Port Vale 0 Stockport County 3 ( Football League 1 ) Monday 27 October 2025

Stockport County gave notice to their rivals in League 1 sending an unmistakable message to those in the Championship and beyond….”Beware, We are Coming !”, as County served up a scintillating display of quality attacking football to dispose of Port Vale and cruise impressively to the top of the League 1 table with a thoroughly well-deserved 3-0 win last night watched by over 2000 County supporters who had made the effort and got themselves to Vale Park on a damp Monday evening!

The supporters` efforts were well rewarded as County seized the moment with impudent precision – Lowe heading them into the lead ,on the wings of an irresistible wave of attacking football 13 minutes in, before Wootton then Diamond added their contributions as the Burslem based team wilted before them.

To be fair to Vale, they came into the game more after half time, due mostly ,I am guessing, to a desire to assuage injured pride rather than County easing off, but the game was too far gone and the blues too canny to allow Darren Moore`s side back in it…….

……………………game over……County `Top of the League!

…………………………………….

We got a wee glimpse of what lay ahead within a couple of minutes of the start as Lowe chased a neatly dinked ball into the box from Olowu. Nothing came of this, but Vale had been fore warned!

Then our hosts set about occupying space in County`s half of the field , but not with any great results- ex Hatter and still County hero Ryan Croasdale seeing his header from Marvin Johnson`s cross saved by Hinchliffe who was to show us his very best form when called on throughout the match!

That was about as good as it got for Vale, as County`s back line steadily shut them out ,and our forwards and midfield were about to add more quality to the mix.

First off Norwood put the Valiant’s under pressure briefly with a free kick.

Nothing came of that, or an effort by Lowe that fizzed across goal before missing out narrowly, shortly after.

We had to wait until the 13th minute for the very best from the blues repertoire to delight us , Tyler Onyango lighting the fuse with a dinked pass of sumptuous brilliance into Nathan Lowe`s path , and he did the biz superbly heading beyond keeper Joe Gauci to start an early celebration in the packed away end.

County had their lead, and their play was now a joy to behold -the football controlled and with a deadly focus- Lowe saw his shot on the turn , 5 minutes later, held tenaciously by the home keeper , but we rather knew County were not done !

Vale still looked for something from proceedings -Croasdale setting Cole up with a chance that was quickly snuffed out by the coolest man on the planet- Ben Hinchliffe- it was by no means the best save that Ben had made in his career but boy did the cheers ring out for him!

Meanwhile, every County move came with a clear warning writ large `Danger!`, and we got some of that and more midway through the half as the home back line wilted as Jack Diamond took them apart with a superb run that brooked no challenge - his shot blocked but running on to Kyle Wootton who scored with immaculate precision , drilling his effort low and hard into the net!

Leading 1-0 was a joy….2-0 wildly exciting and the 2000+ in the away end told the world about it!

But the blues were not done were they and it took them another 6 minutes to confirm that to us, as Diamond made the very best use possible of Ben Osborn`s expertly delivered pass. Jack had Jesse Debrah for company , so it was no shoo in, but he was soon beyond the defender and in on goal giving Gauci no chance at all with his strike !

County now led 3-0 as the damp evening air rang with the now well practised refrain “ We are top of the League!”

And we were …..no….ARE….but credit to Vale , they tried to spoil our party, but nothing was working as Cole saw his road to goal cut off by Joseph Olowu……the ever-busy Croasdale getting no change out of Ethan Pye .

Vale had maybe 5 minutes in which they did their best to get something back from what already looked to be the smouldering wreckage of their game, but County defended well – we wasted a free kick disappointingly when Bailey was brought down on the break allowing Vale to go at us again- Hinchliffe saving from Cole and doing well to exit his box when danger threatened heading clear under pressure.

This was creditable as I say , from Vale , but their best effort came in added time via a free kick that twanged the bar from Ruari Paton and County were undaunted going in still 3-0 to the good at the break.

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The re-start saw County on the front foot putting Vale under the cosh-their best effort in this early period a header by Onyango from Osborn`s cross that was blocked on the line by Garrity.

Vale , still seeking that elusive shaft of sunlight in their otherwise heavily overcast night`s work, were bereft to see Byers shot saved with his legs by Hinchliffe 5 minutes in.

Ten to 12 minutes passed before County again showed us that they still had their focus and Norwood and Bailey typified their approach , their free kick setting Lowe up for an effort that the home keeper did well to keep out – Pye`s header from the corner deserving better but flying centimetres beyond Gauci`s undefended back post!

Benony Andresson came on for Nathan Lowe on the hour quickly forcing Vale to concede a corner but after much excitement John earned his corn for Vale by running the ball up the park and out of danger!

On it went with County still looking to add to their goal tally, but Callum Camps was unlucky to see his volleyed effort deflected narrowly wide – the resultant corner nullified by a Vale free kick.

We went into the last 20 minutes with Vale trying hard to get something…anything…from the game but County were defending with assured calm and , thankfully Referee Ed Duckworth was on the ball and suitably unimpressed as substitute Ronan Curtis went down in the box to the accompaniment of howls of protest from the locals.

“Penalty !” they screamed in unison , but Mr Duckworth did not oblige them- doing the same again upon witnessing a reprise of the `falling down ` bit 5 minutes later- I liked that – a Referee who was doing his job well!

Back came County – Camps blocked in the box…Connolly`s follow up drifting agonisingly wide of goal !

Shortly after, Ryan Croasdale exited proceedings , subbed by his manager, but still appreciated by County supporters who gave him a terrific ovation as he left the park!

The hour was late now, but not too late for County to score another, but we watched agonised as Norwood`s free kick skidded across goal with no one on hand to apply a finish.

The best chance for County, in normal time fell to Wootton but Andresson`s pass saw County`s number 19 watch as his shot on the turn missed out after some brilliantly controlled football from County.

Into added time and another chance this time to Andresson , but the moment was Gauci`s and the score stayed 3-0, and we would , after sober consideration, be OK with that wouldn`t we !

So, a terrific performance by County and an amazing feat to get to the number 1 spot in League 1!

County are now showing their very best work, and they will need our support to keep their promotion effort going.

There are seats available on the Fingerpost Flyer`s for Tranmere and Wimbledon , details here….

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Stockport County line up:-

,Hinchliffe; Olowu, Connolly, Pye, Onyango, Bailey (Moxon 77), Norwood ), Osborn, Lowe (Andrésson 59), Wootton, Diamond (Camps 59).

Unused Subs: Addai, O’Keeffe, Dodgson, Fevrier.

Port Vale line up :-

Gauci , C Hall , Byers ( Stockley 51), Garrity , Paton , Croasdale ( G Hall 82), Debrah , John ( Curtis 68) , Humphreys , Johnson , Cole .

Unused Subs : Amos , Headley , Walters , Faal.

Attendance: 8,452 (2,283 ).

hedgegrower