Northampton Town 0 Stockport County 0 ( Football League 1) Thursday 1 January 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the Lord Mayor`s Parade……

The opening of a  familiar barb from way back, but one that struck a trenchant note watching County follow Monday`s encouraging performance with one that stunk the place at a bone threateningly wintry Sixfields today.

Northampton , County`s opponents, were no better but could have got themselves a rare win had they shaped , even modestly well when they had possession, but their mediocrity ensured County`s deficiencies were not punished, that and Ben`s abiding excellence that is !.

It was a dire match- as inappropriate a way for County to ring in the new year as Monday`s was a beacon of hope at the end of the old one!

Only Brad Hills and Ben Hinchliffe had games to look back on with pride – Hills a rock , having been switched to a central position in our back 3, and Ben … was just Ben producing a clutch of vital saves in the second half to put a further gloss on an all round solid example of confident goalkeeping !

……………………………….

 

Another , more recent barb( usually aimed by home fans at travelling supporters) came to mind before the match started , namely ` You must have come in a taxi!` as, quite literally County had , as their team coach ran into difficulties apparently on the way to Sixfields!

I am unsure just what impact that had on team selection but there were a crop of changes as many of Monday`s heroes were benched.

The good thing , for me, was that DC had moved Hills over to a central role in what looked like being a back 3 , with Pye and Olowu either side of him!

Both teams then gave the thoroughly misleading impression that  this was going to be a bit of a cracker- County busy in front of Town`s goal briefly – Perkins getting a shot in at the other end before 2 minutes were out.

It was slightly perturbing to see Referee Darren Drysdale ignore    a blatant foul on O`Keefe by Dyche as a Northampton free kick pinged into the box……but County cleared the free kick, and any misgivings I might have had at this stage as to Mr Drysdale`s input, were pretty much dispelled later as he had a good game , dishing the doo-doo out evenly to both outfits.

County came under the cosh for a good while next- Kamari Swyer firing a shot wastefully wide from a Kyle Edwards cross.

The pressure continued from our hosts ,inducing Pye to get booked to keep Swyer out.

Hills headed the free kick clear and was there again 2 minutes later to beat Tom Eaves to the ball in a 2 man chase  down our left flank.

Eaves thought he had fared better 4 minutes later , having eased his way in behind County`s back line, but his shot was clutched to his chest by Hinchliffe as the away end gave him a burst of applause.

The applause for the County keeper rang out again 5 minutes on from that last action , as County were looking to be compromised by a ball over the top from the back – Hinchliffe ensuring that they weren`t by advancing out of the box to head the ball out of play!

Disconcertingly and annoyingly , Dodgson got himself in a bit of a tangle conceding a corner next…..after Perkins had set up the corner with his cross after taking the ball out and  then back in play in the build-up.

Hills was on hand to head the incoming corner clear , but the ball never seemed to leave the County half – Hills and Dodgson doing well to repel another Town attack.

This struggle by County to get the ball down and mount a coherent attack in response , continued- Hinchliffe pulling off a fine save to deny the lively Edwards with under 10 minutes left to play of the first half.

I was tempted to feel encouraged , with 5 minutes to go, when we won a free kick and took it quickly catching the home side unawares ( maybe)….I was encouraged for sure as Bailey headed goalward, but less so when his shot ruffled the side netting.

It then only left 2 important saves by Hinchliffe to bring the first half to a close…

First off, a really crucial save to keep a header from Edwards out from List`s cross……and then another solid stop to ensure Eaves ended the half disappointed , the County keeper smothering the burly number 9`s effort with aplomb!

 

………………………………………

The salient question on County supporters` minds now was ` What changes will we now make to the line up ?` - for sure changes were needed, and we soon got our answer as Olowu , O`Keefe, Dodgson and  Moxon gave way for Hunt , Fevrier , Osborne and Mothersille( all of whom might arguably have started).

Much of the early play was no better than it had been , quality wise, in the first half- County diffident in possession and too quick to go for the easy option rather than look for something to create up the park- Northampton encouraged no doubt by this trait and some accompanying slack passing.

 I took some encouragement to see Mothersille , at last, fashion a decent shot on goal , 65 minutes in -it flew out off a defender which got the away end cheering only for the enthusiasm to dampen by the wasted corner.

We went into the last 20 minutes with Edun on for Bailey, and there was an immediate divi from this as Edun combined with Mothersille almost straight away sending him clear down the left. Mothersille`s cross was decent, picking Osborn out nicely, but he blazed his shot way over the bar !

Edun and Mothersille linked up again , inside the final 15 minutes, winning a corner , but the duo`s work was undone when Norwood sent his kick tamely into keeper Fitzsimons` arms.

The away end got excited again next as , another County move  down their left flank exposed the home back line- it looked good with Diamond on the end of it, but it all went pear shaped when Jack allowed the ball to marginally stray out over the dead ball line!

Norwood almost cornered all the available luck around, as his corner almost  flew straight in- it stayed out.

Then it was back to Town pushing County back after that last action , and we looked toast as Joe Wormleighton bore down on goal – he must have fancied his chances …him or Ben and it still looked odds on him when he got his shot off, until Ben pulled off a remarkable game saving save to deny Town and keep County`s ship afloat!

 

On it went- Town attacking, County stretched – thankfully Hinchliffe wasn`t ( stretched that is )making another top stop to deny Northampton from a late free kick.

Credit to the blues….they did try to rally with  added time approaching, but always something let them down…..Mothersille spoiling a run by handling the ball ridiculously…….Hills close to forcing a late/late Norwood corner home on the line, being denied by a touch on the ball by keeper Fitzsimons. We`d have settled for a corner …perhaps…but not a goal kick which was awarded!

The game continued with both sets of fans hoping for a goal- neither were rewarded, the game ending scoreless in a desultory drizzle descending from the Northamptonshire skies!

Off to Reading on the Flyer on Sunday then , I am sure you will be there supporting them too.

Sometimes it`s hard being  a County supporter, but would we miss it if  it was taken from us and.............. after all the opprobrium I have sent County`s way in this missive....they remain fourth in League 1 , so what do I know really !?

 

Northampton Town line up:-

 Fitzsimons,  Willis ( Guthrie 61),  Dyche, Guinness-Walker, Swyer ( Wormleighton 77),  Perkins, Taylor, Campbell, Edwards ( Jacobs 77), Eaves ( Vale 77), List (Hoskins 66)
 Unused Subs: Burge, Burroughs.

 

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , O`Keefe ( Fevrier 46) , Dodgson ( Osborn 46), Olowu ( Hunt 46) , Hills , Pye , Moxon ( Mothersille 46) , Norwood , Bailey ( Edun 69) , Wootton , Diamond.

Unused subs- Addai , Gardner .

Attendance: 7050 ( 832)

hedgegrower

 

hedgegrower`s Crowd Shot Gallery :-