Stockport County 1 Birmingham City 1 ( Football League 1) Wednesday 1 January 2025

This was just what County supporters needed and deserved- a wholehearted performance from their team who ,in the end after a pulsating second half, were unlucky to only share the points with table topping big spenders Birmingham City.

They took their time about it – again going behind to a goal that could have been prevented with more resolute action by County`s back line and the referee whose laissez faire approach to reffing left a lot to be desired at times.

Again County had conceded an early goal, 5 minutes in this time, but enormous credit goes to them for the way that they pulled themselves together, following a largely forgettable first half, to put Brum on the rack after the half time break.

Lots to commend about this County performance then- Macauley Southam Hales was immense at times ,his energy and will to win hauling County level , and he almost claimed the winning goal as another belter from him came back out off a post with the keeper beaten.

The `Genius from Wales` got the M.O.M award, which was no great surprise, although Ethan Pye could not have been far behind after a top-quality performance at the heart of County`s defence.

A rousing performance then from County- one deserving of 3 points rather than 1 , but if we can produce the same product on Saturday, without the irritating early lapse we will be quids in!

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Birmingham opened on the front foot ,Callum Connolly doing well to clean up for County , and see the early raid off.

Macauley Southam-Hales then took a hand winning a corner with a typically leggy run down the right, but the blues opted to go short for this and any notional chance was gone.

Taylor Gardner- Hickman was first to emerge for Brum – Connolly again doing well to avoid County leaking an early goal as the hyphenated visiting forward fought his way clear down the right.

The danger was over, or so I imagined, instead Hinchliffe was called upon for a vital save to deny free scoring Alfie May.

That was a fine save, but follow up action was needed and Touray took an age to react…swing a boot at it….whatever, and then it was too late the ball was gone from him , even so the outcome was not clear cut – influenced massively however by the referee not coming to County`s aid with a glaringly obvious free kick as a humongous lean ( on Pye I think) by a black shirted forward allowed May the time and space to beat Hinchliffe with a routine finish.

Birmingham had the lead, but how would the blues react?

They certainly didn`t capitulate- but much of what we were watching thereafter until half time was distinctly ordinary- County winning corners well enough but making nothing of them.

Indeed ,with less than 20 minutes left of the half County had not yet tested keeper Ryan Allsop`s metal.

Birmingham had looked lively at times and more than once County were grateful for the liner`s upraised flag indicating a Brum forward was offside- most notably Willum Willumsson, who was seeking to make gain following an unedifying tangle twixt Jay Mingi and Connolly.

We also needed to keep our discipline in check and a careless foul wrecked County`s next sortie up the park , and from the free kick May darted clear down the right- spoiling the moment for over 1000 travelling fans by firing his final ball into open space enabling County to clear.

May was in action again on the half hour , and it was good to watch Connolly follow him back into the Brum last third- steeling possession and notionally teeing something up for the blues, but we opted to pass wide rather than look goalward and the chance was gone!

County , having conceded a goal to May , were now definitely in a mood to spoil his afternoon- Pye particularly and he did really well to keep Willumsson`s dangerous ball from the Brum number nine.

Back to County winning a corner , and then wasting it, going short before Bailey intervened lifting his shot into the packed Railway End.

I was just thinking, as I do, “ if we could just hold it at 0-1 until half time……” when matters took a distinctly ominous turn , as the otherwise excellent Ethan Pye slipped allowing May to dart clear , bearing down on goal , with Hinchliffe isolated and vulnerable.

May was 10 out of 10 favourite and the goal gaping, as he got his shot off, but Ben`s reactions saved County`s day- the ball cannoning clear off the County keeper`s legs- a vital save!

Little else of note occurred in the remainder of the half- the teams going in at half time with Birmingham still 1-0 ahead.

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Virtually straight from the off County warmed to the fact that they were now attacking the Cheadle End - Southam- Hales particularly lively- Bailey just short of making our first meaningful raid count.

It struck me , just 3 minutes into the half, that the Brum keeper looked distinctly nervy- and Camps, who had come on for Norwood, just failed to put a chance away , probably through shock, when the keeper passed to him.

If County were spending more time in the visitors` half, they still had to keep things tight at the back , but Touray misjudged the flight of a ball aimed at May on the edge of the blue box , and Hinchliffe had to produce another top class block to deny the diminutive sharp shooter , and keep County afloat.

But these responses from Brum were getting less and less as the game progressed, Chris Klarer earning his corn with a crucial intervention to keep Jack Diamond from Kyle Knoyle`s pass.

