Cambridge United 2 Stockport County 0 ( Football League 1) Saturday 22 February 2025

 

 

 

 

County slumped to a depressingly well-deserved defeat today at Abbey Stadium , losing 2-0 to Cambridge United ,the divisions lowest placed club!

It was a horror story as County fans became acutely aware during the game just how essential Ethan Pye is to our continued progress in League 1.

Ethan was absent today and it showed- both goals the result of abject defending by the blues- the first as the left side of our back line dithered sufficiently for Josh Stokes to rise and direct an incoming cross home ….the second came about as County`s midfield stood off to a man as Stokes headed goalwards with half time nearing.

It was no great surprise when he fired home unattended – some might point to a deflection on the shot but for me there`s an altogether more profound lesson to learn if we are to continue to prosper-we just cannot afford to switch off even against so called `no hopers`  of the division in fact ESPECIALLY against such ill-considered opponents.

Amazingly those around us  Huddersfield and Orient all lost so  we are still in fourth place, but with Connolly seeing red today, and with our defensive resources unexpectedly stretched, we will have to work hard to maintain that position!

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County were in blue , which was good to see, but there was no great merit about either team`s early efforts despite play switching ends fairly often.

County seemed unsettled by the unorthodoxy of United`s approach – basic and agricultural with a dash of the theatrical about it- Ryan Loft an absolute master of the dark arts and a total pain in County`s side, but he was not alone, and Referee Scott Oldham was not sufficiently alert to their wiles.

Five minutes in ,County gave us a brief glimpse of what might just be on today`s menu- Cambridge only just able to repel boarders as Tanto burst clear- the ref having ignored a blatant push on Wootton in the build-up.

Sadly, this pattern was maintained , Loft was feeding  hungrily on the officials` encouragement, that said however we needed to put `foot on ball` and cool things a touch , but instead of cooling it down we switched off or at least the left side of the blues back line did ,allowing Josh Stokes to rise and head home following a Cambridge free kick.

That was a shock, but County looked to reply, and I was encouraged as Wootton chased a long ball into the box to go one on one with home keeper Nathan Bishop- but the keeper won  out  clutching onto Woots` attempted lob to cheers from the home specs.

Touray had a couple of efforts of varying merit making no impression on our opponents lead- Tanto trying to contribute down the right but missing out also.

Meanwhile , Loft and others plied their trade winning free kicks from nothing for Cambridge, but County did not help themselves in response- Bate putting his side under pressure with a poor foul not that far from the box- Morrisson headed this wide but we could have been punished- and again 2 minutes later we were under the cosh having conceded a needless free kick again.

It needs to be said though , that it was continuing to disappoint that Loft was still able to play the officials and lead County a dance they were clearly not enjoying.

And I found myself back to pondering the `foot on ball` suggestion- and we were a million miles from executing anything like it – our passing loose at times as we kicked possession away much to the annoyance of the large County following on  the South Habbin Terrace.

County did get forward however – Touray seeing a shot deflected for a corner on 37 minutes, but this, a Bate/ Norwood cooperation was put out for a second kick that ushered in  relief for United via  a free kick as the blue sought in vain for an opening.

Then , with half time almost on us, the unthinkable happened as Stokes latched onto the ball in a central position , and with blue shirts standing off all around him, duly doubled his team`s advantage with a cool finish that I thought gave Addai no chance , but it has been suggested also that there was a deflection involved, but deflected or not we really might have considered a challenge – we didn`t and paid the price!

There was not that much time left  now- time enough for a last County raid but Collar`s header from Bate`s chip flew over the bar – the half ending unhappily for County .

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When the second half commenced County now had Ryan Rydel on for  Southam- Hales which hinted at a switch of position for Hills who had looked out of position on the left of our back line- particularly after showing up so well previously on the other flank.

And so it was – County now operating with a back 3 of Hills, Connolly and Touray with Knoyle and Rydel providing notional width.

To be frank there was not a great deal to write home about in the first 10 minutes- the best County action ending disappointingly when Collar was prevented from adding a finish to Tanto`s neat knock down , by determined defending from United.

Tanto and Woots continued to persevere and look to probe but with no great reward to show.

The hour mark saw County bring Cosgrove, Diamond and Camps on for Bate, Touray and Knoyle.

The changes notionally offered greater attacking options for the blues, but United were still fighting for their survival and making County`s job that much more difficult- Hills induced a  spill by keeper Bishop but Cosgrove was unable to force the ball home from it- Cosgrove again disappointed to see his shot 2 minutes later, drift wide.

County were still not helping themselves- conceding needless free kicks – stoking up the angst that Hills did really well to stem with a terrific intervention to stop Brophy who had surged into the box looking odds on to nick United`s third goal !

County did reply, Wootton unlucky to see Bishop dive to tip his shot over the bar with 20 minutes left.

Cosgrove headed wide from the corner.

Hills had a go also- doing well but seeing  the keeper cover his effort confidently 5 minutes later.

 

This attacking from County left a gap at the back which Loft and Stokes surged through -Kashingo just unable to force the chance home.

Moxon was now on for Norwood and there were some welcome signs from him of what might come our way from him soon- his persistence in direct contrast to Cosgrove`s approach , as the County number 24 looked for a free kick or better rather than continuing to push on for goal- Moxon`s excellent work ending with the ball in the home side`s net……2-1 …except it wasn`t as the liner had his flag up it was still 2-0 – we presume offside but who knows, probably not even the liner?

County  continued to peg away, looking for something from the game -Hills doing well and only contained by a foul as he threatened just outside the box. Norwood`s free kick offered hope ,but it was dashed cruelly as Moxon`s neat flick drifted inches wide.

Wootton and Cosgrove saw efforts headed clear late on and later still Connolly was shown a red card in the game`s dying embers.– 

The game was lost by that time anyway , but that was still disappointing.

         United set their stall out precisely….had a plan and played to it, so we take the defeat on the chin…learn the lessons from the game and move on.

Cambridge United lie up:-

 Bishop, Bennett, Morrison, Watts, Gibbons, Digby, Cousins, Kachunga (Stevenson, 90+2), Stokes, Brophy, Loft (Okedina, 78)

Subs Not Used: Stevens, Ballard, Barton, Hoddle, Longelo

 

 

Stockport County  line up:-

 Addai, Knoyle (Camps, 58), Connolly, Hills, Southam-Hales (Rydel, 46), Norwood (Moxon, 75), Bate (Cosgrove, 58), Touray (Diamond, 58), Collar, Wootton, Olaofe

Subs Not Used: Metcalfe, Hamilton

Attendance: 6905 (1014 )

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