Match Report: Cheadle Town 1 v 2 COUNTY

Another County attack

By Chris Larkin

The players of Stockport County and welcoming neighbours Cheadle Town took to the pitch on a lovely Wednesday night for the friendly 'Stockport Derby'.

I say 'friendly' but, clearly, someone forgot to explain that to Cheadle Town's No5.

County lined up in the first half with a team of trialists, with a few first teamers thrown into the mix - Ormson, Jacobs, O'Halloran, Bateman, Fagbola, Windsor, Donegan, Turner, Dennis, Brooke and Howard.

County started on the back foot, Cheadle Town having a couple of decent chances amid the early exchanges but, the Hatters soon settled in and started to get a foothold in the game.

Eventually after 11 minutes the pressure paid off, Kristian Dennis getting the goal following some neat passing moves from the team to calmly play in the promising forward.

Just five minutes later poacher Dennis got his 3rd goal in just two games after the exceptionally lively Rhys Turner had a shot well saved by the Cheadle goalkeeper.

The Town defence simply weren't quick enough to the ball with Dennis nipping in almost unchallenged to score his second of the night.

By this point the game was threatening to turn into a procession and County had chance after chance, corner after corner.

Town had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the match. And the Hatters really should have had more - three goalbound shots were cleared off the line as County desperately tried to put the game to bed against the plucky amateurs of SK8.

But the half ended 2-0, with County spurning a glut of chances.

The second half began with 10 changes for County - Lewis King, replacing Ian Ormson, was the only 'first teamer' left on the pitch.

And though County sacrificed some of their first half fluency, the Royal Blue pressure, as the trialists all fought for a contract, continued. Two trial players really stood out - the number 15 and the youngster playing left-back.

As a result, County looked at their most dangerous down the left wing and it was from here they threatened to add to their tally.

But, as County went in search of a third goal in the final phases of the game, Cheadle Town struck against the run of play with Andy Lindon scoring for the home team after the Hatters defence failed to clear lines following a free kick. That defensive hesitation left Lewis King stranded and ended in an easy goal for the hosts.

Remarkably, in a game County looked like winning comfortably at half-time they were now teetering on the edge of a familiar abyss, snatching a draw from the jaws of victory. Last season, blowing a comfortable victory became habit forming and, with that history still clear in the mind you really couldn't blame Hatters fans for suffering deju vu.

Ultimately, the fears of the traveling County fans were unfounded, as not only did County hold on, they continued their stream of pressure and really should have walked away with a more comfortable scoreline had the trialists not squandered so many chances.

Overall though, it proved a good run-out for the team, an equally good run-out for Cheadle against 'better' opposition and a nice payday for our friends at the Park Road Stadium.

Both sides of half time were dominated by County, with every trialist looking to stake a claim for a place next season. How many will get a contract? Maybe two, at most.

See you at Nantwich.