Stockport County 1 Doncaster Rovers 1 ( Rovers win 4-5 on penalties) League Cup Round 1 ( Saturday 8 August 2026)

 

 

 

 

County exited the League Cup with a whimper as opposed to the roar their pre-season form had hinted at today at Edgeley Park.

Sadly, that was not to be, and Doncaster Rovers stuck to the basics, taking the game to penalties, with the score 1-1 after 90 minutes, the visitors winning 5-4 on penalties to the delight of almost 900 travelling Rovers fans.

It was not all gloom for County- Ollie Whatmuff looks the part twixt the sticks……Ethan Pye largely looks to be maintaining the form we know we need to see from him……Lewis Bate seems to have regained form somewhere akin to the peek period when he first arrived with us……Ryan Glover offers enthusiasm and potential wide left, and Kyle Wootton has taken just 1 game to open his scoring account again!

Today gave us glimpses of all the aforementioned, what we did not see was a relentless pressing game from County in place of the ponderous outfield play of last season.

That was hugely disappointing and clearly gives Manager Jimmy Mc Nulty much to do before the upcoming away clash against Plymouth Argyle next Saturday, and I hope he decides to give Benoni Andresson and Jason Adigun more time on the park- both could aid Wootton as he plugs away selflessly in the County cause, and we need altogether more urgency about our outfield play.

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It all opened encouragingly for County- Gordon and Diamond almost nicking a goal on 4 minutes……Norwood twanging the bar with a dipper 3 minutes later.

But, if I was lured into a false sense of security, with the blues seemingly in control, that was quickly dispelled as over elaboration down our right flank put us under pressure- Rovers winning a corner from which Neil Byrne sent a free header flying over the bar.

That seemed to rattle County who were soon back in a familiar setting -playing the ball about ad nauseum at the back.

If this annoyed the Cheadle End, it tended to invite Rovers on ,and they responded – the annoying Alfie May in the thick of a raid by the Yorkshiremen , going down thinking he had been fouled by Pye. Seeking a penalty- he had to settle for a corner which County defended well.

It was still 0-0 midway through the half- Rovers were getting less possession than County, but they did keep thinking they had chances as did Jack Senior 22minutes in when trying to take advantage of accres of space that stretched out before him  after Gordon `s forward run had been foiled up the park.

Senior went close but could not fully capitalise on the opportunity.

Aided by Gorton and Edun, Diamond twice sought to breach the visitors`defences- foiled by solid defending and a decent save by Rovers keeper Tom Simkin, and Simkin was in action again not long after Wood had ended a period of neat football by County with a shot that was kept out well by the keeper.

So, County were shading possession and shots on goal but, we were into the final 15 minutes of the half, and it was still 0-0.

And, as the half progressed so Rovers confidence seemed to grow-Isaac Hutchinson cutting a swathe through County`s left flank – County grateful to settle for a corner and again for Eoghan O`Connor who was in position to head Leon Ayinde`s effort out from that.

The pressure continued from Rovers- Jamie Sterry unlucky to see a screamer from him fizz centimetres wide of the angle of bar and post with 7 minutes of the half left.

We were thirsting for a response from the blues, but when it came via a neat one/ two twixt Edun and Diamond, they had to settle for a series of corners which all came to nought as County could not apply a finish to their efforts.

And County kept pressing….winning a free kick that Norwood saw saved by the increasingly impressive Simkin- the keeper not needing to react at all next when Wood lifted a shot high into the Railway End on the end of a raid.

Into added time we saw County again under the cosh and Pye unaccountably in a bit of a tizz as May forced a corner. This ushered in another chance for Rovers- the last of the half and they looked to go in 1 up when  Owen Bailey met the incoming kick with his head, but the ball flew goal ward missing the target by a fag papers width no more.

The teams went in at half time- it was still 0-0!

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If I was looking for better from County as the game recommenced, I was soon disappointed, as within 5 minutes of the re-start Rovers went ahead.

County looked unable to react appropriately as Rovers piled on pressure winning 3 corners in quick succession, scoring from the third when Alfie May hooked the ball home from close in.

That was disconcerting, but matters were put to rights by County before the cheering from Rovers supporters under the Railway End temporary roof, had subsided.

Wootton had already just gone close moments before, but he made no mistake with a typically precise finish – County were level!

