HAVE COUNTY TURNERED THE CORNER?

Jevons is mobbed after notching County's fourth goal

By Adam Moss

BARROW 2 - 4 STOCKPORT COUNTY

We Won.

Again.

Rhys Turner scored two, as did co-striker Phil Jevons.

And we're up to 11th place in the league table.

Alan Lord is the new God.

Praise be the Lord.

(Our match reporters were too drunk to post a second-by-second account of the match minutiae and....for once...I can't really say I blame them).

PICTURE: Mike Petch

MATCH REPORT: COUNTY 4 - 0 Worcester City

County's new permanent gaffer - Alan Lord

By Chris Larkin

Every now and again a game will come along where everything goes right and proves to be a turning point in the season.

Today's 4 - 0 demolition of woeful Worcester City could well turn out to be just that.

In 1996 it was the 3-1 win over Plymouth; in 2007 it was the 6-0 win over Wycombe. And then today - the 4-0 win over Worcester City in a game that County comfortably controlled for every one of its 90 minutes.

From the off County were on the attack with Iain Howard forcing former Macclesfield stopper Veiga into a smart save after a mistake at the back from the City defence let Howard have a decent chance at goal.

Just a couple of minutes later and, after some great build up play, County had another wonderful chance - this time the ball landing to Oldham prospect Danny Gossett who unfortunately couldn't quite get a decent enough shot away after some great work from the impressive Howard to get the ball into the youngster.

County didn't have to wait long for the breakthrough though as one of the stand out players of the season so far, Kyle Jacobs, scored another lovely goal to make it two in two games.

Jacobs received the ball just outside the area on the right hand side and volleyed it beautifully beyond the goalkeeper into the top corner to give County a thoroughly deserved 1-0 lead.

It was almost two just a few seconds later as Rhys Turner couldn't quite latch onto a beautiful through ball from the impressive Bobby Lofthouse.

After  20 minutes, it was obvious the momentum was all with the home team and Scott Duxbury was looking very impressive and composed for a youngster at left-back - regularly supplying great balls down the line to the forwards.

County's domination paid off once again on 25 minutes as young Bobby Lofthouse won the ball in the midfield and played an exquisite ball through to the pacy Rhys Turner who delightfully dinked it over the on-rushing Veiga -his first league goal in County colours.

Rhys Turner notched his debut league goal for County

And the team didn't take its foot off the gas -  immediately pressing for a third, the confidence clearly flowing through the side. That pressure was rightfully rewarded on 45 minutes as a long range shot from Iain Howard was flicked into the net by in-form Phil Jevons to give County a 3-0 half-time lead.

The second half started and it wasn't long before County were back on the front foot with Gossett warming Veiga's gloves with a smart turn and shot from just outside the area.

Worcester's first shot on target came just before the hour mark when the visiting Midlanders won a free-kick in midfield. The set-piece delivery was flicked on by former Jim Gannon target, Exodus Geohagen, but the effort was comfortably caught by Ian Ormson looking for his 3rd consecutive clean sheet. Just a minute later, Worcester had another chance but it was very well saved by the quick reactions of Ormson.

Somewhat unfortunately for the visitors, Worcester's best spell of pressure resulted in the 4th goal for the home side on the hour mark. Phil Jevons' shot deflected back off a visiting defender and he made no mistake the second time as he swivelled on the edge of the box and curled an absolute beauty into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

With 25 minutes to play, new signing Nicky Platt, formerly of FC United, made his County debut as he replaced the impressive Bobby Lofthouse.

The Hatters continued to pile on the pressure and created a hatful of chances despite being four up.

Two more substitutions saw Brandon Windsor replace Danny Gossett and Stephen O'Halloran come on for Scott Duxbury.

With a minute left to play they did their best to put their clean sheet at risk however, and gifted Worcester a soft penalty. Fortuntaley the resulting spot kick was blasted so wide of the left hand post that the front row of the main stand practically ducked in unison.

But County held on for a huge win and Ian Ormson's third consecutive clean sheet means the team is now undefeated in the last four at Edgeley Park in all competitions with 3 wins and one draw.

And with the victory came the news that stand-in boss Alan Lord has been given the manager's role permanently. Great news.

Attendance: 2,332.

County Line-up: Ormson, Jacobs, Tunnicliffe, Charnock, Duxbury (O'Halloran), Gossett (Windsor), Moses, Lofthouse (Platt), Howard, Turner, Jevons.

Unused Subs: Jones, Craney

TURNER'S TIME IS NOW

Photo by Andy Lambert

By Adam Moss

"Edgeley Park is going to be my stage this year," says Rhys Turner as we discuss his hopes and dreams for his first season with a professional contract.

Rhys Turner doesn't do nervous.

You ask him a straight question and he gives you a straight answer.

Is he nervous about playing in front of good sized crowds at Edgeley Park?

"I don't get nervous when I'm playing. I've never really felt pressure when I'm on the pitch, I just get on with the game. I'm here to play football, why should I get nervous about that?" he says confidently but without a hint of arrogance.

Rhys Turner may be just 17 but he's not like any teenager I've interviewed before. He's focused. Enviably single-minded.

This is his big chance and he's not going to let anything get in the way of him fulfilling his potential and enjoying a momentous first season.

Fortunately for Stockport County fans, most who've seen him play cannot do anything else but agree with his assessment.

Rhys Turner is lightning fast. He seems to have energy to burn. He's young, he still has lots to learn but, there's little doubt, he's going to be a thorn in the side of pretty much every defence he comes up against this season.

So what does he hope to achieve this season?

"I want to emulate the Stockport County players who have gone on to big things - people like Danny Whitehead from last season, and Pilkington," he said.

"County has a history of producing quality players who go on to bigger things. I want to be one of those players.

"This is my first pro contract. It is just the start, I know that. So I have a way to go yet. But I can't wait for the season to start so I can get going."

He says he and the rest of the team know that for this to be considered a successful season then promotion has to be the end game.

"There is no reason why we can't win this league," he said. "In that second half against St Mirren last week we played them off the park at times - and that was their first team.

"We can be a good side. But to win promotion it is all about consistency. If we can manage to be consistent then we will definitely be up there."

And how will County approach the new season?

"We will be attacking teams from the first whistle," according to Turner.

"If I can score more than 20 goals this season then I know I'll have had a good one. The gaffer has been talking to us about going at sides right from the off, attacking them from the first kick of a ball and putting them under pressure. We are definitely going to be an attacking side."

Turner says manager Ian Bogie and assistant Alan Lord has been making the team train in a 4-3-3 formation with himself and fellow striker Kristian Dennis playing off Phil Jevons in a bid to maximise those attacking options.

"Playing with Jevo and Kristian has been really easy in that formation, which definitely works better for me," he said.

"Jevo can be the main man and play in me and Kristian, who both have decent pace. It has been working well for us and the whole team in training."

Turner, a Wigan FC fan (his dad was born there) had a few options when County came calling.

"Yeah, there were a few teams interested but County were the only one to offer me a direct contract while the other teams were offering me trials. It was an easy decision to make, especially as I've worked with Alan Lord for so long through Myerscough College too.

"After hearing good things about the fans I'm expecting big things. And I really can't wait to run out at Edgeley Park for the first game of the new season. It's everything I've been working for."