Bolton Wanderers 2 Stockport County 2 ( Football League 1 ) Monday 6 April 2026

 

 

 

 

 

County came to Bolton with an unbeaten record to defend, and Dave Challinor`s side did so- taking a valuable away point back to SK3 via a 2-2 draw.

If goals by Adama Sidibeh and Tayo Edun lit up proceedings, poor officiating by  the Referee and a lapse in concentration by County after having a cast iron penalty appeal ignored , gave Wanderers their first goal and an early lead, with poor defending by the blues allowing Bolton back in at the death with a second.

So, a good point for sure, and the unbeaten record in BL6 remains solidly intact as we head into the busiest period of what has been a hotly contested season, with thoughts of our promotion to the Championship also very much still intact.

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I was dismayed to see that Tanto Olaofe was not starting or on the bench- I assumed injury, but to this moment have not heard anything that hints at that.

Louis Barry was on the bench ,which was interesting, but I was hoping that his inclusion was more perceptive man management by DC than  risk taking.

Sidibeh and Wootton were well to the fore for County early on, but both sides seemed anxious to impress on the other their latent threat capabilities.

The County duo were disappointed, but then so was Johnny Kenny who replied for our hosts, 4 minutes in, his shot flying over the bar as he sought to stretch the green shirted blues defensive resources.

Bolton kept a fair bit of pressure on County for a while after that last action- Cissoko   doing well to get a shot off, but watching forlornly as the ball was tipped over the bar by Corey Addai- the County keeper and Wootton both in action clearing up from the subsequent corner.

The pressure continued on County- Pye & Olowu doing well to prevent Dalby from making mayhem at two of several Wanderers corners that followed this latest action that ended when Dalby finally managed to get head to ball but watched as it flew wide of goal.

We were approaching the mid-way point in the first half now and already Mr Martin , the Referee, was beginning to annoy me- ignoring a foul on Olowu and thereby allowing Bolton to continue to attack- fortunately they lacked a finish when and where it mattered, so I reigned in my annoyance for now!

It was time for County to respond , and they did impressively , taking control of the game with some neat work – keeper Jack Bonham doing well for Bolton to push a shot from Norwood over the bar – Norwood and Diamond combining to force another flag kick, that a foul on County`s number seven turned into the possible gold of a Norwood free kick.

To be sure though the angle on this one was severally acute, but Norwood being Norwood shot at goal anyway – not missing out by much at all!

County were very much in charge, but they got a massive warning against complacency when a slip by Dacres- Cogley let Cissoko in on goal. This was a real chance, and the forward must have known it, but he fluffed it dragging the poorest of efforts wide of Addai`s right hand post.

Then, with under 10 minutes of the half left to play, the game reached a pivotal moment……

County were defending…then they weren`t as Addai, claiming the ball from a Bolton corner, sent the ball up the park to where Osborn lurked with Bailey on the left. Osborn wasted no time at all picking Sidibeh out with a neat ball, but he was brought down clearly in the box by Osei- Tutu- a nailed on penalty, but the Referee waved County`s appeals away – a game changing decision !!!!!, as within half a minute Bolton had scored….

…….the ball being despatched up the park by Wanderers to the ever-available Johnny Kenny . He had loads to do and he disposed of the first bit easily enough shrugging off Joseph Olowu`s attentions, then bullying Ethan Pye out of the equation before dinking the ball beyond Corey Addai into the net.

 

Bolton had the lead or as one or two were tempted to sing “ One-nil to the Referee!”

But, despite a determined effort to rub County`s nose in the Toughsheet muck, somehow they came unstuck….

It started with late runs by Dalby and Cissoko for Bolton- both policed well by Pye – the moment passing when Kenny`s shot flew wide of goal.

Straight off, Addai had the ball, then he didn`t as he had spotted Osborn up the park down the left with Bailey and quickly reached him with an inch perfect ball.

