Vanarama National League North 
Edgeley Park
Saturday 1st September 2018

Paul Holleran was left exasperated as a key decision went against his side for the second time in five days at Edgeley Park.

James Mace was sent off just before half time for what the Brakes boss was adamant was ‘a good, clean tackle’ on Nyal Bell, having headed in a deserved leveller only minutes beforehand.

After viewing footage of the game, Monday’s match referee admitted a misjudgement with a decision that saw Joe Clarke incorrectly booked prior to a free kick which led to Telford’s first goal, but the Leamington boss was left to rue another key decision against his side that left them unable to fully compete in the second half, having more than matched their hosts during the opening forty five minutes.

No doubt eager to make a good start having lost both their games over the August Bank Holiday, Stockport were on the front foot in the opening few minutes, Tony Breeden twice darting from his line to clear the ball from danger. On the second occasion he was caught by Frank Mulhern, who was cautioned for his trouble, Breeden incurring the displeasure of the home fans on his 300th appearance for the club, something he is well used to dealing with and rising above.

Matt Stenson endured a frustrating afternoon, working hard to hold the ball up with little reward and was well marshalled by the County defence, his first effort on goal coming in the early stages when he headed Kieran Dunbar’s right wing cross into an easy area for goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe to claim. Mulhern sent a similar effort into the arms of Breeden at the other end after Jamie Hood had conceded a corner.

Connor Taylor came agonisingly close to his first Brakes goal when his flicked header was acrobatically turned over the bar by Hinchcliffe as the ball was headed back into the centre from Leamington’s first corner of the game.

Stockport attempted to break as they moved the ball to half way but Callum Gittings was there to mop up, his clearance turning into a decent ball which Stenson nodded into the path of Jack Edwards who was one on one with Hinchcliffe, the keeper making himself big and saving well. Two more efforts were blocked by the Stockport defence following another corner kick.

There was a scare for Leamington when a well placed free kick curled in from the right by Adam Thomas was headed against Junior English by Hood, but Breeden was there to punch clear from the resulting corner. He was powerless to do anything about the next ball that headed towards his goal seconds later however, Nyal Bell unleashing an absolute rocket of a strike into the top corner from just outside the box on 26 minutes to give Stockport the lead, a fine way to score his first goal for the club.

Goals breed confidence, and an off balance Sam Walker curled a decent effort just wide of the post as Stockport moved the ball around well.

Leamington were level six minutes before half time. Some good work by Joe Clarke won the ball back in the centre circle before he played it down the left for Connor Taylor, who won a corner which was played into the six yard box by Dunbar, James Mace rising highest to head back across goal into the corner.

Having hauled his side level Mace turned from hero to villain, at least in the eyes of the officials, when he put in a robust challenge on Bell to the right of goal on the edge of the box. On first viewing it looked like he won the ball, but after consulting his assistant on the near side who had a perfect view, Referee Dean Hulme appeared to have decided that the challenge was a reckless one, and showed him a straight red card.

Hatters’ skipper Jordan Keane tried his luck from distance early in the second half with a powerful drive that just cleared the bar, while Bell directed a header past the upright from Walker’s free kick.

Bell was on the hunt for more goals, and his mesmerising run into the box ending with a pull back into the centre that none of his team mates anticipated. Walker came close again seconds later when he drove another powerful shot just over the bar.

A rare foray forward for Leamington saw Junior English win a free kick just outside the box, but Dunbar could only place his shot into the arms of Hinchcliffe.

Brakes would have expected to have to defend in depth being a man down but unfortunately they didn’t do themselves any favours when conceding a second goal on 59 minutes, Hood getting his feet tangled up on the edge of the box while trying to clear his lines, allowing Connor Dimaio the chance to curl a fine effort beyond Breeden into the net.

Paul Holleran threw on Kieran Morris for his debut, and the youngster thought he had done enough to deny Stockport as he did well to hold up Darren Stephenson on the left, but Breeden was unable to hold Dan Cowan’s stinging drive and could only shovel the ball into the path of Stephenson, who drove it low into the net.

Mulhern then danced into the box on the left and looked to beat Breeden with a curling effort towards the far corner, only for the ball to strike the outside of the post.

County were stroking the ball around with confidence now, and a dangerous looking move towards the edge of the box was only halted by a timely intervention from Connor Taylor. Hood then used his upper body strength to muscle substitute Matty Warburton off the ball as he bore down on goal.

The hosts seemed to settled for the win in the closing stages, going down to ten men themselves as skipper Keane hobbled off. Brakes battled well to prevent a heavier defeat, but will wonder what might have been had they been able to contest the whole game with eleven men on the pitch.

‘I’m bitterly disappointed, because prior to the red card, what we wanted to come and do here, we did,’ said Holleran after the game. ‘If it wasn’t for poor finishing and good goalkeeping we could have been two to the good. We responded well to going a goal down and looked a threat from set plays all afternoon. There was a good tempo to the game and you’re thinking which way’s this one going to go, but then everything changes because of a bizarre decision. Because of the angle I had from where I was standing I had a perfect view of it. What people need to remember in football is that defending and tackling is a big part of it, and when you’re as mobile and quick footed as someone like James Mace is - he makes good, clean tackles. I don’t need to see it again because I saw it clearly. It’s a good, fair, clean, hard tackle. It’s low, it’s one footed, but the decision has changed the complexion of the game.’

‘It’s hard enough coming to Stockport County and playing with eleven men, never mind ten. They make the pitch big, they overload you. If you keep a good shape with eleven you can contain them but we just got stretched. They opened us up a couple of times and we looked a bit flat after that. As much as you try to keep their spirits high as a manager, players feel deflated, they feel… let down basically. But we showed plenty of character second half, we didn’t allow it to get out of control. It’s put a dampener on the day, but we move on. You hope that these things even themselves out over the course of a season.’

Attendance: 2,680

Stockport County: Ben Hinchcliffe, Adam Thomas, Dan Cowan, Jordan Keane © (withdrawn, 90) Ashley Palmer, Chris Smalley, Connor Dimaio (16 Kallum Mantack 80), Sam Walker, Nyal Bell (12 Jordan Downing, ), Frank Mulhern (15 Matthew Warburton, 72), Darren Stephenson.

Subs not used: 13 Ian Ormson, 14 Josh Askew.

Leamington: Tony Breeden ©, Junior English, James Bowen, (15 Kieran Morris, 56). Joe Clarke (16 Joe Magunda, 81), Jamie Hood, James Mace, Kieran Dunbar (12 Ahmed Obeng, 79), Callum Gittings, Matt Stenson, Jack Edwards, Connor Taylor.

Subs not used: 14 Anthony Dwyer, 17 Tom James.

Referee: Mr Dean Hulme

Assistant Referees: Mr Alex Clark & Mr Jake Topp

Brakes Man of the Match: Jamie Hood.