I wondered if that might signal the opening of the flood gates- but May, in Rovers red, did his best to disavow me of that miss conception- he looked on to punish us as he broke clear from halfway, but he soon ran out of gas or ideas other than to look to pass the ball on but the imprecision of his pass made County`s task clearing the danger that much easier.

By now ,Andresson and Osborn were on for Edun and Wood for County, and as usual Andresson started briskly being inches wide with an effort within a minute of coming on.

Both sides failed to take chances next- Rovers failing to punish County after O`Connor spilled possession under pressure, and Norwood spurning a half chance for County leaning back before sending a rising drive over the bar.

That was Norwood`s final act of the match as Fiorini then came on as substitute in his place- an interesting move and possibly a fateful one with penalties a possibility later, but I thought that the change by Jimmy Mac was one worth making.

Meanwhile County kept trying to capitalise on their superior possession – Andresson showing up to good effect causing panic with a run deep into Rovers territory. The ball finished up with Lewis Bate who unleashed a shot of mighty power that had `goal written all over it until Simkin threw his body to his right to push the ball out one handed- a terrific save!

County did not let up- Gordon pushing Rovers back with a run that was blocked on the edge of the box – Andresson following up but foiled by force of numbers in the box- others in blue joined Benoni – at least one  appeal for a penalty ruled out by Referee Leigh Doughty!

When that one passed over, so Rovers hit County on the break, winning a free kick in a decidedly scoreable position on the edge of the County box.

I could well see the ball fly into the net from this as Sterry lined the kick up. He would shoot obviously….but…no…he instead elected to finesse the ball across the box ,and the chance was gone as County cleared their lines.

Back came County- Andresson passing to Fiorini …..a run…a shot from him, but Simkin made no mistake keeping it out.

For a period after the last action, County unaccountably slipped back into playing themselves into trouble- somehow Rovers could not capitalise on this , but it was annoying nonetheless.

Adigun had come on for Diamond on 77 minutes and was soon showing hints of what he might bring to the party to the extent that twice in rapid succession he was hauled down off the ball when preparing to take up useful positions. The referee saw them both and the free kick for the second ushered in a chance -being just outside the box and to me the keeper`s cover looked slightly iffy. Bate and Fiorini debated who would take it- Fiorini doing the deed but getting his angles entirely wrong missing out at Simkins near post.

Both sides worked at winning the game in normal time, avoiding penalties- County under pressure , conceding corners but eventually aided by the offside flag……but unlucky to see a shot by the busy Adigun fly just wide on 88 minutes.

The last 2 minutes and 5 of added time saw County doing their utmost to nick the win, but I could not rule out the possibility that Rovers just might thwart us.

But the pressure continued from the blues…..

Wootton laying the ball off to Fiorini whose shot was going in until Simkin reached it and somehow kept the ball in play(91 minutes)!

Adigun joined in but his run was blocked on the edge of the box a minute later- Fiorini `s run meeting an identical fate a minute on from that.

It went on- Osborn close to reaching a County head with his cross, on 94 minutes, but thwarted as Byrne headed clear for Rovers , who immediately swung up the park on the attack winning a corner, but they could not force this home so it stayed 1-1 and we went to penalties.

There was no Norwood in County`s penalty takers and Osborn missed the opening kick for County – who notched 4 ( Andresson, Wootton, Fiorini and Adigun – all good kicks) but O`Connor saw his well struck kick saved by Simkin – Rovers playing superbly well to net 5 of their 6 kicks to win 5-4.

Good luck to Rovers in the next round- they will be a hard nut to crack for their next opponents.

For County it`s back to concentrating on the league and I will not be betting against them doing that as required either.

I will be at Home Park though next Saturday to cheer the blues on- a tough ..tough game to start any season with, but here`s to Jimmy Mac having a wee word and County responding appropriately!

See you at Home Park!

Stockport County line up:-

Whatmuff, Bate, Pye, O’Connell, Diamond ( Adigun 77), Norwood (Fiorini 67), Edun (Andérsson 61), Glover ( Rydel 77) , Wood (Osborn 61), Wootton, Gordon.  

Unused subs: Ashby-Hammond, Dodgson, Mothersille, Moxon.  

Doncaster Rovers line up:-

 Simkin, Sterry, Bailey, McGrath, Broadbent, May, Ayinde (Clifton 46), Byrne, Thomas (Hanlan 67), Hutchinson (Adelakun 46), Senior.  

Unused subs : Clarke, Robinson, McCann, Grehan, Pawlak, Hodgett.  

Attendance: 4,974 (892)

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