Stockport County 3 Peterborough United 1 ( Football League 1 ) Saturday 25 April 2026

 

 

 

 

County saw off their penultimate scheduled home match in fine style, coming from 1-0 behind to secure 3 most valuable points with a 3-1 win against Peterborough United at Edgeley Park today.

It was a compelling performance from County, if by no means a perfect one- a heady mix of uncertain defending at times, and irresistible attacking play.

 County had Corey Addai to thank that Posh only scored 1 ….they went close a number of times- denied and defied by the County keeper who would have walked off with the M.O.M award , in my view, but for  a superb performance by Louie Barry who won the game for County with as brilliant a hat-trick of goals as you are likely ever to see- all executed with ruthless efficiency by  a player who seems to add extra powers to his game when he dons a County shirt!

It was so good to see, and positions us nicely now for the playoffs, with 2 games still to play.

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Che Gardner for Ben Osborn was County`s only change from Tuesday, when the game got underway in blazing sunshine, the talented County youngster taking up the problem  RB role, which seemed a good call to me in the circumstances.

County went quickly on the attack – Bailey drawing a foul, but County not pressing home any advantage the free kick from that ushered in- Stokes lifting his shot over the bar.

But it was not long before County came under the cosh, and it was down their left flank where Pye had to act quickly and conceded a corner as Edun was by passed, near the by-line,  by Shofowoke.

The corner was poor, and Barry took advantage of this charging clear down the right for County, but when he cut inside, Posh won possession and County, for the first time today, were indebted to keeper Corey Addai who pulled out all the stops with a fine save to deny Kyrell Lisbie!

We were 9 minutes in, and Gardner made his first contribution with a neat intervention sending Sidibeh clear – Alex Bass , the Posh keeper, did his job well in response-beating Sidibeh`s shot out. The ball ran clear to Norwood, so County still had a chance to open the scoring, but their captain`s shot went wide.

County now had wind in their sails- but twice Mothersille found his path to goal blocked next – others in blue looking to add their two pennyworths also but faring no better.

But the blues were calling the shots for sure-Norwood sending Barry scooting clear on 11 minutes, his route to goal blocked by a clutch of green shirts….Bailey seeing a shot dealt with firmly by Bass a minute later.

So, things were going well, but then they weren`t as we lost the ball to Harley Mills, and a brilliantly executed long ball from him picked out Shofowoke wide right, and he set off into the box with Tayo Edun for company the duo in lock step as they neared goal.

There was a hint of handball about, but the liner was unlikely to have seen it in my view, and I was not 100 % sure what I had seen- anyway  Shofowoke made the absolute most of a very promising situation by sliding the ball inside to where   Lisbie lurked and he did the biz for his side planting the ball beyond Addai into the net.

Posh had their lead…..County had a familiar incline to climb now!

If Posh looked to add to their lead- Lisbie sending a snap shot wide of goal on 17 minutes, the weight of attacking that followed came mostly from County, but their set pieces left something to be desired- a free kick going nowhere and a corner    , when Sidibeh saw his shot pushed around the post by keeper Bass on 19 minutes , brought County no more solace.

I perked up upon seeing Bailey send Sidibeh clear 2 minutes later, but  his attempts to round the keeper came to nought-  moments prior to the Pop Side liner raising his flag cancelling the whole thing out for offside.

But County kept plugging away- Gardner doing particularly well , his neat play winning a corner- that sadly saw Mothersille`s shot clear the bar.

It was pleasing to see young Che making the most of this opportunity, and he was back again 4 minutes later sending Sidibeh clear down the right to the by-line where he checked back to send the ball inside- to Mothersille I thought, but the ball went behind him to Louie Barry who set the old place alight with as fierce a finish as  you could wish to see from anyone in a blue shirt- County had equalised and it was `game on` for sure again!

If I was looking for County to build on their good play, for a while the blues made it necessary for us to look to the basics….our defending , and a clutch of errors in quick succession…by Pye…by Edun…saw the blues defending a corner and then a free kick as Peterborough`s Matt Garrett took a knock .

The kick was good from Posh picking Lees out nicely, but his header was nullified by a crucial save from Addai!

Eventually, County reasserted themselves – attacking with some verve at times but little in the way of finishing – Sidibeh and Mothersille seeing half chances come and go without reward in the next 5 minutes.           

That was not great, but Stokes took a hand shortly after ,and it took a terrific save by Bass to keep a fizzing whizz bang of a shot from young Josh out, on 37 minutes!

I liked that from Stokes- he has deserved a better return recently for what he has put in in matches.

I find myself liking Wootton`s input also – not a perfect example of the central defenders art ,but pretty damn good in the circumstances and he showed us some more of that , with 5 minutes left, as Morgan darted onto another belting long ball from Mills  - County`s top scorer seeing the threat from Morgan off with cool aplomb as the action reached the box!

It was back then to County attacking as Edun sent Barry on a run – his shot was good at the end of it and on target but so was the response by Bass – whose save kept the scores level and the Railway End happy.

They were happy again to see Bailey lean back and send his shot into their midst with just a couple of minutes of normal time left of the half.

Another minute and County found themselves under pressure from Leonard, who definitely fancied a penalty, as he surged across the County box, but he did not get one and rightly so!

