Bolton Wanderers 0 Stockport County 1 ( Football League 1 ) Saturday 15 March 2025

 

 

 

County maintained and extended their unbeaten record at the now quaintly named Toughsheet Community Stadium , with a superb 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers today.

The points were won  by a wonderful goal by in form Tanto Olaofe, but the foundation was a solid team performance exemplified by some completely unruffled defending late in the second half as Bolton threw all they could at the blue rearguard.

 Hills and Pye pretty much tied for major plaudits at the back, and if Tanto took my M.O.M, special mention should go to  Corey Addai who was solidity itself  behind a back line that underwent major surgery after the break switching from 4 at the back to 3 to accommodate a looming card issue for Kyle Knoyle and a late  first half knock that did Ryan Rydel no good at all.

Boy, did the  2638 County fans in the South Stand enjoy the occasion- and why not- it was one well worth celebrating- a gutsy defensive performance capped and rounded off brilliantly by a goal of stunning quality-take a bow all 16 County heroes!

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It was an emotional day for  County supporters travelling on the Fingerpost Flyer with the news that County Legend Lou Spalding had died still being digested.

Some of the downbeat feelings were mitigated as,when the Flyer drew up at Loundes Lane, Bullocks had acknowledged  Lou`s passing superbly– the front of coach- moving message read ` R.I.P Lou Spalding County Legend!` and inside the coach Lou`s usual 2 front seats had a laminated copy of one of @machinsports images of Lou-  the 2 seats remaining unoccupied , save for the photo, to Bolton and back- both front and back inside having the same image prominently placed- a great gesture by the coach company that was appreciated by all.

 

 

 

 

Inside the stadium County supporters were well outnumbered, but definitely not out sung ,our team being welcomed onto the pitch to a crescendo of supportive noise from the South Stand.

County started with a back line of Knoyle, Hills, Pye and Rydel in front of Corey Addai, and Andresson lined up for his first start in County colours.

Sixth placed Bolton had made 5 changes after  Tuesday`s 2-3 reverse against Bristol Rovers , so I was intrigued to see just how they would handle Tanto who had looked simply awesome in the warmup!

It appeared I had to wait to find out as the game opened with Bolton pumping high balls deep into County territory.

Wanderers had almost 22000 supporting them as they pushed forward but it was County`s smaller but decidedly more audible following who were soon enjoying the spectacle as Aaron Collins did pretty well cutting in down the left for Bolton. He then opted to collapse in an unconvincing heap , presumably in search of a penalty that Referee Ben Toner quickly denied him.

 Sadly, Mr Toner also  failed to book Collins  - if County fans were delighted that there was no penalty  , their mood  quickly dampened to note this unaccountable inaction by the Referee.

But more bemusement followed as County were not getting the ball that often , spending a fair time defending.

A Rydel free kick switched play up the park- Tanto putting Bolton under pressure but getting no reward.

We were 6 minutes into the game when Knoyle took a booking for a wild challenge putting County under the cosh from the free kick and him walking a tricky path to half time without getting a second card.

County were under pressure for sure for a time after , they needed cool heads , time on the ball and discipline, no more conceding free kicks, but Pye did just that 10 minutes in – again upping the pressure on County. This was eased by Bolton being flagged offside , but we had to adjust and quickly if Wanderers were not to prosper.

Eventually County eased their way into the game more- Tanto was the catalyst for sure , his energy and pace difficult for the home team to handle .

A brilliant pass from Tanto to  Andresson offered much , but the Icelandic forward`s effort was smothered with great bravery by Bolton keeper Nathan Baxter.

That showed what was possible from County, and more followed 2 minutes later- starting way back near County`s goal line where some eccentrically brilliant sleight of foot by Corey Addai  under some pressure, ended with him sending Tanto surging clear on goal via a neat  pass by Olly Norwood . Tanto`s route to goal was cut off by Baxter but again I took heart at what I was seeing.

The County midfield was beginning to get more into the game by the half`s halfway stage- Norwood and  Bate apparently itching to tease  County`s opponents with some cultured football, Tanto missing out on the end of an interesting ball by Norwood.

Bolton meanwhile were not going away , particularly Collins , if he played less to the crowd and paid more attention to the detail of his play he would be a far better player, but instead …..sent clear …he sent his effort drifting wide of goal and out!

John Mc Atee though ,has previous with ourselves and  , could give us trouble , but it was good to see Knoyle recover his equilibrium and see off a tasty through ball by Sheehan aimed at  the Wanderers number 45.

We needed more of that, and less of the physical stuff, and County were on the rough end of some of that on 26 minutes as Collar went down and stayed down after receiving the attention of someone in a white , shirt( I did not see who).

The referee saw that Collar was down and staying down but showed absolutely no inclination to stop play, until the move by Wanderers eventually broke down. County were  obviously under the cosh and down to 10 until then , but nevertheless Steve Schumacher`s side failed to take advantage of their temporary superiority of numbers.

But Bolton were stirring again, and we needed our discipline to hold , instead Tanto went right through his marker . The move by Wanderers from the free kick broke down , but the foul had geed up our hosts momentum.

Play went off the boil for a time, both teams probing the other- County looking composed and in charge for moments…at others not , one such seeing Collins squander another half chance for Bolton , again missing the target , shooting wide when he should at least have tested Addai.

Norwood thought he could show Collins how it was done – his shot was on target but not delivered with sufficient power to trouble Baxter in the home goal.

Norwood was centre stage again next but at the other end and he very nearly got County in the mire , dwelling too long on the ball before losing it , his blushes saved by excellent defensive work by Rydel.

