Stevenage FC 2 Stockport County 1 ( Football League 1) Saturday 28 February 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

County sank to another disappointing away defeat today at the hands of a combative and clearly motivated Stevenage side ,allowing them to claw their way back from being 1-0 down to win the game 2-1.

Stevenage did not look anything special ,except that they included in their game plan a thorough understanding of the basics of defending . If we never see the excellent Carl Piergianni again , it will be too soon, as he again marshalled the men around him brilliantly and relentlessly as usual, thoroughly dousing any vestige of fire in County`s attacking play.

Another feature of Alex Revell`s side`s play was that they fully appreciated the object of the game was to move the ball forward…up the park.

By way of contrast , County`s play could be seen as being smooth  and controlled , but seemed to constantly be hamstrung by a mentality that saw the ball in almost perpetual `sideways/ sideways/ backwards motion – the result being that Stevenage had time to put together a response -just waiting their moment to put their apparent better grasp of the basics into motion .

Not much joy about then, which was sad because there was exemplary support for the County team from yet another big County away turn out!

Adama Sidibeh scored County`s goal, and again put loads of energy into the 76 minutes he was on the park. The defence battled bravely too, but our inability to make opposing keepers work for their pay was again crucial to the outcome of the game!

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The County team were welcomed onto the pitch by a tumultuous roar of supportive approval from the away end, which must have told DC`s men something- it filled me with pride!

But much of what followed on the pitch was frustrating…. an early corner engineered neatly by Edun and Sidibeh, sent short- Dacres/ Cogley`s effort from this ushered away by a crucially well drilled home back line.

That back line was less well drilled 4 minutes in , indeed James Wilden was mightily fortunate not to be booked by Referee Jamie O Connor  for an appalling challenge that laid Sidibeh out for a fair while.

I waited in vain for some redress and a card for the miscreant, which was truly annoying  …..

Then……Irony Alert !!!!.....just a few moments later  a slider by Stokes on Pattenden  merited an instant yellow card from the ref, who would follow this depressing modus operandi game long much to the ire of County supporters present!

I am not saying that Stokes` slider was totally above board , in fact I think it arguably merited a card, I just crave consistency from officials – that AND A TOTAL LACK OF BIAS !

 

All that said, nothing of note was happening at all except that, gradually Stevenage were working their way up the park, forcing  an error under pressure by Ethan Pye  that probably should have been punished by the home side, but wasn`t , indeed this small portion of County good fortune continued , saving Ethan`s blushes when the ref spotted a foul by one of the marauding Stevenage  forwards.

County started to press next, making it into their opponent`s half – Sidibeh unlucky to see Filip Marschall dive to keep his header out  from Bailey`s pass.

The corner seemed to take an age to be taken , but when it was…all was suddenly forgiven as Bailey`s delivery was immaculate- picking out Sidibeh with precision- the young forwards header giving the keeper no chance to repeat his heroics this time- County had their lead !

This buoyed the away end , but the elation barely lasted 5 minutes before we were angst ridden again.

Not immediately though , as I thought we had escaped as Addai  did brilliantly to save an initial shot by Wilden , then a second effort, a header that was pushed out for a corner.

We had escaped hadn`t we !?....well, no as that constant thorn in County`s side ….Carl Piergianni…..surfaced again to flick the incoming kick inside to Reid who scored an emphatic equaliser for Stevenage.

If  County  enjoyed the majority of the possession in what remained of the half they never gave Marschall too much to worry about- Woots and Sidibeh came closest, but it was still 1-1 when the teams went in at half time.

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County flattered to deceive when the game restarted for the second half- the green shirted blues pushing forward but not giving Marshall any serious work to do- Diamond made it to the by-line from a free kick, 5 minutes into the half, but the corner that ensued saw Marschall  in action  keeping a shot by Dacres/ Cogley out.

This was better from County ,but we winced again seeing Piergianni rise to head an incoming County free kick to safety for his team.

That was depressing, but not as much as what happened next as  County surrendered possession from their own throw in, allowing Phillips to make it 2-1 to Stevenage.

Both sides had notional chances next…Bailey , for County, seeing  a shot on the turn saved by the keeper ……Dacres/ Cogley getting to the by line for the blues but watching as Wilden headed his cross away from danger for Stevenage……the same defender stopping Wootton on 67 minutes just before DC rang the personnel changes bringing Mothersill end Osborn on for Bailey and Edun.

Stokes went close on 71 minutes  with a glancing header, but the ref ( and liner)again did themselves little credit from the subsequent corner  , both in the vicinity of what went down, the liner definitely seeing the action which amounted to Ethan Pye taking a punch to the face .

A clear penalty and red card……but instead we watched aghast as Stevenage got either a free kick or goal kick- I was beginning to lose interest really!

Meanwhile, back at the other end, Stevenage were having a go- Addai saving an underpowered effort by Harvey White with some ease.

We were into the last 15 minutes now ,and Sidibeh ,having been booked moments earlier,  was replaced by Tanto Olaofe.

County pushed forward in what remained of the game – occupying territory well enough and mostly in their opponents` half, but said opponents were covering every move County made, aided by the lack of speed and consistent forward  motion in the moves.

It was a good effort , but one doomed to fail- Piergianni having his say right up to the final 2 minutes of normal time for Stevenage , again making a vital headed clearance under pressure.

At times County were queuing for  a shot, but delaying and delaying long enough for the home back line to cover their tracks- Mothersille seeing a shot held comfortably by the keeper as 5 minutes added time was announced, and this brought more of the same- County certainly trying , but lacking that extra something  that we thought we had in abundance .

Today was not good…again, but for me nothing changes,  we let the Manager manage in the knowledge that he has done the same before and done it well, and we give him space and time to do it again!

See you Tuesday for a trip to Doncaster and a tilt at Wembley.

 

Stockport County line up:-

 Addai , Dacres-Cogley, Hills, Pye,  Diamond, Bailey (Mothersille 67), Norwood , Edun (Osborn 67),Stokes, Sidibeh (Olaofe 74), Wootton.

Unused Subs: Hinchliffe, Bate, Olowu, C.Gardner.

Stevenage FC line up;-

Marschall, Wilden , Piergianni , D Phillips , Earley , Goode , Pattenden , White ( Lubala 89), Reid( Kemp 89) , Thompson  ( Hodkinson 76), M Phillips( Roberts 89).

Unused subs:  Woodford , Sweeney, Campbell.

Attendance: 3,974 (592 ).

hedgegrower