STOCKPORT COUNTY 0, CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0
The first of three matches in March with Saturday lunchtime kick offs saw Stockport County share the spoils without troubling the scorers at Edgeley Park against in-form play-off rivals Charlton Athletic.
What was also their second draw in four days and first goalless stalemate since that in SK3 against Wigan four months previously, featured a greater share of opportunities for County to break the deadlock, especially during the second half when Kyle Wootton struck the woodwork.
The Hatters took to the field in bright sunshine for the early start scheduled to accommodate live television coverage showing five changes from their midweek starting line-up at Northampton Town.
Will Collar, Ollie Norwood, Ryan Rydel, Macauley Southam-Hales and Wootton were the recalled quintet replacing Callum Connolly, Sam Cosgrove, Kyle Knoyle, Owen Moxon and Ibby Touray, all of whom were named among the substitutes.
A mazy dribble into the box by Tanto Olaofe in the first minute earned County the first corner of the afternoon after the striker’s shot was deflected beyond the left post by Kayne Ramsay.
At the other end, two minutes later, Miles Leaburn cut in from the left to unleash an effort that cleared the Cheadle End crossbar.
The next pieces of early action featured Callum Camps who, having moments earlier struck a shot that took a deflection behind, went to ground in the Charlton area under a challenge from Thierry Small, but referee Martin Co, signalled a goal kick rather than a spot kick.
Shortly after the quarter-hour mark, the South East London visitors, arriving on the back of three straight wins, including two against fellow play-off contenders, which had propelled them up into fifth place, one position and two points behind County, went close again through Leaburn who spooned a shot over at the far post after the Hatters had failed properly to clear Josh Edwards’ long throw from the right.
Ramsay was the next Addick to try his luck with a shot from distance that stung Corey Addai’s hands. And, just past the first half’s mid-point, a County break saw Collar cross from the right for Wootton whose header was gathered up by visiting goalkeeper Will Mannion.
Ten minutes ahead of the break, a free kick from the left by Rydel, making his 100th appearance as a Hatter, found Ethan Pye who headed wide of the far upright. And, unusually, not a second of added time was played as the sides went in at half-time with both defences unbreached.
Having not registered an attempt on target during the first half, the Hatters did so within less than a minute of the second as Collar headed on Rydel’s cross from the left to Wootton whose shot was superbly parried off the line by Mannion.
Collar then saw an effort deflected past the left post and, from the resulting corner by Norwood, a Brad Hills header fell to Wootton who went close again with a strike on the turn that hit the top of the bar.
County’s good attacking spell continued with Camps firing narrowly over from the edge of the box, but it was also punctuated by breaks for treatment to visiting players with substitute Chuks Aneke (twice) and Lloyd Jones receiving attention.
Benoný Andrésson and Moxon were brought on to assist the County cause with a quarter of an hour remaining and the Hatters continued to press as Olaofe and earlier substitute Knoyle had shots deflected behind, before Mannion was forced to tip Lewis Bate’s free kick from the right around the far post.
Chances for the Addicks had been at a premium since the interval but, with two minutes remaining, they went close through Macaulay Gillesphey who headed just shy of the near post after connecting with Karoy Anderson’s delivery from the left.
Stockport (4-2-2-2): Addai; Southam-Hales (Knoyle 58), Hills, Pye, Rydel; Bate, Norwood (Moxon 75); Collar (Cosgrove, 90+1), Camps; Wootton (Andrésson 75), Olaofe. Subs (unused): Metcalfe, Touray, Connolly.
Attendance: 10,338 (1,193 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.