And, with half time just a minute away, County were pressed for more excellence , and it came this time from Ethan Pye who did brilliantly to keep McAtee from Sheehan`s incisive pass almost on the line!

We went into added time with Wanderers discipline slipping more than somewhat, both Hills and Rydel shipping iffy challenges, the latter having to have treatment .

Unaccountably we then saw Knoyle opt for a very `unwise` challenge- I thought Mt Toner was sure to go for a second yellow but looked on aghast when he did no such thing.

He did give a free kick though, and County were again indebted to the liner to my left , his flag upraised indicating offside.

Soon the half was over, and it was time to rethink and re-group as the teams went in to face their managers with the score still 0-0.

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The restart saw a re-shuffle of personnel by County as Touray, Wootton and Connolly came on for Knoyle, Rydel and Andresson.

We now had a back three of Hills, Connolly and Pye – a much better-balanced unit in my view!

The early action saw Collins blaze another effort high and wide of the target just 2 minutes in for Bolton.

Then in just 2 more minutes …..deep joy….as Tanto surged clear opting to pick out Wootton rather than shoot. Woots was better placed, so that was solid thinking, but he had company as well and that did for his efforts to put what was our best chance so far away!

County pushed on after that last action- Connolly heading over from a corner on 54 minutes.

It went on …Tanto winning another corner, and then allowing Bolton to break up the park , and it looked iffy as Collins sped clear- sending McAtee on a run but Bate had tracked Collins and waited his moment before ending the raid with consummate timing!

The next action saw no challenge as a McAtee strike headed goal ward – Addai standing firm and holding onto the ball to applause.

We were beyond the hour now and County replied via Tanto  who profited from more good work by Bate  ,but his drive was saved calmly by Baxter for Bolton.

There was more action from the County dugout next – Moxon and Fevrier replacing Norwood and Camps, who had been booked and had looked another candidate for a second yellow  .

Within a minute we were gasping as Fevrier leathered a fantastic shot in…it was a belter and definitely going in, when Baxter flung himself sideways and upwards to somehow tip the ball over the bar.

That was Fevrier`s moment banjaxed by Baxter, but I thought he otherwise worked hard defensively so welcome back Jayden!

It was at this point that the County supporters rose to salute Lou Spalding, Lou being 68 when he died this week- I have to say thank you to the organisers of this excellent tribute ,that was brilliantly supported by County`s whole contingent, and ,I noted, the Bolton supporters in the stand to my left – simply wonderful!

Here are 3 vids from @machinsports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

County it seemed, now had the bit twixt their teeth , but they were defending until they weren`t and Touray  claimed the ball before picking Tanto out with a precision pass.

Tanto was away – he had company for sure but no one can live with Tanto when given the right sort of pass and this was just that and he made light of a couple of challenges before steering a beautiful finish beyond Baxter into the net!

 

 The winning goal - @machinsports

 

 

 

 

That was a near perfect goal …..County now led 1-0…..and their supporters were pretty much all now on their feet cheering, choruses of `Tanto`s on Fire` not long in arriving!

Video by hedgegrower,,,,,,,,

 

 

 

 

 

We were probably still cheering 2 minutes later when Tanto was played in again , he looked certain to score until one of two defenders dragged him down as he almost reached the box. It looked to be prevention of a certain goal, but the ref opted for a yellow – we got a free kick of course but made nothing of it which was sad .

The atmosphere was vibrant under the South Stand roof, but Bolton, urged on by Lolos and Mendes- Gomes were upping their revs piling forward in numbers – the best of it seeing the duo set Sheehan up for a shot that would have gone in but for Addai`s action in pushing the ball up and over the bar!

It was tense stuff for sure- Bolton all huff…a bit of puff allied to loads of angst as raid after raid, run after run, shot after shot failed to breach County`s immaculate defensive structure.

Sheehan may have thought he had done the job ,finding Collins with another excellent pass , and Collins showed willing getting his shot in only for Addai to save with his legs and keep it 1-0 to County.

This went on almost solid into 4 minutes added time, the 92^nd minute seeing County hit their opponents on the break with lethal intent- Addai starting it going long to Wootton who in almost identical fashion to when Tanto was hauled down a little earlier so was Woots – again in my view  a red…in Mr  Toner`s yellow – beam me up please Scotty!

County headed for the corner flag rather than goal from the free kick , with perhaps predictable results as Bolton won the ball and headed with it in the direction of Addai.

The County keeper saw the danger off and claimed the corner that then resulted from his actions.

For a wee while Bolton pushed County back – Fevrier ending County`s angst by clearing the ball deep in opposition territory.

A late Bolton free kick fanned the flames of their hope ,but Thomason lashed his shot wide following this , apparently off a defender only for Addai to fall on the ball effectively ending the game.

An excellent win and I saw no one leaving at all from the away end for ages as County supporters  insisted on saluting the County team.

A fitting end to a fine performance , well done County!

 

Bolton Wanderers line up:-

 Baxter; Toal (Forrester 78), Forino, Thomason, Dacres-Cogley (Schön 87), Morley (Matete 70), Sheehan, Osei-Tutu; Randall (Lolos 78); Collins, McAtee (Mendes Gomes 70).

Substitutes not used: Southwood, Jones.

Stockport County line up:-

Addai; Knoyle (Connolly 45), Hills, Pye, Rydel (Touray, 45); Collar, Norwood (Moxon 67), Bate, Camps (Fevrier 66), Andresson (Wootton, 45); Olaofe.

 Substitutes not used: Metcalfe, Cosgrove.

 

Attendance: 24,571 (2,638 )

hedgegrower

 

 

Additional Gallery.......

 

1, hedgegrower..................

 

 

 

 

 

2, @machinsports