Great End To A Difficult Week

On a sun stroked afternoon at Haig Avenue, County bounced back from what has been a frustrating and difficult week in style as a late goal from Connor Dimaio saw the Hatters earn their first league win at Southport since 1956 to move up to fourth in the fleeting National League North standings.

Substitute Connor Dimaio's late winner gave County a crucial 3 points at Haig Avenue

It was said after our 5-1 demolition of FC United on the opening day of the season that the next two games away to both York and Southport would give us much more of an indication as to just where Jim Gannon's men are heading in to the new season. Unfortunately for the County faithful, said week got off to the worst possible start on Tuesday night as a lackluster and disjointed performance saw County fall to a 1-0 defeat in their last ever league visit to Bootham Crescent.

As impressive as County were against FC United, they were every bit as disappointing in what was their first real test of the season, failing to ever really test the York goal. A long distance strike from Paul Turnbull that thundered back off the crossbar was about as good as it got for County, who for the most part seemed content with playing it safe and grinding out a draw.

County fought hard but ultimately fell flat in a disappointing defeat at York City

To their credit, for the most part it looked like they would indeed come away with a point, frustrating the hosts who, for all their possession were unable to create much in the way of clear cut chances. They were presented with a glorious oppurtunity on 13 minutes however, as Turnbull brought down the aplty named Wes York in the area, the referee pointing to the spot. Soft? Perhaps, but a clumsy challenge from the captain none the less. In front of the County faithful however, Big Ben Hinchcliffe stood strong, diving low to his left to keep out Burrow's spot kick.

As the game wore on it became more and more obvious just how much Sam Walker's presence was missed in midfield after missing out with a virus; in his absence Turnbull and Keane struggled to gain any kind of control of proceedings. Mulhern was isolated up front without any decent service and struggled to impact the game, but the biggest loss for County was that of Scott Duxbury after just 3 minutes, the subject of a horrific challenge from Heslop that surely warranted a red card, the ref deeming it only worthy of a yellow, much to Gannon's frustration.

Hinchcliffe put in a superb display to keep York at bay, including a terrific early penalty save

The loss of Duxbury, combined with the County performance that followed, served only to highlight his importance to this team. In many ways he has become the sides most important player, so effective both in defence and going forward, he is effectively a Left Back and Left Winger simultaneously, bringing such balance to County's play down that left side. Mantack came on in his place and, try though he did, his lack of experience in that position showed.

Duxbury is expected to be out injured for a further 3-4 weeks at least, and Gannon has moved quickly in bringing in a replacement, attacking full-back Josh Askew signing on a months loan from Salford City. He was an important part of their title winning side last season, and will hopefully step up and fill the void left by Dux's absence.

The loss of Scott Duxbury is a huge blow for County as his impressive form of late has shown

Back to the game however, and County were finally punished for their sub-par performance with 15 minutes to go, as poor defending saw Langstaff getting in behind the County defence, pulling it back across the six yard box for the advancing York to run on to it and put his side in front. From that moment on, the result looked in little doubt, with the hosts always looking the more likely of the two sides to score again, and so County's first defeat of the season was confirmed.

Following such a disappointing night, the pressure was really on Gannon to go to Southport and get a result. Tough though the start to the season may be, two defeats from the first three games would have been unthinkable for a side with title aspirations. But get a result he did as a thoroughly professional performance saw County emerge with the points against their eternal 'bogey team' and supposed promotion rivals.

With Askew not deemed ready yet, it was Dan Cowan who was chosen to fill the Duxbury shaped hole in the team at Left Back, and produced a typically composed performance. In light of such a poor display in possesion on Tuesday, Gannon elected for a 3 man midfield consisting of Keane, Turnbull and Walker, in a 4-3-3 formation, allowing County to dominate possession early on and play on the front foot.

Sam Walker's return to midfield at Southport was crucial in maintaining Conty's strong foothold on the game

In the first half, Gannon's plan looked to be paying dividends, the boys from Edgeley dominating possession and having the better of the chances, the first of which almost resulting in a comical own goal inside the opening minute, the Southport Keeper Hanford just about recovering to smother a wayward back-header on the goal-line. Hanford was at his best a few minutes later, tipping over a fierce strike from Mulhern as County looked to press home their early dominance.

Not that Southport weren't a threat themselves however, classy midfielder and former Hatter Elliot Osbourne in particular coming close on a few occasions.. The games decisive moment however, came on 34 minutes, as Mulhern looked set to burst through before being brought down by Billy Priestley, 25 yards from goal. Priestley was deemed to be the last man and subsequently sent off, much to the home side's fury. In truth the decision looked somewhat harsh, but by the letter of the law, he had to go, and after the red card that never was on Tuesday night, it felt like justice done for County.

Chris Smalley was superb on what was his 100th appearance for County, earning a first clean sheet of the season

If anyone thought this would result in County going on to record an easy win however, they were very much mistaken. As is so often the case in these kind of fixtures, the red card served only to make it all the more difficult for County to break the stubborn Sandgrounders down, who to their immense credit, re-gathered themselves superbly and stood strong to deny County for long periods.

Indeed, for spells in the second half it was the 10 men, not the 11, who looked the more likely to score the opening goal as County toiled in their attempts to break down the block placed in front of them. Richards curled a shot inches wide of the far post for Southport, before a succession of corners for the hosts ended with Langley's header flying just past the post. Gannon opted to change things up early in the second half, Bell brought on for Warbuton to partner Mulhern up front in an attempt to stretch the play and draw Southport out, whilst Dimaio was brought on for Turnbull.

Mulhern was a live-wire up front for County and a constant menace to the Southport defence

As it transpired, those substitutions eventually made the difference. Dimaio came close within minutes of coming on, firing just over from the edge of the area before, finally, the decisive moment came with just 5 minutes remaining. Good play down the right between Stephenson and Minihan allowed the latter to cut the ball back for the onrushing Dimaio, 12 yards out, to drill the ball into the back of the net, break Southport's resistance and send the travelling County faithful in to raptures. Hard though they were made to work, County had come up with the answer when it mattered most.

And so, after a draining, physical and difficult week, County emerge with an away win at a perceived title contender, something that happened all too rarely last year, and six points from the opening 3 games of the season. When looking at the results of the other title favorites to date this season, it's certainly been a positive start for County.

The County boys celebrate the late winner that sends them up to fourth in the table

As mentioned, Southport have yet to pick up a point, York have lost two of their first three games, whilst Chester, incredibly, were mullered 8-1 up at Blyth on Saturday. It's a true testament to the unpredictable nature of the National League North,showing that, FC United aside, there truly is no such thing as an easy game, and so County's opening 7 days of the season must be considered a very solid base to build on.

Next up, recently relegated Guiseley visit Edgeley Park this Tuesday night, another tough game despite their indifferent start to the season, but one where a ferocious Edgeley Park atmosphere awaits under the floodlights. A win here would constitute County's best start to a season for many a year, as expectation continues to grow around the club that this time, we are in it for the long run.

Full Time Score: York City 1-0 Stockport County (York, 76)

Attendance: 3,218 (456 County fans)

Man of the Match: Ben Hinchcliffe

Full Time Score: Southport 0-1 Stockport County (Dimaio, 85)

Attendance: 1736

Man of the Match: Dan Cowan

Next Fixtures: Guiseley (H), Tue 14th August

Bradford PA (A) Sat 18th August