In no time Osborn had whipped the ball inside where the lightest of touches by Wootton saw the ball head on to Sidibeh who lurked menacingly at the back post, and he did the biz perfectly ushering the ball over the line for the equaliser almost on the dot of half time!

Just the finish to the half we might have wished for- many a half time pint going down so much better as a result I would wager!

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Tayo Edun was on for Lewis Bate when the match re-started after the break with County opening proceedings with all guns ablaze- Bailey and Sidibeh so close to nicking an early second goal down the middle.

But we did not have to wait that long for that second goal, 5 more minutes to be precise, as DC`s subbing claimed a divi as a determined County raid saw Bailey lay the ball inside to Norwood from the by-line.

A shot followed from Norwood, but this was blocked, the ball running sideways to where Edun pounced on it scoring with the accomplished finish of a striker!

County piled the pressure on following the goal- Sidibeh simply immense in his willingness to put himself about- Bailey continuing to get better and better -inches wide with an effort not far short of the hour mark.

By now Dixon was on for Dacres- Cogley as both teams took turns testing the other…….

Forino heading wide from a Bolton corner…..Diamond and Sidibeh combining to good effect for County, but having to settle for an unproductive corner…..Kenny in the act again for Bolton but thwarted by Addai`s prompt work at his near post……Bonham just beating Wootton to a 50/50 ball in the danger zone- all good to watch but also wearing on the nerves!

Pye and Norwood`s nerves meanwhile looked totally unaffected – both  doing decisive defensive work after a raft of fresh legs had been brought on by Bolton.

Perhaps it was these fresh legs that were the deciding factor…..not the liner error I thought I had seen when a County player took the ball out of play and in again – it was marginal I suppose and the liner and ref didn`t give a throw so…on play went with Bolton building an attack through Rodrigues who had been key to Bolton late surge of attacking along with Gale .

Rodrigues had been busy trying to start moves pinging the ball over but this time his cross fell to County`s Ben Osborn whose forward momentum sent the ball arrowing beyond Addai into the net.

Bolton had equalised …it was 2-2 and County`s job now was to keep it that score or nick one, and I wasn`t about to bet against this happening as Edun followed brilliant defensive work with a great ball to Dixon that sent him on a run- his cross on the end of same was excellent and the Bolton keeper did well to deny Wootton as he tried to apply the necessary finish.

DC then replaced Sidebeh and Diamond with Stokes and Barry – I am not sure we really needed to make these changes with the game as it was- we needed to still have max possibilities to put pressure on Bolton…would we now seek to defend from deep?

Well, County certainly came under the cosh in the remainder of the game -our situation not helped by a raft of questionable decisions by the Referee who serviced Bolton with a regular flow of free kicks – but the quality of the kicks was not always that great and when they were , there was Addai to contend with as somehow County made it to added time still sharing the points at 2-2.

If Wootton went close for County in added time, Forino went closer for Bolton his header going out off the crossbar from a Rodrigues corner.

Then it all got a bit precious down the left for County where Barry who moments earlier had been deservedly booked for a poor foul. He then went for broke ( and a second yellow) by a display of petulance in response to Bolton being awarded a throw.

A second yellow and a red followed and Barry`s part in proceedings was over.

Thankfully County`s remaining 10 saw the game out and secured the point, which may be priceless come playoff time.

Other stuff to sort meanwhile- see you at Wembley !

 

Bolton Wanderers line up:-

 Bonham, Osei-Tutu, Toal, Forino, Conway, Apter, Sheehan, Dempsey (Rodrigues 72), Cissoko (Cozier-Duberry 72), Kenny (Burstow 72), Dalby.

Unused Subs: Harrington, Temple, Christie.

 

Stockport County line up:-

 Addai, Dacres-Cogley (Dixon 67), Olowu, Pye, Osborn, Diamond (Barry 82), Bate (Edun 45), Norwood, Bailey, Wootton, Sidibeh (Stokes 82).

Unused Subs: Hinchcliffe, Dodgson, Mothersille.

Attendance: 23,855 (2,445)

hedgegrower

 

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