Stockport County 5 Wycombe Wanderers 1 ( Football League 1 ) Saturday 29 August 2026

 

 

 

I am not sure just how Stockport County Manager Jimmy McNulty manages to get to sleep at night- constantly running over in his mind…on repeat…”who do I play “-his team, and whosoever he puts on from the subs bench invariably playing a blinder making just who to leave out a giant sized conundrum- if a happy one.

So It was today at Edgeley Park, for the visit of Wycombe Wanderers, County settling into a silky smooth rhythm from the off- Eoghan O`Connell outstanding at the back and in his previously unseen ability to slowly glide up the park before releasing ball after incisive ball in the direction of the visitors goal a pleasure to watch. Beside him Ethan Pye continued to command the ball and respect with his best showing of the short season so far whilst in midfield Lewis Bate and Ollie Norwood  directed traffic instigating some mouth wateringly watchable football that Wanderers just had no answer to- with Ben Osborn a bundle of productive energy ready to take a pass and make something more from it out wide.

Then, up the park we had Jack Diamond shining as brightly as ever ( with apologies for that literary liberty) Harry Wood a revelation , scorer of 2 goals and lifter of spirits with his general play, and with Wootton holding the whole attacking matrix together we looked well set long before Harry Wood put us 2 up.

A bit of a blip at the back saw Wycombe nick one back before the break, but goals by Woots and Diamond brought a sense of reality back to the score line at which point Jimmy Mac started to ring the changes starting with Jason Adigun for Wood, and he was unlucky to see Wycombe keeper Conor Hazard keep his `goal worthy` effort out  ! I am biased, but must say that Adigun looks the part, so does Mikael Mandron who gave another top…top quality performance, nicking another goal – his 3^rd in three!

Mikael came on with 20 minutes left, and Benoni Andresson 10 minutes later ,but the Icelander again impressed -he is easily the most un-selfish number nine I have seen – he was always working hard and laid on a fine fifth goal for Mandron with an assist of truly sublime quality- being denied a penalty late on by hapless referee Ed Duckworth after thoroughly duping his marker in the box before being hauled down- Mr Duckworth will no doubt have had good games in his career- this was not one of them!

Back then to Jimmy Mac and the `conundrum` -I have every confidence that he will deal decisively with matters – there must be many a manager who would kill to have `problems` like I have described above!

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An early Wycombe break by Evan Henderson was nicely snuffed out by O`Connell with just 2 minutes gone, but already the pattern of play was set- County in charge and attacking with O`Connell to the fore again, his calm steady progress up the park followed by a neat pass to Osborn ( no sideways…..backwards, it was a joy to watch). Osborn`s cross put Wycombe under pressure, but they cleared the danger eventually as a follow up cross from Osborn saw Wootton head over the bar from close in.

Then on 8 minutes, County were caught on the hop as Fred Onyedinma surged clear with the blues back line shredded. This looked beyond iffy but, with all other cover blown, Ollie Whatmuff earned his corn leaving his line to make a decisive tackle on the advancing forward and snuff out the obvious danger.

If that last action was not to prove typical of the direction in which the game would go, it was not an isolated happening either, the Chairboys went close again 3 minutes later, once more via Onyedinma but his shot fizzed inches wide of Whatmore`s right hand post following a corner.

Gradually, County worked their way back to controlling matters – Osborn and O`Connell doing well with supply….Wood  & Diamond doing their best to add a finish, but without significant good fortune as Wanderers rode out the storm.

There was a wee flurry on 15 minutes at the `wrong end` as the busy Onyedinma put Pye under the cosh with a tasty run deep into the County half. It looked distinctly iffy did this ,but Pye persevered and managed to end a lively tussle with the ball in his possession- the danger sorted with the ball ushered back to Whatmuff!

Then, within seconds a goal, and it came at the other end where Lewis Bate took charge down the left before turning inside to pick Harry Wood out- it was a good move and Wood needed no second bidding making ground through the middle before slamming the ball into the Wycombe net.

County now led 1-0 and you could feel the tension in the Edgeley Park air dissipate almost immediately as the large home crowd devoured the goal replays on the screen hungrily!

An underpowered shot by O`Connell failed to test Hazard in the visitors` goal, but I took heart in the fact that he chose to attack with the ball rather than opt for stale passivity!

It was another 5 minutes before anything of real consequence occurred, and it started with Woods stealing the ball from Wootton just beyond half-way. There was much to be done, for sure, but clearly Harry was keen to do it- heading off into the box before blasting another belter beyond Hazard into the Wycombe net, putting County 2-0 up.

Delightful, flowing football oozed from County now, but no further goal just yet – Diamond darting through the middle seeing a shot deflected for a  fruitless corner …….Norwood spraying a shot wide after a deft bit of work by Ethan Pye had set him up…….Hazard somehow keeping a Wood effort out at the last gasp- the prelude to more prolonged pressure from County but again, no goal.

Almost on half time we got our goal, but it fell to Wycombe- started by a poor pass by Bate that set up a Wycombe corner.

County really should have done better defending this one, but when the ball headed to the near post -Onyedinma and Gordon went up for it , the clash not decided decisively, but the ball nevertheless was deflected downwards to where Woodrow prodded the ball over the line . It was 2-1 now……it was also possibly offside, but what do rules matter aye?

