STOCKPORT COUNTY 0, BLACKBURN ROVERS 1
Stockport County, for a second year running, received Blackburn Rovers for a Friday-night friendly at Edgeley Park and, in what was a repeat of the 2023 pre-season meeting, as they lost to a single second-half goal from the penalty spot.
Tyrhys Dolan’s early second-half conversion from 12 yards proved the difference between the two sides in the Hatters’ third successive pre-season test against Championship opponents and penultimate warm-up game ahead of their League One campaign.
The Hatters took to the field in mild drizzle for another earlier-than-usual kick-off, in this instance at 7.30pm and showing five changes from the line-up that had started the two o’clock afternoon meeting in SK3 with Stoke six days earlier.
Tayo Adaramola was handed his first start as a Hatter, Jack Stretton appeared for the first time since County’s opening friendly at Chester having recovered from an injury while Jid Okeke and a couple of experienced trialists also featured from the outset.
The visitors put out a strong starting eleven, and within half a dozen minutes, they had gone close twice as, first, Makhtar Gueye connected with a cross from the left by Ryan Hedges, before firing just wide of the far post, and, subsequently, Callum Brittain saw his shot blocked by Adaramola.
Senegalese striker Gueye, who had signed for Rovers only three days previously, unleashed two further efforts that were respectively deflected behind, and directed straight into the arms of Corey Addai. And, after the half-hour, Brittain’s out-swinging corner from the right was met by Joe Rankin-Costello, whose touch fizzed beyond the far upright.
Both Kyle Knoyle and Stretton picked up knocks ahead of the break, to be replaced by trialists. But the Hatters went in at half-time on level terms, despite two further close shaves in front of their goal with Addai doing well to deflect a Gueye shot over, and Dolan drilling a low drive past the left post.
Having seen their guests monopolise chances in the previous half, the Hatters fashioned the first one following the resumption with Will Collar, at the far post, latching on to Trialist C’s cross from the right, and sending a goal-bound header downwards that visiting goalkeeper Aynsley Pears turned away.
But five minutes into the new half, the action switched to the other end, where the hand of Trialist D was struck by a Brittain delivery into the box. Referee Thomas Kirk pointed to the spot, and Dolan calmly slotted home his penalty to give Blackburn the lead.
Rankin-Costello and substitute Yuki Ohashi had shots blocked before Addai used his legs to deny Dolan as the final half-hour approached and the Hatters began introducing their young substitutes for the remainder of the contest.
With 12 minutes left, Addai used his height to his advantage and plucked from the air Sonny Tronstad’s sharp, angled attempt on the right. And Ethan Pye, in front of the line, blocked a shot by Dolan from the edge of the area.
Goal: Dolan (50 pen) for Blackburn
Stockport County (3-4-3): Addai; Knoyle (Trialist (C) 38), Horsfall (Watson 86), Pye; Okeke, Bate, Trialist B (C Johnson 59), Adaramola (Hillary 64); Collar (H Johnson 86), Trialist A (Gardner 59), Stretton (Trialist D 38). Sub (unused): Metcalfe.
Attendance: 2,790 (516 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.