Stockport County 1 Huddersfield Town 0 ( Football League 1 ) Saturday 10 January 2026

 

 

I understand that there was considerable excitement elsewhere in the FA Cup today, but I wager none of the thrills in that excellent tournament could hold a candle to the sheer joy and happiness engendered at Edgeley Park where Stockport County beat high flying Huddersfield Town with the last kick of the game!

It was a fantastic goal ….. laid on by Ollie Norwood and Jid Okeke and put away by Beno Andresson- an entirely suitable way to end a game that County had dominated from start to finish , barring for a few minutes late in the second half when the tedious time- wasting tactics of the Yorkshire side briefly interrupted the flow for County-Karma in fact !

It was so…so good to see …for once….these awful mind numbing tactics punished so completely – I loved it ……and so did all the locals in the 9486 crowd – I could still hear Beno`s name being sung minutes after game`s end – wonderful stuff, and I was made up to see the substantial part young Jid had in County`s win !

 DC will be a bit pleased also…his substitutions worked ….and ..in addition to Andresson`s goal which was so good to see….the Manager will have been delighted with what he saw of  Josh Stokes and Jid Okeke`s impactful few minutes on the park!

Wow…………………

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Straight from the off, play headed in Lee Nicholls direction in Town`s goal, but despite good approach play by Fevrier for County , he lifted his shot over the bar.

Radulovic headed wide for Town 7 minutes in, but the action barely raised a glimmer of excitement in a game that the blues were already looking to boss.

Edun was to the fore for County, constantly winning the ball and then doing good stuff with it – Nicholls flapping prodigiously as County`s number 14 picked Diamond out nicely , looking on as Town managed to block and clear their lines from this.

Five minutes on, and Edun was still urging the blues forward, latching onto a loose clearance by the visitors, setting Osborn up for a cross that seemed to put Wootton in prime position to open the scoring, but he delayed his shot and the chance disappeared.

Hills did well, 18 minutes in  clearing up when Pye was caught out by Gooch , but so far it had been pretty much all County.

The blues kept the pressure on through Jack Hunt – a good run and cross from him however, was  dealt with cleanly by the Town keeper, midway through the half.

There followed a constant flow of moves from County- a break by Pye ( 22 minutes)….Nicholls again not unduly troubled…..Fevrier on the burst , a minute later, but blazing over the bar disappointingly….Woots failing to test Nicholls 3 minutes on from that.

For sure the pressure from County was consistent  , but it lacked penetration enabling Lee Grant`s side to ride out the storm.

We went into the last 15 minutes of the half with County still on the front foot – Norwood bringing a diving save out of Nicholls with a goal bound effort.

On it went….Osborn shooting wide following a free kick for a foul on Diamond….Edun back in the fray again with a cross to Norwood that was followed by a melee in front of Nicholls goal, and more disappointment for the blues when Huddersfield gained relief via a free kick for I know not what!

Charles had been a forlorn sight for Town , constantly caught offside , and quick to show his distress at same . He combined with Gooch , with the half almost done, which must have looked promising to the over 1100 visiting supporters in the Railway End, until Hinchliffe disappointed Charles once more clutching Gooch`s cross cum shot to his person as it flew across the box.

A promising run by Hunt  late on in added time, might have ended the half on an exceedingly good note for the blues….it didn`t …his cross not latched onto by anyone in blue, the half ending with the game still 0-0.

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So far, we had watched County busy themselves in honest toil trying to undo the troublesome defensive matrix set in their path by Town , who were to now ratchet their efforts up a touch with a raft of familiar dark arts and lengthy rests on the lush Edgeley Park playing surface .

For County , there was still Edun`s work to admire and he was finding common cause with Osborn down the left causing Town no end of issues- an inglorious confusion engulfing the visitors defence for fully 2 or 3 minutes early in the second half during which Low almost sliced the ball into his own net following a series of County corners-the turmoil abating when Bailey`s shot was charged down and cleared .

Fevrier was seeing much of the ball now-surging to the by-line shortly after, but denied by Wallace who headed his effort clear, and denied again shortly after, this time by Low`s defensive header.

For sure County`s press was giving Town issues….just this side of irresistible  but definitely issue inducing- Nicholls in distress but able to somehow punch clear under pressure following a corner won by Edun  and Fevs- Town seeing another stressful melee off and surviving!

The sun was now out, and I was irritated to see Hinchliffe having to shade his eyes to combat the glare- our playing budget still doesn`t run to buying him a cap – I was hoping we would not pay another cost today!

My eyes left Ben and watched Fevs on the charge again, but he overhit his cross and the ball flew out of play harmlessly.

County went a tad closer to  succeeding next via another Edun/ Fevs cooperation on the end of which Diamond was centimetres away from applying a finish to the move.

There was just time , before the hour, for Charles to dupe Referee Rock , winning a free kick in a decent position for Town.

