14th January 2019 - Stockport Town 3 v 1 Tranmere Rovers - The weekend had been busy, and the day today a mad scramble to catch up. I had a sore throat, aching guts and the skies overhead refused to give birth to any serious sunlight - hardly a motivating scenario to say the least . Despite the gripes I went for a bike ride earlier in the day, spotted my first Bumblebee of the year and when I came back did some chores. I had snooker on the TV and pondered the golden age of the sport when Willie Thorne and John Spencer were lovers, Terry Griffiths once had a fling with a pool table and Perrie Mans held a surf-boarding contest on the ripples of his barnet. Great days and even I was affected by the ball-potting mania and spent six-months in Broadmoor for having tried to live my life as a naked Ted Lowe look-a-like. I was only caught out when trying to buy a bag of spuds in the local corner shop I became aroused and the blue tip of my love-cue knocked over a display stand of Ajax floor cleaner. I tried to whisper my way to freedom but to no avail - hey ho - these memories put things into perspective for sure. So with pink balls pocketed, the sofa cushions left behind I made a break for it and headed for Stockport Sports Village for tonight's Cheshire Senior Cup First Round Tie. The result looked a formality but hey, Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson, Wigan won the FA cup, Joe Johnson won the Snooker World Championship and Fred Flip won the World Tiddlywinks Cup despite only having 1 nipple - you just never know. On arrival I met STP Stu, Stockport Town Club Secretary the hobbling Rob York, wagged the jaw and slurped a beverage and this is what went on soon after that!
The Town came out perky and looking up for the task but the first attack of any prominence came via the young Tranmere side. No 4 (Bradley Roberts) played a quite exquisite ball that was placed for No 10 (Franklyn Akammadu) to gallop after. The striker latched onto the sphere, partially rounded the keeper and was bumbled to the deck, no penalty was the decision. The Rovers used this moment as a motivating force and warmed to the night's task although the hosts remained rock solid and more than held their own. Their No 7 (Callum Dolan) was in fact the next man to have a punt following a decent bout of possession. He duly received, made himself a bit of space and sent in a whistling shot that was ever so slightly shy of the upright. In return, after numerous loose balls (ooh painful), an attack of substance came with Akammadu once more at the apex of matters. The hefty frontman gathered, muscled his way through and let fly from the angle. The denial of a goal came from the host mitter who saved and even stopped the ball going for a corner - good work man. The Lions had the next chance, a quality move saw No 9 (Gavin Salmon) put a pass to No 11 (Reece Skelton) who drilled in a low sizzler that forced the keeper to sprawl and turn behind. The corner in was a peach, No 4 (Thomas Greenfield) rose and nutted home to give his side the crucial breakthrough - the game was now set up very nicely indeed.
Further into the intrigue we went, Akammadu for The Rovers made a menace of himself again, he got through, was molested by the keeper and put off his stride but still managed to cross with No 12 (Jake Burton) on the end of it trying to place the ball into the net - wide it went. The guests now began to push with more direction, but the home lads won two corners against the flow. The first just missed an incoming crust, the second needed the mitters fisted attention and when The Town's No 3 (Jack McConnell) caused confusion, Dolan was allowed to shoot just off target. From here Tranmere worked hard but were contained by the discipline and hard work of their opponents. They eventually broke out wide with No 2 (Kyle Hayde) flashing in a cross that Akammadu nutted off-line - it was a great chance and should have levelled matters. Another move minutes later saw a lightning kick come across The Lion's box with Burton just too late to touch home. The last attempt of the half came for the resident team with a free-kick delightfully struck by Dolan who bent one to the top corner only to see the ball graze the outside of the horizontal - that would indeed have capped a good 45 minute display for sure.
Half-time and a squirt, a slurp and a roam back round to our viewing positions. As things stood this was going to be a mighty close game, certainly an unexpected outcome for we two onlookers.
Half-two began with a straight shot from the kick-off that was perfectly placed with the ball dropping inches below the bar, Luckily the keeper was wide awake early on and readily tipped over. The corner produced nothing and then we had a hold up as a Town player needed time to shake off a knock. Suddenly, from the restart, Tranmere Rovers had a good bout of possession, knocked forth a long ball that Akammadu chased. Town's Greenfield tried to put in a tackle, the ball fell and bumbled off his feet, past the mittman and into the awaiting net - own goal I thought (although on the NWCFL website the striker was given the nod), how utterly, utterly cruel - was this a serious turning point? Stockport would not take this insult laying down and responded with a red-hot move that was finalised with Dolan getting tumbled in the box. The penalty shouts were frenzied, the chance perhaps to regain the advantage partially glimpsed - the referee smiled, remained impassive and waved play on. Moments later and a Town corner came that saw Gavin Salmon nut goalward close in and watch the ball get booted off the line - this was a fine response to the recent disappointment, they are made of stern stuff these Stockport hoofers. To keep them on their toes No 5 (Kiarno Samms) incessantly barked encourgament and orders, each verbal outpouring peppered with expletives and laden with much desire - and why not?
We were now 2/3's of the way through the match, 2 Town free-kicks came close, but alas, not close enough. The same side kept on pushing, in and around the box matters developed, Dolan gratefully accepted possession of the globe at the angle, blasted in a low shot and 2 - 1 it was. A sound strike, a just reward for much effort, could Tranmere now respond? The answer was 'no', as The Lions came again and Foley cut in, beat his marker, let fly and rattled the upright. It was a great move, the end result was far from fair! 2 substitutes came, 1 for each side, Tranmere now trying to force the issue. The Rovers had a corner, No 6 (Carl Spellman) put a header wide, Town responded, Dolan weaving like Rumpelstiltskin and threading a golden cross for Salmon to hit first time and finalised a quite splendid performance. Tranmere had two last attempts on goal, 15 (Nathan Corness) got hold of a long ball and lobbed an advancing keeper only to see the globe land on top of the cross bar and at the death No 7 (Ben Kerr) worked inward, had a dig but failed to make the mittman sweat. And that my dear perusers, was that! A great win for the Stockport Town lads who are really turning the season around. Man of the Match must go to the home No 7 (Callum Dolan) who was a cut above, a constant menace and who displayed good skill, fine pace and, most importantly, a strong work ethic. Homeward I went, I wasn't expecting the end result - then again, I never do!
FINAL THOUGHT - A minor shocker this, or was it? Tranmere fielded a diluted side, Stockport Town are on a good roll and blazing with desire - we really should have expected the unexpected perhaps - Roald Dahl, this was one for you. The fact of the matter remains though that between both units there was nothing to separate them and at the end of the 90 minute stretch the hosts were good value for the victory. The key to further success is keeping this group of player's together and keeping them hungry. Many will come and dangle carrots (hey, there are some deviants who may dangle other things as well), and how to keep these predatory hawkers at bay is anyone's guess but a sense of unity, team spirit and enjoyment will certainly help. Tranmere Rovers are having an average season judging by their league position and will be looking to progress further. I am sure this loss will be no great shakes as they have bigger fish to fry but each and every match should matter and I am sure they would have liked to have nicked this one. I wish them all the best in their endeavours and note was made in the good sporting way they played this game with no griping, no nastiness and a swift passing style. I'll keep an eye on how they get on as I pootle in the lower depths, tis where I am happiest, and on tonight's evidence it is easy to see why!
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