STEVENAGE FC 2, STOCKPORT COUNTY 1
Stockport County returned to League One action with a trip south to mid-table Stevenage FC where they suffered defeat by the odd goal in three.
A goal for each side within four minutes midway through the first half – with Callum Camps cancelling out an opener from Boro – was followed by a decisive penalty shortly after the interval that secured victory for the hosts, who then proceeded to dominate affairs and deny County a first-ever point at Broadhall Way.
The Hatters, who remain in the play-off places, took to the field in bright mid-December sunshine showing just one change from their line-up that had started the most recent league fixture, against Exeter at Edgeley Park, the previous weekend – with Macauley Southam-Hales returning from injury to fill the right wing-back berth in place of Jay Mingi, who was named among the substitutes. The starters also included three – Louie Barry, Camps and Will Collar who had been completely rested from the EFL Trophy squad at home to Bradford City four days previously.
Each team featured a former player with Kyle Wootton returning to face a club with which he had spent time on loan from Scunthorpe during 2017 and the hosts’ captain Carl Piergianni having plied his trade as a Hatter in County’s inaugural National League campaign of 2011/12.
County earned the contest’s first corner in the opening minute. And this led to the opening chance, as Lewis Bate’s delivery from the left was met by Callum Connolly whose header was on target but parried away by home goalkeeper Murphy Cooper.
At the other end, just ahead of the quarter-hour mark, Jamie Reid – whose winner deep into added time had secured maximum points for the hosts when the two clubs had last met in Stevenage two seasons ago – tested Ben Hinchliffe with an angled drive from the right that County’s number one parried against the unwitting Dan Kemp before gathering up the ball on the rebound.
Kemp, however, made much more of his and Stevenage’s next opportunity at the half’s mid-point – running on to Reid’s flick and surging into the box to slot past Hinchliffe and put the hosts in front.
County’s response, four minutes later, was as impressive as it was instant with Camps, who, like Reid, had scored in the corresponding fixture of 2022/23, picking up a loose ball before advancing towards the home area and converting from outside it for his second goal of the season in all competitions.
Ten minutes before the break and following a good move to the left of goal involving Barry, Bate and Wootton, the ball fell to Collar, whose shot from the edge of the six-yard box was blocked by defender Dan Butler. And shortly afterwards, Barry cut in from the left – in a manner reminiscent of that which had already led to several goals for him as a Hatter – but, on this occasion, unleashed an angled shot to clear the crossbar.
As half-time loomed, Camps volleyed wide of the right post – and during the single minute of time added on, Barry saw an effort blocked following a late corner, as County finished the half strongly.
The Hatters, alas, were unable to start the new half as they had ended the old one as, eight minutes in, referee Alex Chilowicz pointed to the spot for Stevenage following Ibby Touray’s challenge on Jordan Roberts, and Reid stepped up to convert past Hinchliffe from the spot.
The hosts went close to increasing their advantage when White’s free kick from the left teed up Kemp who drilled narrowly shy of the near upright. And, either side of that, County set-pieces produced saves by Cooper following a Bate free-kick and Fraser Horsfall’s back-post header from an Ollie Norwood corner on the left.
Norwood was joined on the pitch by fellow substitutes Tanto Olaofe and Ryan Rydel as County strove to get back on level terms and, within minutes of his introduction, Olaofe delivered a dangerous ball from the right that was cut out by Cooper. The Boro, meanwhile, missed a late, gilt-edged chance to make the game safe, with an unmarked Nathan Thompson heading wide of the Hatters’ left post.
In the event, it mattered not for Stevenage, who stood firm in added time to maintain a 100 per cent home record against the Hatters on their fourth visit.
Goals: Kemp (22), Reid (54 pen) for Stevenage. Camps (26) for Stockport.
Stockport County (3-4-3): Hinchliffe; Connolly (Norwood 66), Horsfall, Pye; Southam-Hales, Bate (Olaofe 79), Camps (Bailey 90+2), Touray (Rydel 79); Collar, Wootton, Barry (Diamond, 90+2). Subs (unused): Addai, Mingi.
Attendance: 3,513 (667 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.