Stockport County (a) 28th Dec 2008

halfaperson · Stockport County (a) 28th Dec 2008

Nineteen twenty odd apparently since we last won at Edgeley Road. That just about coincides with what seems the last time I wrote a positive report. Suppose we had to be thankful it was the short trip to Stockport we had to make at Christmas and not some far flung northern outpost as is usual. We did of course had to accommodate the ridiculous kick off time as international terror duty was suspended at Scumchester airport while what looked like every copper in Greater Scumchester was employed to protect the good citizens of Cheadle from the evil hordes of Leeds United.

We had a good long walk to the ground through the Edwardian splendor of Cheadle with its grand Terraces and not at at all like the picture I thought Stockport was going to be. You see there’s a lesson to us all there about pre conceptions and Simon Graysons new team were already going through their pre match routines as we found our seats. We were down the side with Leeds fans filling the south stand terrace behind the goal and the East stand behind the goal. This rare layout ensured the low lying winter sun was permanently in the face of that goal, just what you need when your Achilles heal is crosses coming in that direction.

The impressive West Stand to our left was in good voice as is the Stockport fans reputation as we chose to attack the sun blinded end first. The pitch was every bit the pub league pitch it was rumored to be. Cut up bumpy and bare and both teams struggled to get control of the ball. None more so than Johnny Douglas who committed the foul trying to recover his lost possession that led to their goal in the first few minutes. Once again the ball found their right winger in lots of space to pick his spot and we were in real danger of our heads going down. Thankfully our boys didn’t let that happen and we played as good as we could for the next half hour on that pitch and got hold of the game.

In fact it was a very entertaining game that moved quickly from end to end. Frazer and Snoddy made good inroads together just in front of us down the last third of our Right Hand Side and put some decent crosses in. Hughes did a similar thing down the far side only for him to be isolated as no one made the runs forward to support him. It was clear then that Beckford was only 50 percent.

Doggy also made a few runs forward with the ball, once juggling it keepy up style before delivering a lame shot. Beckford found himself with his back to goal while in possession in the box only for his skilful turn and shot to go slightly high.

We were getting a few corners on our right that were managing to cause Stockport problems in the box. Beckford again showed great agility in getting an overhead kick in that rattled the cross bar and by now we were in the middle of a great spell when it looked like we would score anytime. Of course the pillock of a referee was having none of it and managed to combine with his linesmen on several occasions to penalize us for the most innocuous of contacts whilst allowing Stockport to push, shove, back into and kick Becchio and Rui all game. This isn’t the first time this particular ref has done this to us either.

Anyway it was a corner that for once found a Leeds Player at the near post to flick on and it somehow ended up in the goal to give us a deserved equalizer. We didn’t sit back either after that but that gave a renewed Stockport opportunity to hit us with some fine controlled attacking play. Their Right winger in particular was causing us problems and the lad Davies was a tremendous lone striker who was getting on the end of everything. It was in Fact them who finished the half strongest with a succession of goal mouth action and scrambling clearances from a dogged Leeds defence. To take nothing away from County we simply did not help ourselves with some ridiculous lost possession in danger areas and poor attempts at clearances. We seemed to want to give away corners but at least Lubo and Becchio were commanding in the box. Unlike Casper who remained rooted to his line throughout.

We did cause them problems ourselves in this last quarter. Delph put in a low shot that was deflected for a corner, Frazer cut in and put curling shot over and wide and Beckord did a repeat of his overhead kick that went just over. Just after that Beckord to another unpenalised foul that left him limping and clearly in some difficulty

So half time came with a good game given the conditions evenly balanced and all to play for.

County came out a good two minutes early and looked like they meant business. On came Leeds and Beckord finally came out after a hug with Prutts that suggested it would be long before they were swapped. Immediately Beckford was fouled and we got a free kick that prompted hopes of some neutrality from the ref. Not a chance im afraid as he allowed their 35 Davies to almost assault Rui and brought us back from an attacking position to graciously give us a free kick in our own half after an offside decision.

The second half unfortunately failed to live up to the excitement of the first bit it was still a tense affair and we battled hard all over the pitch which is just what we had to do against a very strong and athletic opposition who seemed more comfortable on the cut up pitch. They continued to rely on the lone striker and were content with pumping balls for him to latch onto which he regularly did. Our midfield worked very hard to close down the oncoming midfield support for him.

The expected subs came, Christsie on for Beckord who by them was a mere passenger in the game and Howson came on for Snoddy which was a bit of a surprise. The game got scrappy then. We were unable to get hold of the ball, Howson in particular guilty of that. County seemed to be winning all the headers and getting to the second ball but they were still unable to dominate us. This was mainly down to some sterling Defending and it was in fact just that that got us the second Goal. It was Lubo who once aging produced a pin point long range pass (yes tongue is firmly in cheek here) that led to our cross that was mis cleared by their keeper. The ball found Delph now operating on the Left with the keeper stranded. Shoooooot was the cry and indeed he did with a classy finesse to give us the lead. That was cue for some great unified singing from both sets of Leeds fans finally satisfied after a dismal month.

Incredibly County Took of Davies their one and only second half threat after we finally nullified their Right Winger and never really looked like overcoming us with a final assault. This was again despite the assistance of the linesmen in front of us absolutely desperate to flag for any contact to give them a free kick.

Twelve men and you still can’t win was the chant from the Leeds fans which was fair enough given the lame impression the linesman was doing of one, otherwise it would be thirteen men. Maybe that’s why the fat coppers came waddling down the touchline in a comedy display of protection. There’s gonna be a Diet came the chant from behind that unfortunately didn’t catch on.

We were just remarking on how Caspers kicking had improved in the second half ie from abysmal to adequate when probably his best kick of the game found Christie on the right with plenty to do. He got hold of the ball went goalward and hit a diagonal shot Robbie Keane style that went in off the post. There was a moments pause as no one could actually believe it went in until Christie himself ran to the fans in celebration to secure the unexpected win.

Great scenes of relief, surprise and celebration after as the players came over to the fans who finally have some hope that we can rescue this awful season.

cardboardbox?Youwerelucky

Quality as always halfa

raveydavey

Good stuff, halfa.

Goodness knows how you can remember all that detail...is it Timothy Taylors Memory Juice? Wink

eddiesleftfoot

I was in the same stand as you halfa, and amazingly, my lad who has a S/T in their end (even though he's a Leeds fan), commented on how quiet he thought we were - not from where I was standing I told him.

He also mentiooned a few tried to start an Instanbul song but were quickly put in their place by their own fans which is good to know.

BTW, Cheadle is a fair hike from the ground - did you drive or get off at the wrong train station? The rest of Stockport is pretty chavvie (except where I live, of course

)

Gopher