By Nathan Jackson
February 4 2006

Stockport should avoid relegation if this game is anything to go by, however, finishing proved to be the difference. A debut goal from Martin Gritton, as well as a Yeo shot and Frecklington's first the club were enough against a stubborn Stockport side who refused to give up throughout the game

Stockport started the game, however, they immediately gave the ball to City who in turn, immediately gave it back to the hosts and in form Le Fondre tried to dance around Cryan but the Imps defender was able to get his typically calm clearance which set Yeo through, however, the striker couldn’t even pull off a shot as a stubborn Stockport defence kept Yeo well out from goal.

 

Matt Hamshaw, who was highly rated by the hosts almost helped the Hatters open the scoring but his cross was headed over by Griffin and it was a very positive start from the hosts, who were showing why they had just gone 6 league games unbeaten. The hosts could have opened the scoring in the 6^th minute when they won a corner, the ball was swung in and Marriott punched click despite the presence of Dickinson who almost connected with a header that would have almost certainly gone into the net.

 

City did finally manage s hot when Green provided Yeo with a clinical pass but the in-form striker couldn’t direct his weak shot on target. City’s best chance came with 15 minutes on the clock and it says it all about City’s half when Green blazed his close range shot high into the top tier of the huge stand behind the goal.

 

Stockport continued to press and were impressive, playing plenty of flowing football but failing to get anywhere near the Imps goal but there was no question that Stockport were well on top and the Hatters really should have opened the scoring in the 25^th minute when Matt Hamshaw found himself clear in the area. He took his time before placing his shot straight at Marriott and Marriott recovered in time to save the rebound and it was defiantly a moment where Stockport should have taken the lead.

 

Hamshaw was proving the focal point for anything Stockport were creating and he had the next opportunity for the hosts when he won a free kick after McCombe’s challenge, where he clearly won the ball, was deemed a foul. However, Hamshaw found getting passed McCombe twice a struggle as he struck the free kick straight at the defender.

 

Fans in the main stand were cheering in the 32^nd minute when they thought Dickinson had scored, however, his first time effort from Le Fondre’s cross, went narrowly wide of the post. Despite of Stockport’s domination of the first half, it was City who almost scored the games first goal when Steve Robinson crossed the ball to Gareth McAuley and the defender’s header was only prevented from entering the net via Mark Robinson’s goal-line clearance and that was the final noteworthy event of the first half.

 

City kicked off the second half and immediately kicked the ball out for a throw in, nothing new there. City actually started the 2^nd half brightly and 3 minutes in, Green almost scored his first league goal since April but he headed Steve Robinson’s cross against the bar.

 

However, that just proved to be a minor distraction from Stockport’s oncoming dominance and for a team that’s down near the bottom of the table, they certainly looked capable of opening teams up easily and without creating many chances, City were being outplayed by a passionate Stockport side.

It took 15 minutes for the first chance for either team in the 2^nd half. Nat Brown broke free and ran towards the goal before passing to Yeo, however, the striker was fouled by Mark Robinson just outside the box. Yeo stepped up and smashed the goalkeeper against the goalkeeper who parried it and Martin Gritton, making his debut for City, was on hand to smashed the ball into the net from close range to score his first goal for City and to give City an undeserved lead.

 

However, Steve Robinson was soon penalised for hand ball. The free kick was floated towards the back post and Keith Briggs hit the shot as hard as he could, the ball bounced off the underside of the bar and it was 1-1 with 2 minutes of City taking the lead. It was a great finish by a player who isn’t known for scoring many goals.

 

City responded by going straight back down the other end and Jamie McCombe headed straight at Spencer, the keeper could only punch the ball and it fell to Kerr who produced a thunderbolt volley, however, a fantastic goal was prevented by Kerr’s inability to aim it anywhere else than straight at the goalkeeper.

 

Then Keith made a surprise substitution. Out of all 3 of the strikers, Green had been the most productive in this game but he was forced to make way for Lee Frecklington. Stockport continued to press, however, City hit them on a counter attack and Steve Robinson played Simon Yeo through. The striker, we 3 goals in 4 appearances since returning to City, ran at the goal but the keeper stood still surprisingly and Yeo produce a good right footed finish past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 and you could tell by the look on the strikers face that he was delighted to score.

 

The goal clearly stunned the hosts and City continued to press. Jude Stirling came on for the impressive Jeff Hughes. Stirling was called into action immediately as he took a typically excellent throw in and it could have lead to a goal but Yeo managed to fall over whilst shooting.

 

Then came a moment that will please a lot of fans for many reasons, City had controlled the period since the previous goal and Stirling set up another goal as his throw was headed goalwards by Gritton. The goalkeeper parried the header and Lee Frecklington had the simple task of tapping into the empty net in front of him to register his first professional goal.

 

Stockport were clearly deflated by this, however, with 4 minutes, it was 3-2 after a scramble in front of goal. A free kick was swung into the box and Dickinson managed to find his way through the crowded box and into the net for 3-2. There was real panic for the Imps just minutes later when Clare smashed a shot goalwards, Dickinson went to flick the ball but didn’t make contact and Clare’s shot went into the net, however, the linesman ruled it out for offside, caused by Dickinson’s attempted flick and the Imps were defiantly let off.

 

Stockport continued to press, however, all this pressing meant that they were left exposed at the back and it defiantly showed as the Imps wasted chance after chance after chance in added on time.

 

The first came when Marvin Robinson was released via a Stirling throw but the striker could only shoot well over. Marvin Robinson again wasted a great opportunity when Yeo released him, Robinson ran towards goal and shot against a goalkeeper who again refused to move, but the striker’s shot hit the outside of the post.

 

Yeo wasted a great opportunity when he was through one on one with the keeper, however, he decided to try and produce a half volley finish which went well wide of the goal. Again the goalkeeper didn’t move.

 

The final chance was by far the best. Spencer had the ball and Steve Robinson chased the ball down, Spencer kicked it straight at him and the ball bounced to the side, Robinson chased it and had an empty to shot into, however, he managed to miss with a placed shot from the edge of the area.