It was  a notional chance , for sure, but Ben saw it off , diving to his left to keep Gooch`s goal bound kick out!

But that last action was an aberration….a lull in the County pressure, that resumed as before …a foul on Hunt not picked up by the officials …….Diamond blocked by Town  new boy Humphreys after excellent work from Edun.

At one-point moments later, blue shirts were queuing to shoot  at goal- their efforts nullified by weight of numbers in the Town box-where Green Yorkshire   shirts abounded!

Despite this ,Hunt did well and his cross almost squared the circle for County…almost….but not quite…

At this point DC shuffled the County pack, opting to bring Stokes and Andresson on in place of Edun and Diamond- a positive  move!

I was still making notes when the next action hit- I did not clock the build-up but saw Hills at the sharp end just unable to force the ball home!

But…regrettably. I saw what went down next as the previous raft of periodic rest periods ratcheted up a notch or three as Nicholls flopped to the deck for no apparent reason causing the umpteenth interruption in play ( and County`s attacking rhythm ?).

Then …no sooner had Nicholls made a full ( and hopefully)lasting recovery when , more dark arts surfaced as Wallace executed an  amazing dive embellished brazenly by one of those roll…roll…roll again extravaganza`s that players used to treat us to with regularity in the 70`s and 80`s in European football.

Even more amazingly, Town got the free kick and sought to profit from the confusion their tactics had  sown- certainly County looked a tad distracted if only momentarily!

At this point I must mention Stokes who was doing really well- back making blocks ….making runs…in short he was getting involved- I liked him already!

So, about the above-mentioned confusion…. It resulted in a right old melee in the County box…I feared the worse….I was wrong…County survived , Ben`s latest clean sheet intact!

Andresson is another player I find myself wishing well. and he combined neatly with Stokes sending him clear down the left – the ball inside to Woots was good from Stokes, but the moment passed annoyingly when Fevs drifted offside to nullify the move.

Into the last 10 minutes of normal time we went  next- County forced to defend as Gooch broke clear down the right before cutting inside to get a shot off. It was on target but so was Ben and he made the save with his legs to deny Town.

On it went- Fevrier unlucky to see Nicholls make a vital save to keep it 0-0 on 84 minutes…..Bailey fouled as he broke towards the box only for the Referee to not pick it up 3 minutes later….Stokes doing well with a good defensive block  with 2 minutes left.

Five minutes added time was announced and a free kick to Town  3 minutes into it- this was taken by Humphreys , but only after  an annoying delay whilst the  ref fussed about amongst the players in the box awaiting the kicks arrival, and saved with some style by Hinchliffe who clutched the ball to his person with relish before dispatching it up the park.

Three minutes earlier I had noted with pleasure Jid Okeke`s arrival as a late 90^th minute substitute  along with Moxon in place of Bailey & Osborn. I see Jid having a great future at least some of it with County!

Sooner than I realised though we were in the 95^th minute…..County were attacking as the ball flew twixt Hunt, Moxon and O`Keke whose first time cross was hacked out of play by the harassed  Town back line.

Back came County from the throw Hunt`s cross only half cleared whereupon , with County still attacking potently it seemed, the Referee stopped the raid …..to give County a free kick !!!!!!

Would he be at all tempted to blow for time now as well? He just might, or so I thought, but he didn`t he allowed the kick to be taken, and Norwood sent it inch perfect across the box to where O`Keke latched onto it instantly firing a veritable rocket of a ball back across the box  where Andresson met it perfectly forcing the ball into the net!

The old place erupted……sheer joy took over as players in blue shirts embraced O`Keke- I couldn`t see Beno but was sure he would be besieged with well wishers also, and many of these were in 3 of the 4 stands and singing his name too.

What a finish….the whistle had now gone, the game was over…County had recorded a fine victory, loaded with Karma …the very best type!

That win was vital to sustain County`s promotion push, and the team, and our Manager, deserve every credit for their achievement.

Particularly welcome was the input from the substitutes bench which bodes well for the immediate future.

Two more Yorkshire challenges upcoming for County next- Harrogate on Tuesday and Rotherham Saturday- both at Edgeley Park followed by 2 cracking away games at Cardiff then Blackpool, and details of how you can book on the Flyer for those 2 vital fixtures can be obtained here:-

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573851368609

 

Well played County !

 

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Hunt, Hills, Pye , Fevrier, Bailey (Moxon 89), Norwood , Osborn (Okeke 89), Edun (Stokes 65), Wootton, Diamond (Andrésson 65).

 

Unused Subs: Addai, Olowu, Mothersille.

 

Huddersfield Town line up :-

 Nicholls, Balker,  Low, Wallace, Gooch, Ledson , Humphreys,Harness ( Alves 69), Roosken, Charles (Taylor 87, Radulović

Unused subs :

 Alnwick, Sorensen,  Miller, Kasumu, Feeney.

 

Attendance: 9486 ( 1158)

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