There was a definite zing about County`s play now – a foul on Camps adding to the zing factor , which was only slightly dulled when good defending by Birmingham allowed them to clear the danger.

Then, almost on the hour, another of those rare Brum replies occurred ,set up by a powerful break by Willumsson which he followed with an even better ball inside to the waiting May, who then proceeded to ruin all Willumsson`s good work by lifting his shot midst the travelling fans in the Railway End.

Not long after, County almost made the breakthrough thanks to Southam- Hales energy in forcing a corner from nothing. Some how Brum kept the corner out , but it wasn`t pretty, indeed Chris Davies` side were fortunate to see a shot from Will Collar bounce up onto the bar.

The quality of County`s play had soared since half time, and I now anticipated a goal at any moment as they repeatedly looked to attack- only their discipline letting them down via a foul on Allsop after he had kept Connolly`s shot out .

It went on- Wootton and Camps unlucky not to nick something in the visitors` box, but the blues needed to reign in the excitement and concentrate on precision but Touray`s cross was overhit and cleared after Diamond had threatened.

Into the last 20 minutes we went with County piling it on now- Woots and Collar doing well until the latter was adjudged to have fouled a defender , easing Brum`s pain.

Brum also had self help as far as pain easing is concerned , but sadly this amounted to a mountain of time wasting- dark arts at its gruesome worst- typified at this point by Alex Cochrane who made a five courser with starter and side salad out of nothing at all!

Eventually the referee twigged this , but far too late indeed the laissez faire approach I mentioned earlier, almost cost County dearly when a foul infested break by Jay Stansfield was allowed unchecked- only the mightiest of blocks by Ethan Pye saving County`s bacon and …possibly…referee Paul Howard`s blushes!

We were into the last 12 minutes now, and County had just sent another corner down Allsop`s throat.

We needed something different to tilt the balance- County were easily the better side this half but that fact matters not a jot if goals do not come , and thankfully the moment we had awaited duly arrived courtesy of our 2 heroes returning from big injuries – Rydel and Southam-Hales.

County`s pressure grew and grew- Ryan Rydel upping the tension with a superb cross that Southam-Hales met with imperious bravery scoring under pressure beyond the back post.

That was a terrific strike a great goal and Southam- Hales was almost picked up and swept away on the wave of adulatory noise emanating from Cheadle End and elsewhere within EP

County were level and deservedly so, could they now win this ?

They certainly gave it a good go…..Birmingham were rattled for sure- somehow surviving corners but frequently via perceived County fouls , most commonly by Woots.

But County persisted , none more than Southam -Hales who must have been mortified to see his shot thunder into Allsop`s back post and fly to safety with 7 minutes left.

On it went- Rydel unlucky with a run through the middle …..Brum breaking clear late on only for Bielik to direct his header over the bar.

But mainly it was County on the front foot- Dykes just keeping Connolly from the ball with the blues scenting possible victory.

Soon enough we were in added time , and the blues were still piling it on- Southam-Hales and Wootton inducing panic in the ranks of the visitors back line- Allsop all at sea and nowhere as Wootton took the ball around him before getting his shot off, but the expected goal did not materialise…instead Klarer threw his body twixt ball and goal , the chance had gone!

County queued for a go at goal from the subsequent corner – but Allsop had recovered sufficiently to hold onto an admittedly under powered header by Pye at the death.

For sure there was just time for some improvised theatricals from Brum to waste what moments remained of the game.

County left the field to an ovation and rightly so.

I was very pleased with that- and pleased to see Jack Stretton back with us and getting 20 minutes.

Brum would have fancied their chances aforehand but this was straight out of County`s , up and at `em days in the Championship( OK it wasn`t called that then but …)

More of the same please on Saturday guys!

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchcliffe, Touray ( Rydel 71), Diamond ( Stretton 71), Southam-Hales, Collar, Pye, Connoly, Mingi ( Knoyle 34), Wootton , Norwood (Camps 46), Baile (s Fiorini 87).

Subs not used: Addai, Hughes.

Birmingham City line up :-

Allsop, Cochrane ( Laird 86), Klarer, Bielik, Davies, Gardner-Hickman ( Wright 65), Iwata, Paik Seung-ho, Willumsson ( Leonard 65), May ( Dykes 65), Stansfield (Harris 86).

Attendance : 10528 ( 1213)

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Additional Gallery by Andrew Machin.....