collar who did the rest scoring from close in.

County were 1-0 up !

Would this open the County flood gates on the Saints?

Well, there was every indication that the answer was in the affirmative to that query as Brackley were hit once again by Wootton and Collar who now looked unstoppable- Collar the provider this time , his cross teeing Woots up for a diving header that doubled County s lead !

County began to up their game after that- Pye and then Camps missing out following decent moves from the blues.

This pattern continued for a while- County enjoying lots of possession but not looking likely to add to Brackley`s difficulties.

Meanwhile Brackley`s long throws were an occasional source of concern for County – Justin Donawa touching a County nerve with his touchline missiles, while Hall and Lowe continued to probe for scraps in blue territory but without any real success so far.

Mainly it was Brackley defending as County plugged away- Norwood twice unsuccessful with long range efforts with 10 minutes remaining until half time.

Then, 3 minutes later a foul by Touray on Alfie Bates as he broke clear sent warning signals in County`s direction as the free kick fizzed across, and what followed looked to be the visitors best chance so far as a one/two twixt Hall and Lowe saw them in behind the blue back line. Addai was toast but then he wasn`t as Hall made a wakes of getting his shot off being unable to force the ball home as the County back line re-grouped around him.

It went back to Brackley defending as we headed to half time , but they never quite gave up hope of sending Hall on a run – and it was noticeable that despite being under pressure for much of the time, the Saints neglected to opt to welly the ball up the park instead content to attempt to play a waiting game, then hitting County on the break playing to feet when they could.

Up to now though County had been on their case- what would the next 45 minutes bring?

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When the game resumed after the break County had swapped Tanto and Fevrier for their most potent pair Wootton and Collar.

County attacked…won a series of free kicks, but made nothing of either- Craig doing well for Brackley to rob Fevrier when he was well placed in the box.

The attacking continued from County , Gareth Dean doing well to put a Touray cross out for a corner that saw keeper Maxted in action punching clear under great pressure for Saints.

So, County could just coast home, could they?

Well, possibly…possibly not , and the next action threw a considerable spanner into County`s works as Callum Connolly , stationed in sniffing distance of the Danny Stand, suddenly unleashed a `back pass` of some power way wide of keeper Addai heading straight for the net. It was an aberration….a calamity….and Addai tried to get to it and keep it out, but really he had no chance- it was 2-1 and the away end were thrilled- we were just shellshocked!

It took some time to fully take in what we had just seen – and the moment was not improved any by the “ In our goal Hinchliffe” chants that we heard next from the Upper Tiers- totally devoid of class and utterly not needed!

County needed to re-group again and look to get back to where they were in the first half , but Fevrier`s efforts on the end of a pass from Norwood fizzled out- Connolly missing out after a break by Tanto just before the hour.

It went on with County trying to hit back but their efforts at this point lacked precision- Dean able to head Connolly`s cross out nicely for Brackley- Touray`s crossing now lacking his earlier accuracy.

Inevitably there would be a reply from Saints and when it came, Addai made a decent save to deny Shane Byrne.

The County keeper was on hand to field a well ordered back pass a minute or so later with the blues wobbling as Brackley eyed an equaliser.

However- County wanted a goal also to stop the rot, and put the Saints resistance down, and their latest attack saw Camps to the fore bossing matters before picking Bailey out with a neat pass. Bailey did not have that much of a chance, but he got his shot in anyway and it was on its way in when keeper Maxted flung himself to his left to deny County with a breathtaking one handed save!

That was disappointing for County, but they kept on the front foot- Tommy O`Sullivan and Tyler Little doing excellent defensive work under the cosh for Brackley.

Then…from that defensive work Hall was sent surging clear for the umpteenth time this afternoon – you sensed that possibly he was running out of gas, but that was a guess as he was still heading goalward when Touray produced the mother of all wondrous defensive tackles to rob him and make my query redundant.

County had been saved , but Brackley thought that they had come back from that disappointment and nicked an equaliser as a welter of attacking saw the ball in the County net – it was 2-2, except it wasn`t as the liner had his flag up -the goal was ruled out for offside.

County now looked less sure under pressure than of late – another iffy back pass making matters potentially worse – as was Bates activity for Saints down the right at this juncture all adding to a certain uncertainty at the back for the blues along with a rash of long throws.

It was not good…and then…what`s this?......Tayo Adamarola latched onto the ball and sped up the park outpacing a clutch of red / white shirted defenders enroute Maxted`s goal.

He made it to the by-line wide left , evading a tackle, to slip a lovely ball inside to where Tanto awaited its arrival- sliding in to beat the keeper with the perfect finish.

The Cheadle End`s fuse was lit…the tension lifted…the tie…probably won!

Bailey shot wide after this for County, and Calder ran at the blues down the left for Brackley only to see Lowe head wide with time almost done.

Added time saw County manage matters well- attacking for much of the time- Lowe and Dean doing well under pressure for the visitors.

Eventually Mr Mather the Referee blew for time- County had won 3-1 and were in the Third Round with the so called `big boys`.

Brackley Town after the game had seemed gone from them early on, had really showed up well- representing the National League North brilliantly- they have been close and closer to promotion more seasons than any other team I know without actually getting there.

I for one wish them well in the hope that they get promotion soon!

For County it`s Brum on Wednesday – we can win that one , but I cannot say I am looking forward to revisiting City`s ground .

Stockport County line up :-

Addai; Connolly, Horsfall, Pye, Southam-Hales (Adaramola 71), Norwood (Fiorini 71), Camps, Touray, Collar (Fevrier 46), Wootton (Olaofe 46), Bailey.

Subs not used : Hinchliffe, Mingi, Mellon, Rydel, Gardner.

Brackley Town line up :-

Maxted , Carline , Dean , Bates , Byrne, Lowe , Little , Donawa( Calder 77) , Craig , O`Sullivan( Abbey 86) , Hall.

Subs not used : Cross , Worby

Attendance: 5637 ( 395)

hedgegrower

Additional Gallery-1 a few from hedgegrower starting with 1 of Brackley fans pre match:-