Match Report – Yeovil Town 2 Stockport County 1

The opening chance of the match came from the right side with a cross finding the familiar face in Stockport striker (and former Huish Park favourite) Paddy Madden at the back post. His header was well stopped by Grant Smith in the hosts’ goal.

Six minutes later, Will Collar‘s superb cross-field ball found wing back Sam Minihan found himself in pace and got in behind Morgan Williams and found Madden on the edge of the box, but his shot went over. Thanks, Paddy, we appreciate it.

The opening 20 minutes saw possession almost entirely dominated by the visitors with the home side doing well to hold their shape.

On 33 minutes, Luke Wilkinson had a free-kick easily saved by Ben Hinchcliffe in the Stockport goal, but two minutes later Neufville had a strong penalty shout having been dragged down in the box.

Put that in the ‘seen them given’ category, but the ball then broke to Reid who slipped at the crucial moment with the goal at his mercy.

That seemed to sting the visitors who upped the ante and a venomous free-kick struck by Ryan Rydel dipped over the wall and was well turned over by Smith.

Then, just when you thought it was the visitors who were more likely to take the lead, Yeovil took the lead and it was no surprise that it was Tom KNOWLES who got it.

If there’s one thing which has been unquestionable from this team, it is the forward’s incredible commitment and after 43 minutes be burst down  the right, he cut inside, the Stockport defenders let him run and he finished it brilliantly. Well, that wasn’t in the script.

Despite being ahead, when the fourth official’s board went up to indicate three minutes of injury time, chants of “We want Priestnall Out!” were clearly heard around Huish Park. The chairman was in attendance for the first time since the televised FA Cup match with AFC Bournemouth back in January.

Stockport manager Dave Challinor made his intentions perfectly clear from the start of the second period introduction ex-Glovers’ winger Myles Hippolyte and Ollie Crankshaw at the break.

The changes saw a reorganisation in formation by the visitors which they did not immediately settle in to and, with ten minutes of the second half gone, it was this disorganisation in midfield that led to Yeovil doubling the lead.

A great combination by combination by Lawson D’Ath and Dale Gorman sent Josh NEUFVILLE away and the Luton Town loanee ran through, holding off Minihan and coolly slotted home the second.

Challinor responded again with another change the of shape again as Connor Jennings came on for Scott Quigley after 58 minutes later. Seconds after, a teasing cross by Crankshaw was heading towards Jennings who was positioned to poke it home at the far post, only for Mark Little to get just enough on it.

Max Hunt, who played superbly on his return after injury, deflected a volleyed shot from Madden wide four minutes later.

But, after 70 minutes, Stockport halved the Glovers’ advantage. Another ball in from the right came to Madden who sliced his effort, but it broke nicely to Myles HIPPOLYTE and the former Glover came back to haunt his old employers.

A blue flare was lit and thrown from the away fans, leading to a delay and, when play did restart, the first action saw Stockport midfielder Will Collar was red carded for high foot challenge on Gorman. The Northern Irishman jumped for the ball and still managed to connect with the foot of his midfield opponent.

On 78 minutes, Neufville left his marker behind and was clear through on goal, but dragged his shot wide.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Stockport continued to press and as seven minutes of injury time were shown by the fourth official a half-volley from Hippolyte went just wide and then soon after Madden had the ball in the net. The ex-Glovers’ hero could not beat the offside flag.

As the sixth minute of stoppage time ticked over, there was incessant pressure from the visitors with corners from the box stopped by heroic defending and the game