It’s a good job Conor is canonised. He’s untouchable. He resolutely refused to change owt, 2nd half, and we never saw the ball at our end (the end we were nominally kicking towards). It was screaming out for wholesale changes up top. Instead, Cleary (who had a dreadful 2nd half, couldn’t beat an egg) was allowed to limp on till the 77th minute. Then what? We chuck a left back on for him (Ogbeta), give it 10 more mins, then send on McGoldrick for Phillips (who can’t have been tired, he’d never moved from the centre circle the whole half, playing the Molby/Bland role).
Did I say we were all over the place? We possibly went to a back 5 (back 10?) with MdG moved inwards from his bizarre left back position he started in (skinned twice in the opening 10 minutes). I’m sure MdG appreciates being hung out to dry by St. Conor. Which meant not one, not two, but THREE centre halves unable to stop the County bloke having a free volley from close range in the 89th minute. One-all, and let’s hang on for the draw.
All this after an outstanding opening period, Yoganathan, Cleary, DKD and Kelly taking it to them, Shepherd and Roberts holding fort at the back, and Luca up and down winning tackles. After a couple of scares (off target efforts after those aforementioned skins of MdG) we took the lead with a cracking move. Yoga wins the ball, high, lays it to Kelly who drives forward before laying it out wide for a free Cleary to drill the ball across goal for Yoga to get his studs on it. Brilliant goal, and it could have been more.
Second half, everything changes. County may well have changed formation, or whatever. But they changed SUMMAT and Conor needs to learn to switch things himself. The equaliser, late as it came, was the LEAST County deserved.
Onwards and upwards!
*** Kelly. Drove forward time and again, even 2nd half.
** Connell. Good tackling, good covering, decent passing.
* Shepherd. Shepherd and Roberts were OUTSTANDING, 2nd half, but Shep nicks it just for the time Roberts brought the ball down like Beckenbauer...and promptly side-footed it straight to a Stockport player on the break.
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Kelly 2. Connell 3. Shepherd
Despatches:
For all their pressure, I remember Cooper only making one good save. MdG, a right-footed player who gets brickbats at right back, is blatantly not a left back. Ogbeta, who is, is benched again. Why? (Last week he was sick, but that was a week ago). As I said, Phillips was this week’s Bland. It took me ages to notice him, 2nd half, then I realised that’s cos he’s under instruction not to move. Just hold your position, Adam, that’s right, just stand there. No, no, another foot to the left. That’s it. Just there. Yoga, DKD, Cleary...classic performances of 2 halves. None of them turned up 2nd half. Oh, and McGoldrick came on and they scored 2 minutes later.
Still, I enjoy Stockport away. Like last season, Reedy and I went on a pub crawl after the match (cos, remember, the game had been switched to 12:30 so the nation could watch). Those crazy Belgians were over too (Chris’s...great nephew?...plus 2 mates). Some of the photos one showed us were an eye opener. I’ll leave it at that.
Oh, and they’ve only gone and given us a ROOF this season. As Andy struggled with his PTSD (‘reminds me of Crawley’) I marveled at how a roof built in 2025 could have so many stanchions. I presume it’s temporary (just like Gillingham’s away end). It was like watching from inside a marquee. But the rain was constant in the 1st half, and we were dry. (Does that mean we’re the opposite of a ‘fairweather team’?)
Drink du jour: Abbeydale Deception and Lancaster Wooky Juice at The Petersgate Tap, Siren Lumina and Deya Steady Rolling Man at The Cracked Actor, 2 beers for 17 quid at Threads, Konig Ludwig weissbier at the Piccadilly Tap.
Away: 1,152 (sellout)
The Damage:
£26 ent
£20.40 train
= £46.40
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