Stockport County 1 Bromley 0 ( Football League 1 ) Saturday 17 October 2026

 

 

 

County came away with all the available points today , beating Bromley 1-0 in  a game in which shots on target were a rarity and defenders generally took the honours.

In this respect County`s Eoghan O`Connell shone as brightly as any around, taking the M.O.M award, which I thought was deserved , but I also felt that County`s newly minted back 3 of Mamadou Jobe, Eoghan O’Connell & Ethan Pye was the outstanding feature of County`s day.

It would have been good to see an exhibition of free flowing …adventurous football, but it was never going to be today- County did set about the game seemingly of a mind to play the visitors off the park, but I have seen Andy Woodman`s Bromley teams before, and they always make difficult opponents, and the 11 men in white that faced County today were a faithful representation of that methodology - obdurate in the extreme if severely limited as far as strike power is concerned- I cannot recall them having a shot on target .

So, ultimately justice was done, County`s greater work rate and obvious desire to get on the front foot and play good attacking football, profiting via another nerveless finish from Kyle Wootton- their defence never significantly threatened throughout.

From every angle, with  3  away games coming up in  short order  , this result will most definitely do!

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County , with  Kyron Gordon injured, went for  3 at the back- Mamadou Jobe / Eoghan O`Connell / Ethan Pye  with Jason Adigun given his first start since joining us from  National League  South`s Chelmsford  City. Bate kept his place which surprised me slightly, but all in all the eleven selected to do battle in blue today looked well up to the mark!

Adigun was to the fore quickly – in combination with Norwood and then with a nippy run near the by-line, but without testing Raven`s keeper Grant Smith.

County did look in charge early, surely their lively approach would reap a suitable reward- but no….the approach play from the blues was good but when the ball went from Adigun to Wootton his shot went wide.

Meanwhile Jack Diamond was continuing in the all action mode he had settled into this season, and again he had the required 3 men on him dogging his every movement, but he won County a corner. He did rather less well when the kick reached him as he lifted the ball towards Bergara Close over the Railway End`s temporary roof.

We then saw Jack unwisely have his card marked by Referee Sebastien Stocksbridge for what was a foul but not much of one, but SS whilst not booking Diamond- clearly  had made a mental note for future reference.

I think I was still rolling my eyes and mumbling about that 6 minutes later when Bromley headed in Ollie Whatmuff`s direction – JJ McKiernan forcing a corner that saw George Saville get to it first for Ravens, but then head the ball wide.

That was a break in the procession heading Grant Smith`s way, but 5 minutes later the game took a turn for the better   - as a neat County move ended with Diamond at the by-line where he dinked a nicely weighted cross towards goal where Wootton met it heading the ball home with the minimum of fuss.

County now led 1-0…. surely the prelude to a day to remember!

Before that however, we had the small matter of Bromley attacking deep in County territory, and again it was JJ McKiernan doing the biz for Andy Woodman`s team, but Ethan Pye was able to block JJ and find touch. The throw put County under pressure – McKiernan going down and thinking he had a penalty- he was wrong and Mr Stocksbridge agreed with me, in fact I doubt he had noticed the incident if indeed there had been one – Glover putting his foot through the ball and clearing the danger for the blues!

Play got a tad lively next…..Diamond in behind the Ravens back line but shooting into the side netting…….Norwood the victim of a poor bit of judgement by Mr Stocksbridge who showed the County captain a yellow card for a piffling `foul`.

My cynicism buttered no parsnips though- Mr S had awarded a free kick to Bromley, and it was very scoreable indeed. It took Bromley yonks to sort matters though- County had settled early on a 4 man wall so nothing was in the way of the kick being taken , but the visitors prevaricated…and prevaricated some more before the inevitable upshot saw Jodi Jones hit the wall with a really poor kick.

County were probably buoyed by that escape- Diamond setting off on a run that had visiting defenders melting away before him – but when the ball was played out to Ben Osborn the attacking impetus died as the ball fizzed from Osborn`s toes across goal and out with no one in blue getting to it.

County were building momentum again, but they were not helped as Bromley were awarded another cheap free kick – this was whipped  quickly into the box where Adam Jackson threw himself at it in front of an open goal- he missed ..narrowly but he was offside also so it did not matter!

The free kick`s were coming Bromley`s way fast now- another….then a corner that saw Whatmuff make an impressive claim, under pressure, at his back post.

Eventually County eased their way back into control- their football really watchable at times, at others frustrating as the excellence of the build up play would be blemished by the absence of a coherent finish……..

Glover ending some excellent football by County with a cross that saw Wootton head over the bar …….Bate clear a couple of minutes later, but then putting too much oomph into his onward pass to Diamond that flew out of play.

