Stockport County 1 Shrewsbury Town 0 ( Football League 1) Tuesday 28 January 2025
County continued their progress in the direction of at least a play off place with another home win , this time against Gareth Ainsworth`s Shrewsbury Town side, last night at Edgeley Park.
With them sitting at the foot of the table, and despite rumours of the Shrews improved form under their new Head Coach, County were expected to win , but boy did they make hard work of it, against their Salopian visitors who had bags of energy but nothing where it mattered most at the sharp end.
But, having said that, County totally lost control of a game ,in the second half, that was the meanest gruel to lay before such visiting County footballing magicians as David Frain and Luis Cavaco- Ollie Norwood sparing the blues blushes with a superbly taken goal in a first half also best forgotten.
Sadly the second half went down the plug hole fast as County struggled to cope with Shrewsbury`s awkward energy. A game that should have been another `decky and newspaper jobby` for Hinchliffe turned into one where really vital saves were required of him as County , with Tanto first hooked by the Manager , settled for some unaccountable reason on containment rather than offence .
“A win is a win “ you will say, and this one saw us again consolidate our position in fifth place whilst gaining more ground on those ahead of us, so a sense of proportion is needed, and these realities need to be bourn in mind when being critical- as long as the lessons are learnt from last night`s under par showing!
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The game`s early action was fairly sedate – Shrews looking to surprise us possibly on the front foot, but Callum Connolly was to the fore for County ensuring damage was zero.
A tester from Kyle Knoyle pushed Shrews back forcing a corner, but from this Tanto blasted his shot over the bar by a distance.
By the 10th minute there was little to write home about for either set of supporters – Hinchliffe`s first action – a routine stop from the seemingly pugnacious Dominic Gape.
Another 6 or 7 minutes and nothing had altered except County had defending to do as the Referee, Ed Duckworth ,gifted the visitors a highly debatable free kick( he was to do much more of this annoying both sides throughout the match).
Town fancied their chances from this ,especially when Jordan Shipley stabbed a shot on goal and won a corner, but County closed ranks at this point, did their job, and any danger was gone.
County responded , within a minute through Macauley Southam-Hales who had the home specs in another large EP crowd roaring in anticipation. The run was eventually blocked- County kept plugging away pinning their opponents in their last third, but their progress was not aided by the referee halting a flowing blue move to award County ….a bounce up…..yes…a bounce up !
It beggared belief and County were dished as a result- Shrewsbury eventually managing to clear their lines.
County came under some pressure next, and it was annoying to see us opt to pass back to Hinchliffe more than once, when we might have looked to attack the divisions bottom placed team.
We had to wait until the 25th minute to see County begin to look the part. Tanto had just been kept from a long ball from Hinchliffe , persisting as he does to win a free kick in the choicest of shooting positions- central and scoreable!
Collar and Norwood deliberated long on this one before the former took the kick – a poor effort that hit the wall – the chance drifting away on a wave of the Pop Side liner`s flag !
That was disappointing, but County kept at it through Tanto, but he was blocked effectively by Morgan Feeney as Hinchliffe’s long ball bounced his way.
Feeney started a Shrews break from that last action- Hinchliffe having to deal with an `interesting `ball into the box from Mal Benning down our right.
Still County looked to get forward -Tanto forcing the visitors back.
A corner resulted and a goal bound header by Connolly which visiting keeper Jamal Blackman saved brilliantly ,tipping the ball up and over the bar, the raid fizzling out from the corner which was disappointing.
It was another 4 minutes before anything of note occurred , and it was in the form of an intelligent surging run from deep by the amazing Callum Connolly which took him to the edge of the box where he was duly fouled.
Mr Duckworth saw it and we had a free kick- another temptingly placed centrally and again scoreable.
At this point….a mea culpa from me- for the previous free kick I had offered “ not Norwood” pre kick- this time I merely expressed irritation as the pre kick consultation process went on and on, but I admit the ref was also having issues with the Shrews wall …so a double mea culpa then!
The action that followed was the single most uplifting moment of an otherwise humdrum affair as , silencing me brilliantly, Norwood sent the ball fizzing in an unstoppable parabola beyond the keeper into the net- the perfect finish…a magnificent goal !
County looked for a second goal in what remained of the half- that saw Gareth Ainsworth`s team defending grimly, but with a resolution that just might see them avoid the drop this term- the teams going in at half time with the score still 1-0 to County!
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By the 47th minute the writer`s irritation was directed at the myopic Danny Stand liner who failed to see (apparently) a blatant foul on Southam- Hales as he headed towards the box.