And it might have got worse almost immediately as County`s back line allowed Onyedinma to pick Silko Thomas  out in oddles of space in the blue box -it looked a shoo-in, but Thomas shot straight at  Whatmuff -to gasps of relief and delight on Row R !

Soon it was half-time and we could reflect on what the second half might bring us!

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The pressure from County steadily built up after the re-start- their best work thwarted by Connor Taylor`s intervention to prevent Norwood`s free kick from reaching Wood – the corner seeing Steve Cook somehow keep Glover`s cross out..

But just 2 minutes later and County had their third goal and 2 goals margin again via Norwood who put every last ounce of skill into pinging the ball goalward from the right flank, to where Wootton hovered near goal with cover a plenty in his vicinity.

The quality of Norwood`s ball made the difference – Wootton beat the cover to it sending an instinctive effort into the net off a defender – a top goal and so typically Woots in execution!

3-1 was a good lead to have, but we needed more, but we also needed to keep the back door locked and ..err…..we allowed Henderson to indulge himself in a run from deep, he fashioned a shot on the end of it and Whatmuff should have caught it …instead he made a 3 courser of it ushering the ball unconvincingly over the bar for a corner.

Pye blocked the initial kick, and Whatmuff dealt more convincingly with the follow up from Onyedinma , but that was not great to watch.

But we only had 2 minutes to wait for something that was definitely good to watch- another County goal and it was a pearler, as a break by Diamond saw him on a diagonal run across the Chairboys box that ended with him stopping and firing a terrific finish into the corner of the net- County`s lead was now 4-1!

With Adigun on for Wood just after the hour mark, County kept the pressure on Wycombe- Woots denied by the keeper after excellent build up work from Osborn.

The County press continued….Hazard flapped only succeeding in pushing the ball to Wootton who looked well set to score, only Cook …and then Hazzard slowly sank to earth prompting the Referee to stop play before the shot on goal could be executed.

No matter…it would be annoying ,but we would have a free kick on the re-start for sure – or possession where we had it prior to cessation of play at the very very least, but no…unbelievably after a long break Mr Duckworth handed the ball to the fully recovered keeper to dispatch up the park- a refereeing decision of breathtaking incompetence !

Not long after, Mandron and Edun were on for Diamond and Glover, and Mandron was busy from the off giving more evidence of his worth to the team – opening by winning a dual in the air and heading the ball to nearby Wootton.

Meanwhile Adigun was settling down nicely -unlucky with a run to the by-line down the right- and even more lacking in good fortune shortly after as he unleashed a fierce drive, on the end of a Adigun/Woots/Edun cooperation , that saw the visiting keeper produce his best diving save yet to keep it out!

On it went- County attacking – Mandron so close with an effort after a 1..2..with Osborn with 15 minutes left.

Wycombe came back at us next, but County kept their discipline intact and the score at 4-1 as a result which was pleasing.

Then Jimmy Mac brought Andresson on for Wootton, and Fiorini for Norwood, but the next chance fell to Wycombe and to Onyedinma ,but he fluffed it firing  a classic damp squid straight at Whatmuff  who held onto it tightly.

I was liking what I saw of Andresson and Mandron- the former winning a corner, with 7minutes left, the latter seeing his header from same saved by Hazard!

Bate joined in, his shot headed out by Casey on 87 minutes.

The fifth goal was a long time coming, but when it came it was a belter….started by Andresson who, seeing Mandron`s run to his left, slid a truly wonderful ball into his path that the Frenchman met impeccably ,dispatching the ball beyond Hazard`s best efforts to scupper matters, into the net.

County led 5/1 now and well deserved that lead was too!

 

 

 Mandron makes it 5-1 ( image courtesy of Simon George)

 

 

 

It might have been more though- had a late/late Andresson/ Mandron/ Adigun combo enjoyed even a modicum of luck…..

Or if Mr Duckworth had applied the rules as he saw Andresson latch onto Edun`s through ball and head into the box where he was upended by his beaten marker.

A certain goal denied …a clear foul…a penalty….but the referee thought otherwise.

I despair sometimes of some officials…not all for sure ..there are many fine refs about, but boy do we get some lulu`s sometimes!

Let`s not forget the game we have just witnessed and the County performance- one that made me proud to be a County supporter- well done County!

Luton next, I am off there for sure, so will see you at Kenilworth Road!

 

Stockport County line up :-

 Whatmuff , Gordon, O’Connell, Pye, Glover (Edun 72), Bate, Norwood(Fiorini 81), Osborn, Diamond (Mandron 72), Wood (Adigun 64), Wootton (Andrésson 81).

Unused Subs: Wilson-Brown, Gardner.

 

Wycombe Wanderers line up :-

Hazard , Grimmer ( Parker 75), Harvie , Scowen , Morley ( Boyd- Munce 46), Thomas( Quiterna 70) , Woodrow( Tezgel 70) , Henderson, Taylor , Cook ( Casey 75) , Onyedinma.

Unused Subs: van Sas , Mullins.

Attendance: 8,774 (331)

hedgegrower

 

Additional Gallery from @machinsports