STOCKPORT COUNTY 5, BOLTON WANDERERS 0
Stockport County returned magnificently to winning ways, and propelled themselves back up into the play-off places, with a five-goal flourish in SK3 against near-ish neighbours Bolton Wanderers.
A fourth successive game in all competitions at Edgeley Park, and first league meeting with the Trotters for 23 years (although the clubs’ paths had crossed four times in knockout competitions during the intervening period), saw the Hatters, in front of a five-figure crowd, respond perfectly following their chastening midweek defeat by the same scoreline at the hands of League One’s other Wanderers, from Wycombe.
Will Collar’s second goal of the season gave County a first-half lead, before three in 16 minutes from Kyle Wootton, Fraser Horsfall and Louie Barry put the Hatters in total control, ahead of substitute Odin Bailey’s strike for the fifth late on.
The Hatters took to the field on a grey afternoon showing four changes from their starting 11 against Wycombe four days earlier. Ben Hinchliffe was handed his first league start of the campaign, Macauley Southam-Hales and Ryan Rydel started for the first time following their respective lay-offs of nine and 13 months, and Ollie Norwood was also brought in – replacing Corey Addai, Jack Diamond and Lewis Fiorini, all of whom were named among the substitutes, as well as the suspended Ethan Pye.
The Hatters’ line-up also included a one-time Bolton player Callum Connolly, who had spent the second half of the 2018/19 season on loan with the Trotters – currently sitting just outside the play-off positions, and three places above County, following an initially indifferent start to their campaign.
The visitors created the inaugural chances of note around the 10-minute mark with Welsh international Josh Sheehan seeing a shot deflect behind off Horsfall and, after the resulting corner from the right, chipping towards skipper George Johnston who headed over.
Ten minutes later, the Hatters won their first corner, after a Rydel free kick had found Horsfall, and the defender’s bullet of a header had been tipped around the right post by visiting goalkeeper Nathan Baxter.
As the half-hour approached, Barry stole in from the left to pick up a loose pass by Ricardo Santos – only for Baxter to stand tall and keep out the shot. But within another minute, Barry turned provider to decisive effect from the left by-line – cutting back to tee up Collar, whose first-time shot pinged through a crowded six-yard box to put County ahead.
A couple of minutes before the break, Wootton – with Baxter off his line – attempted a lob towards goal from just inside the Bolton half, but the ‘keeper back-pedalled to gather up the ball on the bounce. And, in added time, Baxter made a more conventional save, diving to smother Collar’s low shot from the edge of the area.
The second half could not have started better for the Hatters, who doubled their advantage within a little more than a minute following the resumption.
Rydel’s corner from the right led to a few moments of pinball in the Bolton box, before Barry floated a delivery from the left for Horsfall, whose volley was parried by Baxter but only as far as Wootton, who blasted into the roof of the net for his seventh goal in all competitions.
Nine minutes later, County had a third – and Horsfall the goal his earlier efforts had deserved. Again a corner led to it – albeit from the left, and taken by Norwood, this time – as the defender connected with the out-swinger to head home inside the far upright.
And just after the hour, it was four courtesy of County’s and League One’s leading scorer. Another misplaced Santos ball was gleefully accepted by the unmarked Barry, who advanced towards goal and finished without undue ceremony but with great aplomb.
Two sets of County double-substitutions were made following the fourth goal – and, with a quarter of an hour remaining, Connolly looked to get in on the scoring act against his former club, but his shot from distance was cleanly caught by Baxter.
Bolton’s top scorer, Dion Charles, was denied a consolation when his shot from just outside the area was blocked by Horsfall. But at the other end, and one minute from time, Bailey made no mistake as his stunning strike completed the rout.
Goals: Collar (29), Wootton (46), Horsfall (55), Barry (62), Bailey (89) for Stockport County.
Stockport County (3-4-3): Hinchliffe; Connolly, Horsfall, Touray; Southam-Hales (Hughes 63), Norwood, Bate, Rydel (Adaramola 63); Collar (Fevrier 68), Wootton, Barry (Bailey 68). Subs (unused): Addai, Diamond, Fiorini.
Attendance: 10,342 (843 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.