Dreadful stuff…..my mood not greatly improved as a decent cross from Ethan Pye was headed clear by Aristote Nsiala, although I did allow myself a smile when George Lloyd flunked what looked like a decent break for Shrewsbury , by shooting well wide.
We were almost at the hour mark before the next action of note occurred ,and it was the best County action of a dismal half as they pushed their opponents back on their heels- Wootton winning the chase for a shot on goal that saw his goal bound effort hit Morgan Feeney en-route and fly out for a corner.
That was unlucky and great work by Woots , but he looked on to better his effort when the corner came over sending the firmest of headers on target…a goal for sure…… but no…..Jamal Blackman flung himself to his left tipping the ball brilliantly over the bar- an improbably magnificent save!
It was not long after when the action was interrupted after two Shrewsbury players collided heavily in the box- it was over 10 minutes before one of them , Morgan Feeney, was stretchered off- all very concerning and we wish Morgan all the best for a rapid and full recovery!
When play resumed, County looked to keep attacking – Collar kept from a neat pass by Knoyle by excellent work from Nsiala - the blues not able to benefit from a free kick or corner.
We then saw DC opt for personnel changes and I was dismayed to see Tanto , not for the first time, first man hooked, Camps followed him with Bailey and Bate coming on in their place.
Was the change in emphasis that followed deliberate on County`s part ?
I am not sure but , with added time we probably had almost 30 minutes still to play .
Shrews seemed buoyed by this – but they were let down by their lack of quality where it counts when Gape wasted a half chance with 12 minutes left of normal time.
Taylor Perry( on for the unfortunate Morgan Feeney) saw a decent shot dealt with confidently by Hinchliffe in the County goal 3 minutes later.
Shrewsbury were busy now, and in our half where County struggled to put any coherent response together- Hinchliffe pulling off a superb save to deny John Marquis , keeping his header out following Mal Benning`s pass.
With 5 minutes of normal time left Diamond came on for Knoyle – but the pressure continued on County- Hinchliffe saved by the liner`s flag with Salopian attackers flooding County`s box in numbers.
We needed a goal…instead we were defending a free kick on half way that Benning lifted into the box- Shrews wanted it…..Hinchliffe claimed it!
We were into 12 minutes of added time now and defending grimly – indebted this time to an `indiscretion` committed by the lively Aristote Nsiala as all bar Blackwood were up in Hinchliffe`s face for Shrewsbury!
It went on with it still 1-0 to County and I told myself that County had weathered the storm, and with reason I thought as Wootton`s persistence won us a corner( 92 minutes) County at last had the ball…..then a free kick ( 93 minutes) as Bailey was upended , but this was headed clear by Josh Feeney for Shrews ( 94 minutes).
Eventually though, Shrewsbury came at County again( they surely will escape the drop if they can add some quality to this spirited approach to a game as the season pans out), a long throw tormenting us in familiar fashion ( 97 minutes), flicked on in the box , but thrashed clear by Connolly for the blues .
Then Lloyd threatened our piece of mind again a minute later his run taking him clear of the County cover and facing Hinchliffe who made a vital save to keep it at 1-0!
It went on, as I fumbled for the BP tablets in vain, Shrewsbury attacking – all energy….a dangerous ball heading into the County box from wide( 99 minutes) where the Pop Side liner came to County`s aid seeing offside!
Rydel was on for Norwood with 2 minutes left – as a foul by Woots put us under pressure again as Benning lifted another cloud hugger into the blue box where County were under the cosh before finding touch( 101 minutes) .
The throw eventually found its way to Marquis who looked to give County hell down the right, but time had run out, and County had secured another valuable 3 points.
We head to Orient buoyed by 3 points won hard, hopefully having addressed any issues raised by last night`s performance .
They will need our support, see you there then !
Stockport County lineup:-
Hinchliffe , Knoyle ( Diamond 84), Connolly, Pye , Southam-Hales , Touray , Camps ( Bate 77), Collar , Norwood ( Rydel 100), Wootton , Olaofe ( Bailey 77).
Subs not used; Addai , Anderson , Hamilton.
Shrewsbury Town line up:-
Blackman , Benning , M Feeney ( Perry 70), J Feeney , Lloyd , Ojo , Gape ( Biggins 90) , Gilliead , Nsiala , Shipley ( Stewart 83) , Marquis.
Subs not used: Savin , Dianga , Nurse,Morris.
Attendance : 8562
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