Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 29, 2015 11:32:56 GMT
My Match Report from yesterday follows. Slightly more upbeat than the last couple!
Appearing on a COWS near you shortly...
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STALYBRIDGE CELTIC v COUNTY: MATCH REPORT (28/12/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
County Denied By Badgers’ Late Sett-Piece
The Hatters came away from this Bank Holiday ‘SK derby’, having avoided defeat for the first time in three National League North matches - and, for good measure, having ended a run of three games against Celtic in which they had shipped three goals on each occasion.
But, while these good things came in triplicate, County will have been bitterly disappointed not also to claim all three points at Bower Fold, after conceding an equalizer in added time.
A 4-4-2 starting-formation in SK15 was the order of the afternoon, as it had been in SK3 on Boxing Day - although the line-up showed three changes from that which had taken to the field at Edgeley Park against Harrogate. Abs Baggie and Joe Garvin both earned recalls, together with Charlie Russell - who, having spent much of the campaign to date on loan at Ramsbottom, was given a left-sided midfield role to mark what would be his first competitive appearance of the season in a County shirt.
Wade Joyce, Gareth Roberts and an injured Glenn Rule were the players to step down - with Roberts being named among the substitutes. The hosts’ squad, meanwhile, showed not a trace of former Hatters - despite having included no fewer than four in the starting eleven for the corresponding fixture in 2014/15.
Storm Eva’s passing offered some respite from the elements prior to the arrival on UK shores of the only-just-named Storm Frank, and a watery sun tinged the tree-line around Bower Fold as County, adorning the Dizzy Blonde pink look, launched the first attack of the game. Delial Brewster began the move - playing a neat one-two with Baggie, before seeing his shot saved by Tony McMillan at the second attempt.
The Badgers were to go even closer on two occasions, before five minutes of the contest had been played. Bohan Dixon was County’s tormentor on both occasions: firstly unleashing a shot that was cleared off the line, and behind for a corner, by Lewis Montrose; and then latching onto a trademark Oliver Crowley long throw, before heading against the Hatters’ crossbar.
Having survived these early scares, County settled down and enjoyed much the better of things for what was to continue as a lively - and, at times, feisty - first half. The pace of Baggie and Brewster constantly kept the home defence on its toes - and, from the right and left flanks respectively, these players tested McMillan in the course of two separate forays.
The Hatters continued to apply the pressure in a series of further attacks. Brewster shot narrowly wide of the right post, before Russell - fed by Baggie - saw his point-blank shot deflected past the same upright by Aaron Chalmers. And, from the resulting corner, Karl Ledsham rattled the bar with a header.
Chalmers, after earning himself a yellow card due to a skirmish with Garvin (who was also booked), sought to make a more positive contribution to proceedings with a shot from outside the County box. And Garvin, a little later, did likewise, by way of a curling free kick that McMillan did well to tip over.
HALF-TIME: Stalybridge 0, County 0.
Dixon remained the Badger most likely to bait County. And, having sounded a declaration of further intent towards the end of the first half, with a free kick that narrowly cleared the Hatters’ bar, he began the second by volleying just wide of the left post at the other end.
The Hatters were now, however, kicking down a noticeable slope - and towards the goal in which all five successful strikes had ended up during the course of County’s 2-3 reverse at Bower Fold last term. With that end’s Joe Jackson Stand in their sights, they were to Look Sharp once more...
Sean O’Hanlon led by example, to begin with - getting himself onto the end of a Baggie free kick from the left of the home area, before heading over. Brewster, following an impressive run on the left flank, fired across goal with a delivery that narrowly evaded Ledsham at the far post. And - once again from the left - Jonny Margetts dragged a byline-delivery back to Ledsham, whose shot hit the near upright.
In the wake of such County pressure, a goal for the hosts would, without doubt, have been against the run of play. They did, as it happened, get the ball into the net with twelve minutes of the game remaining - only for would-be scorer, Dixon, to be flagged offside. The same player looked to make amends moments later - only to fire a shot high and wide.
