Stockport County 2 Burton Albion 1 ( Football League 1 ) Saturday 29 March 2025

 

 

 

 

 

County took 3 vitally important points today at Edgeley Park, with a 2-1 win , but they were made to battle for their spoils all the way to the final whistle by a Burton Albion side that looked anything but relegation candidates.

Indeed, for large stretches of the match County were made to look distinctly second best by Gary Bowyers side- goals by Kyle Wootton in the first half, and Tanto Olaofe after the break, seeing them home . Saves by Corey Addai and a superb block by Ethan Pye contributed hugely too as Albion piled on the pressure late on ….pressure that increased exponentially when Jack Stretton`s headed pass set Julian Larsson up to score a well taken goal for the visitors bang on 90 minutes.

But, Burton just could not add to that decent strike, as…..down to 10 men again , when Pye was second yellowed , County battled on ,through 7 minutes plus of added time for a crucial win .

Not pretty, but we take it and look to Tuesday evening  and another battle against Stevenage.

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The game opened brightly for County who spent much time in the opposition`s half in the early minutes- Tanto starting the push almost catching Godwin-Malife napping with some typically opportunist work.

He missed out though, as did a move involving Collar and Touray  a couple of minutes later- Collar again unlucky a further minute on as Jack Armer  sorted a determined block to keep Will`s  shot out.

 

 Collar wants it ! ( @machinsports)

 

 

 

 

If that was good , it got better just 4 minutes later as Touray and Tanto `s prep ended with a result for County as Collar`s drive saw Max Crocombe stop the shot but not hold onto it, his parry sending the ball to Kyle Wootton who headed home from close in.

 1-0 Woots takes congrats ( @machinsports)

 

 

 

 

One- nil was good…..two- nil even better and that improvement looked on just 3 minutes later as Tanto darted clear . Crocombe was the only impediment to County`s number nine doubling their score, and he did everything correctly …drawing the keeper , but it was there that it went pear shaped as the eventual shot came out off the keeper and Gary Bowyer`s side had escaped!

Thus far, County had bossed possession, nicked a goal , so despite Tanto missing out , 12 minutes in, with another shot that Crocombe dealt with easily for Albion , there was nothing to suggest any pending alarms in wait for the blues, except that for the next 20 minutes they had much defending to do as apparent relegation fodder started to turn that disparaging description on its head with some neat play.

The momentum from the Brewers built steadily until the first real  chance came their way  ,on 18 minutes, and it fell to Owen Dodgson – Addai doing really well to make the save and keep Dodgson`s well struck effort out!

The pressure was on County , and it was not `hit and hope` from their opponents who made decent progress- mainly down our left flank , a feature that would continue long into the game.

Free kicks, conceded under this concerted pressure by Albion, served to up the angst on County – thankfully Dodgson  lumped the first kick straight out of play, but could we rely on this outcome recurring?

Well, no, but we kept giving kicks away- Touray booked on 23 minutes as Albion hit us down our left. Dodgson`s kick was better this time but so was the response from the blues who headed the incoming kick clear with little fuss.

On it went…..Albion pressing….winning a corner but failing to capitalise on it 3 minutes later.

Then, with Burton still attacking, it was disconcerting to see JJ McKiernan cart Callum Connolly comprehensively – that was arguably worth more than the yellow that Referee Elliott Bell addressed the situation with.

 

 McKiernan carts Connolly ( @machinsports)

 

 

The free kick from County pushed Albion back for the first time for a while but did nothing to lower the game`s angst levels as a fracas involving Collar and Chauke fizzed and spluttered without quite going nuclear.

Burton broke clear from this last action , winning a couple  of corners without being able to test Addai again with either.

 Addai deals.....( @machinsports)

 

 

 

 

County looked to break the spell though- Jayden Fevrier sending Tanto on a run, but his control let him down and any chance was gone.

 

 Tanto to the fore ( @machinsports)

 

 

 

It was back to County defending again next- struggling to clear as another corner, delivered to the back post, raised the temperature a degree or two.

 

 Kyle Knoyle - solid at the back !( @machinsports)

 

 

 

The blues survived though, and they did so again a couple of minutes later thanks to a terrific block by Ethan Pye that kept Chas Webster`s goal bound effort out- the raid ending when Addai claimed the ball at his back post as Ryan Sweeney vied with others to head the ball home for Burton.

County were still on the back foot into 3 minutes added time – Addai doing well to get to the ball and push it clear , Bates ushering the ball up the park where  County supporters went understandably ballistic upon watching Kyran Lofthouse wipe Fevrier out with a diabolical `challenge`.

Left there…..had Jayden stayed on the deck….I think the ref might have waved  the red card that that appalling assault had merited…but……….hey ho….Fevrier got up and shoved his assailant.

Understandable…perhaps…but it gave Mr Bell the chance to go full on `Pontius Pilate `and give `em both yellows!

At this point neither Mr Bell nor the Brewers were gaining any friends in SK3  as the remaining minutes up to the break saw a raft of poor challenges provoke zero response from the Referee- the first half ending in a storm of booing!