County continued to press, until added time when Mc Kiernan got in behind County`s rearguard- but County got back in enough numbers to ensure that Mitch Pinnock who waited perfectly placed in the box , did not get the final ball!

That ended the first half, could County improve in the second 45 ?

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The second half opened with Mamadou Jobe to the fore – first in combo with Diamond – the young centre back showing a very good turn of attacking speed ( he would repeat this later as well), and then defensively heading clear from under the bar from a rare Bromley corner.

But it was mainly County on the front foot- winning a free kick as Bate was fouled running onto a neat pass by O`Connell. Norwood hit the wall with the free kick, and O`Connell`s final ball to Glover had too much on it and any chance was gone.

Adigun was still looking to shine but his influence was fading- through on goal 10 minutes into the half, his shot lacked power and was held by Smith comfortably.

Smith had harder work to do next- preventing Jobe from picking Adigun out with his cross in the box- a good bit of work by the Ravens keeper!

But nothing was coming off for Adigun who was picked out 3 minutes later by Bate- crowded out by a clutch of white shirted defenders, including the excellent Omar Sowunmi, Jayden went to ground, but no penalty was awarded and the ref was correct in that one!

County were still pressing beyond the hour mark, and for a second or so it felt as though we just might be about to reach a turning point in the match as County got a free kick and Norwood  hit a thunderous effort goalward where the keeper got a hand or hands to it but could not hold it- the Bromley bacon saved by Jacob Mendy who was quick enough and precise enough to keep the predatory Kyle Wootton from the ball and a very possible second County goal!

But, instead, Bromley survived-continued to defend defiantly…..Diamond , Glover & Adigun thwarted by dogged defending…..Osborn went on pinging crosses over to little reward- his latest headed clear by Sowunmi under pressure- somehow it stayed 1-0!

Osborn & Adigun were then replaced by Dacres- Cogley &Wood and County turned the heat on Bromley again- Diamond seeing a shot charged down by Sowunmi……

The pressure was on Bromley, and in the immediate aftermath of that last action a real chance emerged , falling to Dacres- Cogley- a full back being used in a forward position down the left , and his first calling showed as he shot at goal- his effort lacking power and not giving Smith any problems dealing with it- chance gone!

That was disappointing and maybe the disappointment seeped a touch into County mind set as they were caught napping for the first time in the game - as Bromley hit the blues on the break ,being saved by some vital defensive work by Norwood on the edge of the box!

We were into the last 20 minutes now and Glover & Bate had been replaced by Ennis & Fiorini – Ennis in there straight off pinging a cross in that Ifill did well to head clear- Mandron coming on for Diamond with 9 minutes left to play.

Whatmuff did well around this time to cut Mendy off as he ran through onto a ball `over the top` of County`s back line.

Then Smith shone twixt the sticks for Ravens with some excellent work -saving with his legs to thwart Wootton with 5 minutes left.

County kept the press going……Mendy excelling for Bromley ushering a Wood effort out for a corner – County`s push foiled again when the kick picked out Ennis and his hand to ball moment was spotted by Mr S!

 

On it went…..Wood on the ball, but firing over the bar on the turn, on 88 minutes, normal time ending with Sowunmi  earning plaudits for Bromley again with a top quality blocking tackle  on Mandron  to prevent him latching onto a long ball with the goal gaping!

To their credit, Bromley went on the attack in added time – County happy to hoof the ball clear…anywhere with white shirted players queueing for a shot at goal- not a 1 materialised amazingly – County`s defence doing their job so well!

County prised their way clear of the defending- Wood winning a corner in the 93^rd minute- Mandron latching onto same and feeding Fiorini who sent the game`s final shot flying high into the Cheadle End.

No matter, County had won- it had been hard work at times but in the end their hard work got the reward it deserved.

County are now in second place in League 1, so well done boys!

Next stop Doncaster- I hope to see you there!

 Stockport County line up :-

 Whatmuff, Jobe, O’Connell, Pye, Glover (Ennis 72), Bate (Fiorini 72), Norwood  Osborn (Dacres-Cogley 66), Diamond (Mandron 81), Adigun (Wood,67), Wootton.

Unused Subs: Andrésson, Sidibeh.

 

Bromley Line up:-

Smith , Sowunmi , Saville , Jones ( Miller 67), Pinnock , Ifill , Mendy , Adeboyejo( Hondermarck 76) , Conteh ( Cheek 76), Mc Kiernan ( Whitely 67) , Jackson.

Unused Subs: Mason , Kabamba , Grant.

Attendance: 9,013 (242).

hedgegrower

 

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