The Badgers continued this mini-revival by earning their first corner since the break - leading to a header by home Captain, Matty Hughes, that was safely gathered by Andreas Arestidou. But, immediately following that, County took the lead - with Arestidou’s clearance finding Margetts, who ran to the edge of the home area before unleashing a low drive that went in off the left post.
Margetts, from a not-dissimilar position, had an opportunity to double his, and County’s, tally just after the re-start. The Tranmere loanee’s shot on this occasion flew over - but, with a minute of normal time left on the clock, he departed to deserved applause as Kay Odejayi was brought on.
Alas for Big Kay, his cameo appearance was to end in heartbreak. Celtic earned a free kick on the left in added time - and, from the deeply-delivered set-piece, John Shaw, lurking beyond the far post, headed the ball back towards goal. The ball was clearly net-bound - although its last touch, just in front of the line, was courtesy of Odejayi’s own head.
For the players and magnificent County Faithful turnout alike, the initial reaction was understandably one of despair. But, on further reflection, some good heart should be taken from what was a much-improved performance from Boxing Day. A repeat at Harrogate this coming weekend would surely see the North Yorkshire side presented with a grittier test than that it faced in the reverse-fixture at EP.
But that is - quite literally - for next year. In the meantime, as these reports are invariably wont to sign off, the Hatters end 2015 in the eighth position that we appear to have made our own of late. Let us be forgiven for hoping that, in this instance, it is just for Christmas - and not for life!
And, with that in mind...
A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO HATTERS EVERYWHERE!
FULL-TIME: Stalybridge 1 (Odejayi, o/g, 90 + 1), County 1 (Margetts, 82).
Team: Arestidou, Tonge, Russell, Smalley, O’Hanlon, Garvin, Baggie (Evans, 71), Montrose, Brewster, Margetts (Odejayi, 89), Ledsham.
Unused Subs: Ormson, Morton, Roberts.
Booked: Garvin.
Attendance: 1,516.
Appearing on a COWS near you shortly...
*****************************************************************************************************
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC v COUNTY: MATCH REPORT (28/12/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
County Denied By Badgers’ Late Sett-Piece
The Hatters came away from this Bank Holiday ‘SK derby’, having avoided defeat for the first time in three National League North matches - and, for good measure, having ended a run of three games against Celtic in which they had shipped three goals on each occasion.
But, while these good things came in triplicate, County will have been bitterly disappointed not also to claim all three points at Bower Fold, after conceding an equalizer in added time.
A 4-4-2 starting-formation in SK15 was the order of the afternoon, as it had been in SK3 on Boxing Day - although the line-up showed three changes from that which had taken to the field at Edgeley Park against Harrogate. Abs Baggie and Joe Garvin both earned recalls, together with Charlie Russell - who, having spent much of the campaign to date on loan at Ramsbottom, was given a left-sided midfield role to mark what would be his first competitive appearance of the season in a County shirt.
Wade Joyce, Gareth Roberts and an injured Glenn Rule were the players to step down - with Roberts being named among the substitutes. The hosts’ squad, meanwhile, showed not a trace of former Hatters - despite having included no fewer than four in the starting eleven for the corresponding fixture in 2014/15.
Storm Eva’s passing offered some respite from the elements prior to the arrival on UK shores of the only-just-named Storm Frank, and a watery sun tinged the tree-line around Bower Fold as County, adorning the Dizzy Blonde pink look, launched the first attack of the game. Delial Brewster began the move - playing a neat one-two with Baggie, before seeing his shot saved by Tony McMillan at the second attempt.
The Badgers were to go even closer on two occasions, before five minutes of the contest had been played. Bohan Dixon was County’s tormentor on both occasions: firstly unleashing a shot that was cleared off the line, and behind for a corner, by Lewis Montrose; and then latching onto a trademark Oliver Crowley long throw, before heading against the Hatters’ crossbar.