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There was a surprise at the  re-start as Wootton was not out there , and whilst it was good to see Fraser Horsfall, his replacement, back in action , unless induced by injury to Woots, I was baffled by the move on DC`s part.

It looked like Horsfall`s fitness would be put to the test though, as a repeat of the first 45 minutes beckoned as the Brewers pushed on  up the park again- Lofthouse twice seeing shots charged down in the box.

It went on- County largely defending and losing their discipline whilst so doing, a moment that would take on greater significance later coming on 53 minutes as Pye conceded a free kick on the edge of the box ( and centrally placed) getting booked for it.

The kick  looked definitely scoreable, despite County`s wall twixt kicker and  goal, and Anthony Forde made a decent fist with it by passing the wall  sending the ball heading for goal in the region of the back post.

Goal then ? But no….Addai flung himself to his right to push the ball out with great hand strength.

Cue a moment or two of possible retribution as Sweeney clattered Pye- Cheadle End demanding red but Mr Bell sticking with yellow.

County were distinctly second best just now  and had looked similarly placed earlier so I looked for a personnel change, but instead of Andresson ,we saw Diamond and Powell on for Fevrier and Collar.

An early run from Diamond saw him pick Tanto out nicely, but he was dispossessed fairly easily to put County under the cosh again- Powell excelling with a fantastic block to deny JJ McKiernan.

Tanto meanwhile was still trying- but the 4 men in white shirts who accompanied him as he broke from halfway made great progress on his part unlikely , and his tentative effort as he was forced wide gave Crocombe no issues.

Then…suddenly……...apparent salvation as Diamond broke down the left .Tanto had spotted the break and followed down the right keeping nicely onside , and excitement mounted as the ball reached him from Diamond. 

 

 Tanto- unstoppable ! ( @machinsports)

 

 

 

Again, it was Tanto v Crocombe and this time there was no mistaking who was boss- it was Tanto ,and he beat the keeper with the clinical precision that was missing earlier, doubling County`s lead with 13 minutes left of normal time.

Both sides made changes at this point- Moxon coming on for County in place of Bate whilst Jack Stretton replaced Forde for Burton.

 Offday today for Bate ( @machinsports)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cue a possible repeat of County`s second goal as Norwood sent Tanto surging clear with a neat pass, he had company but nevertheless looked likely to score  ,until he didn`t  and he ballooned the ball high into the Railway End.

 Tanto on the ball ( @machinsports)

 

 

 

 

Eventually,  Andresson came on for Tanto who departed to acclaim....

 

 Andresson in the mix late on ( @machinsports)

 

 

 

 

 

With Moxon to the fore County tried to push their opponents back , but calamity awaited, and it was aided and abetted by former Hatter Jack Stretton who was in at the sharp end as Burton hit us again smack on 90 minutes.

The ball came at Jack at speed, and he headed it on to substitute Julian Larsson , who had only been on the park for 2 minutes, the result being a superb strike that beat Addai before going into the net off the underside of the bar!

It was now 2-1 and very definitely ` game on `!

Inevitably the visitors piled the pressure on the blues – it was disconcerting to see the referee oblivious to handball in the build-up , and then offside as Dodgson broke down our right- County indebted to Pye whose decisive intervention stopped the rot for his team.

Sadly, that was as good as it got for Ethan as he was then adjudged to have tripped Lofthouse on the edge of the box.

A  second yellow then a red followed for Pye and County were again down to 10 albeit with only 3 or 4 minutes remaining of added time.

That was disappointing, and there was every expectation that matters would get worse quickly as the free kick was again very scoreable!

This time however the County wall held ,and the ball was cleared to Diamond who sent Powell on a run up the park.

Would he cut in and  head for goal or drift in time honoured style towards the corner flag?

Well, he was probably heading goalward when it all went south as he tripped and fell to the ground.

That gave Burton more time on the ball  doing their best to snatch a life saving equaliser , but County held out – Addai making a confident late catch under pressure before Mr Bell , at last ended the game.

Not a great game, or a quality County performance, but those 3 points were all we were seeking from the game so `mission accomplished`.

We can play better and need to on Tuesday at Edgeley Park against Stevenage.

See you there hopefully!

 

Stockport County line up:-

Addai , Knoyle , Connolly , Pye , Touray ,

Bate ( Moxon 78), Norwood , Collar ( Powell 64) , Fevrier ( Diamond 64) , Olaofe ( Andresson 83) , Wootton ( Horsfall 45).

Subs not used: Wogan , Hamilton.

 

Burton Albion line up :-

 Crocombe, Godwin-Malifé, Sweeney (Sraha 87), Armer, Lofthouse, Forde (Stretton 76), Chauke (Williams 87), Dodgson, Webster, McKiernan (Kalinauskas 70), Burrell (Larsson 87)

Subs not used: Isted, Delap.

 

Attendance: 9554 ( 554)

 

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