There was just time for the Cheadle End to get a touch excited as a poor challenge on Sidibeh by Harley Mills gave Referee Miles his first real decision of the day to make- but …poor as the challenge was…it was never going to be red was it?

Yellow sufficed for Mr Miles, and definitely for Mills and the teams went in at half time with the score still 1-1.

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Loose play saw County under pressure, and Addai busy keeping the scores level, when the game re-started after half time.

But any worries I felt were quickly dispelled as County swept into the lead in glorious style.

If Edun is not the greatest defender on the park his attacking virtues are many, and he produced a pearl of a pass, 3 minutes into the half, that saw Barry on his way down the left flank. He had Bass twixt himself and glory, but it was no contest really as having tempted the keeper to move ever so slightly towards him, he then slotted the perfect finish passed him to put County 2-1 up, and their supporters on their feet cheering.

Perhaps Posh were demoralised as, within a minute, they were almost 3-1 down as Gardner sent a fantastic cross to the back post where Barry  awaited its arrival- Bass was there also and did enough to stop Louie from slotting the ball home.

Mothersille, in tandem with Sidibeh and Barry, pushed Posh back again next- but County`s number 11 was unable to beat Bass and thus score against his former club.

It was time for Posh to test County – and test them they did as a slice of good fortune came Lisbie`s way as he found himself in on goal with Addai apparently toast.

It was a shoo -in, or so I thought, and Lisbie got his shot off OK, only for Addai to ruin his day with a brilliant diving save.

County were definitely coming under the cosh a bit now, with Posh urgently seeking an equaliser, and errors …mistakes mounted …free kicks piled up for the visitors- a particularly tasty one coming their way as Wootton barged into his marker on the edge of the box.

Something of a scramble ensued as the kick headed for goal- being blocked as was the follow up by Mills – this kept out by another top-notch bit of work from Addai!

County eventually started to reassert their hegemony – but they were slow initially, to get their crosses over …electing more than once to opt for safety and play back rather than forward.

That said, Barry had an altogether different approach – much more direct and willing to have a go and test the oppositions keeper!

A break involving Louie and Adama just after the hour was defended well by Posh, but that did not mean that Barry was done with them, not at all!

It needed some input from Ollie Norwood to ignite Barry`s fuse this time and he did it with an excellent pass that Barry took in his stride down the left before drifting inside in time honoured fashion and making Bass irrelevant to the equation by by-passing him with a beautifully weighted and directed shot that nestled cosily in the net to the keepers left- County now led 3-1 and unbelievably….Barry had a hat-trick of goals !

For a while the County press looked irresistible, but at the same time we were prone to also give the ball away – cue Mothersille losing possession with just over 20 minutes left- forcing Addai to make another excellent save to deny the ever-interested Lisbie and keep the blues lead at 3-1.

Both teams opted for personnel changes in the minutes that followed- Barry and Bailey giving way to Diamond and Bate on 72 minutes……Sidibeh and Mothersille being replaced by Tanto and Fiorini 5 minutes later …..Posh doing likewise refreshing their numbers also.

Play continued apace- Bass saving another effort by Stokes ( 76 minutes)- Fiorini missing a chance to nick a goal- passing instead of shooting when in on goal with 8 minutes remaining of normal time.

Che Gardner went off to a fine ovation on 84 minutes, Osborn coming on in his place and looking his usual top-notch self in doing so!

It was not quite all County- Kamara did fluff a decent chance for Posh on 84 minutes , but the blues were doing most of the attacking for sure- Tanto trying ever so hard but nothing is coming off for him – played in by a fine pass from Diamond…..flagged offside( 85 minutes)…..he beats Collins a minute later his shot drifting inches wide of the keeper`s back post……

Notwithstanding Tanto`s troubles- much decent football flowed from County in the minutes that followed ( 5 in total added at the end)

To the very end County were trying….Diamond running at the Posh defence….Fiorini showing a hint of what`s in there…with a late/late ball of some quality that eluded the waiting Stokes by a fag papers width near goal.

It was time for some celebration when the game ended – celebration of a well worked and well-deserved win in difficult circumstances –we have loads still to play for .

If we play the sort of attacking football we showed ourselves capable of today, we will have more than a chance in the play offs whoever we play.

Meanwhile there`s Port Vale at home Tuesday and Barnsley away Saturday and there`s 8 seats remaining available on the Fingerpost Flyer.

See you Tuesday !

Stockport County line up :-

 Addai, Gardner (Osborn 84), Wootton, Pye, Edun, Bailey (Bate 72), Norwood , Stokes, Barry (Diamond, 72), Mothersille (Fiorini 77),Sidibeh (Olaofe77).

Unused Subs: Hinchliffe, Grogan.

 

Peterborough United line up :-

 Bass, Collins, Lees, Lisbie ( Mendy 80), Mills ( Hayes 80), Morgan ( Woods 64), Okagbue, Leonard, Garbett ( Kamara 64), Donnelly, Shofowoke.

Unused subs: Smith, Khela, Frith.

 

Attendance: 9,432 (504)

hedgegrower

 

Crwod Shot Gallery from @machinsports