Having survived these early scares, County settled down and enjoyed much the better of things for what was to continue as a lively - and, at times, feisty - first half. The pace of Baggie and Brewster constantly kept the home defence on its toes - and, from the right and left flanks respectively, these players tested McMillan in the course of two separate forays.
The Hatters continued to apply the pressure in a series of further attacks. Brewster shot narrowly wide of the right post, before Russell - fed by Baggie - saw his point-blank shot deflected past the same upright by Aaron Chalmers. And, from the resulting corner, Karl Ledsham rattled the bar with a header.
Chalmers, after earning himself a yellow card due to a skirmish with Garvin (who was also booked), sought to make a more positive contribution to proceedings with a shot from outside the County box. And Garvin, a little later, did likewise, by way of a curling free kick that McMillan did well to tip over.
HALF-TIME: Stalybridge 0, County 0.
Dixon remained the Badger most likely to bait County. And, having sounded a declaration of further intent towards the end of the first half, with a free kick that narrowly cleared the Hatters’ bar, he began the second by volleying just wide of the left post at the other end.
The Hatters were now, however, kicking down a noticeable slope - and towards the goal in which all five successful strikes had ended up during the course of County’s 2-3 reverse at Bower Fold last term. With that end’s Joe Jackson Stand in their sights, they were to Look Sharp once more...
Sean O’Hanlon led by example, to begin with - getting himself onto the end of a Baggie free kick from the left of the home area, before heading over. Brewster, following an impressive run on the left flank, fired across goal with a delivery that narrowly evaded Ledsham at the far post. And - once again from the left - Jonny Margetts dragged a byline-delivery back to Ledsham, whose shot hit the near upright.
In the wake of such County pressure, a goal for the hosts would, without doubt, have been against the run of play. They did, as it happened, get the ball into the net with twelve minutes of the game remaining - only for would-be scorer, Dixon, to be flagged offside. The same player looked to make amends moments later - only to fire a shot high and wide.
The Badgers continued this mini-revival by earning their first corner since the break - leading to a header by home Captain, Matty Hughes, that was safely gathered by Andreas Arestidou. But, immediately following that, County took the lead - with Arestidou’s clearance finding Margetts, who ran to the edge of the home area before unleashing a low drive that went in off the left post.
Margetts, from a not-dissimilar position, had an opportunity to double his, and County’s, tally just after the re-start. The Tranmere loanee’s shot on this occasion flew over - but, with a minute of normal time left on the clock, he departed to deserved applause as Kay Odejayi was brought on.
Alas for Big Kay, his cameo appearance was to end in heartbreak. Celtic earned a free kick on the left in added time - and, from the deeply-delivered set-piece, John Shaw, lurking beyond the far post, headed the ball back towards goal. The ball was clearly net-bound - although its last touch, just in front of the line, was courtesy of Odejayi’s own head.
For the players and magnificent County Faithful turnout alike, the initial reaction was understandably one of despair. But, on further reflection, some good heart should be taken from what was a much-improved performance from Boxing Day. A repeat at Harrogate this coming weekend would surely see the North Yorkshire side presented with a grittier test than that it faced in the reverse-fixture at EP.
But that is - quite literally - for next year. In the meantime, as these reports are invariably wont to sign off, the Hatters end 2015 in the eighth position that we appear to have made our own of late. Let us be forgiven for hoping that, in this instance, it is just for Christmas - and not for life!
And, with that in mind...
A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO HATTERS EVERYWHERE!
FULL-TIME: Stalybridge 1 (Odejayi, o/g, 90 + 1), County 1 (Margetts, 82).
Team: Arestidou, Tonge, Russell, Smalley, O’Hanlon, Garvin, Baggie (Evans, 71), Montrose, Brewster, Margetts (Odejayi, 89), Ledsham.
Unused Subs: Ormson, Morton, Roberts.
Booked: Garvin.
Attendance: 1,516.