Sandbach United 1 Stockport County 3 ( Cheshire Senior Cup- First Round) Tuesday 13 October 2026

 

 

County`s young side stormed through to the Second Round in this seasons prestigious Cheshire Senior Cup , impressively taking control of a game in which they were 1-0 down early on via Jake Pollards deserved opening goal ,before going on to win 3-1.

The Bach were good value for their lead until they weren`t and Bruno Cina equalised 14 minutes in. A good contest followed thereafter ,the game being settled by another Cina goal and one from Joe Astles.

In the end it was a convincing win against tough opponents ,with Cina and Astles hogging kudos & the limelight and defenders Richard Ilara, Daniel Marshall, Ernie Tessa- Nana & Ollie Huddleston not far behind them!

Well worth making the effort to get to on a surprisingly cold Autumn evening!

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The Flyer got us to Hind Heath Road in good time for the game and to sample warm hospitality from the North West Counties Club – a visit recommended should you be fancying a bit of ground-hopping soon!

 

 

 

 

Bruno Cina was first to show for County with a run that Greg Hall in the home goal handled pretty well.

But The Bach were eager to shine, and they pushed County back forcing a series of corners that saw the Hatters back line stretched but not broken-  the ball being cleared off the line at one point.

 Sandbach kept their eyes on the prize, and for them that was an early goal, and this came 14 minutes in when Jake Pollard drifted inside down the right before volleying the ball home beyond Goodness Gospel Eze in the County goal.

County gradually upped their game after the goal, home keeper Greg Hall doing well to usher Joe Astles free kick around the post on 18 minutes.

The corner was cleared as County began to impose themselves on their opponents with some decent football. Samuel Lennon was to the fore in this, but it was last Tuesday`s hero from the Shrewsbury match, Bruno Cina, who did the biz for the orange shirted blues ending a surging run by beating   Hall with a well-executed finish.

County were level, and deservedly so, but Sandbach were by no means done- Eze having to look lively twixt the sticks for County to keep Kyle Foley shot out just beyond the half hour mark.

Then it was the home keeper`s turn to shine with some quick-witted work to deny Cina 3 minutes later at his back post.

The County build up was making Sandbach work hard to keep in touch – Astles going close and then not far short of bamboozling Hall into error mode, but the home keeper did well to keep his goal intact- the half ending with Samuel Lennon lifting one over the bar following a County free kick, with the scores still level at 1-1.

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The early play when the match resumed after the break saw Sandbach trying to breach County`s defences but these were marshalled exceptionally well by Richrd Ihara & Dan Marshall – Goodness Gospel- Eze was in the mix also on his toes 5 minutes in to keep Nathan Barry out, as was Ollie Huddleston who was working well under pressure!

If Cina still seemed County`s main attacking option ( blocked at the expense of a corner on 53 minutes),the chance to break the deadlock fell to Sandbach 3 minutes later as Nathan Barry  burst beyond County back line to within sniffing distance of goal- a chance for sure but, well set…..he chose the wrong foot and sent the ball flying wide!

County emerged from a period of studious defending with some energy- Michee Dialundam opening the home defence up with an incisive run, almost on the hour- releasing his pass to Alfie Jones who got his shot in, seeing Hall make a vital save at the near post.

Both sides had moments…..

Pollard denied by County keeper Eze…….Hall at the other end keeping Astles shot out at the second go…….

With Cina sniffing for scraps menacingly, County were always looking favourites- but they could not find a way beyond Greg Hall yet- Astles sending Jones in but kept out by the home keeper`s alert responses.

It really was a decent game, but Referee James Owen disappointed, with 18 minutes left to play with penalties beckoning, when he allowed `advantage ` when Astles was upended on the edge of the box. A free kick smack central would have been excellent news for County and scoreable, but County`s attack faded and it stayed 1-1.

For sure however, County were upping their game again-Michee Dialundama impressing with a dazzling run, that was halted by another foul. This time we did get the free kick, but Sandbach defended it well conceding a corner then clearing their lines.

County`s press was relentless, but Sandbach interrupted their progress, breaking up the park through Barry- and again he engineered a chance only to lift his effort over the bar to the disappointment of the locals.

Sandbach definitely still had ideas, and kept looking for a break – Jacob Maher doing well under pressure for County to turn defence into attack – Astles missing a chance to give County the lead with 8 minutes left.

Penalties looked on now ,but Sandbach were ringing the personnel changes at regular intervals in an attempt to keep their effort fresh.

Meanwhile County kept the decent football flowing – Astles going close again a minute later.

Maher spread play next, again bringing Astles to the fore and the pass from him saw Cina in on goal slotting the ball home to give County a 2-1 lead.

That was very well worked and well deserved, but County were not finished-Astles hustling substitute Jacob Vernon into error before slotting County`s third goal home to put the match beyond Sandbach.

That was a good game- a credit to both sides – deservedly won by County, and that display by our young stars of the future ,and that`s not overstating what they are, was one to savour by County supporters.

Miss Round 2 at your peril County Supporters!

 

Sandbach United line up:-

Hall, O`Connell , Williams , Stafford , Finney ( Besford 71 ) , Cope ( Nolan 57) , Fowles ( Birchall 57) , K Nolan ( Vernon 83), Barry , Pollard ( Bavington 71), Foley.

Stockport County line up:-

Gospel-Eze, Tessa- Nana, Huddleston, Ilara, Marshall , Dialundama , Lennon , Maher , Cina , Astles , Jones .

Subs not used: Udoette, Ashton, Lewis , Stott , Caldwell.  ( If any of these players got on the park I missed them and I apologise if that is so)

Attendance 329 ( 171*)

hedgegrower

*to be verified

 

A Wee Crowd Gallery from hedgegrower......