Gannon pleased with Stockport grit after superb comeback win
WITH the top four divisions suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, Stockport County were one of the few sides in action on Saturday.
The Hatters re-entered the National League playoffs as they came from behind to beat relegationthreatened Maidenhead United 2-1.
The hosts opened the scoring through a Dylan Ansoganyi volley in the 27th minute prompting boss Jim Gannon into a double substitution at half-time introducing Elliot Osborne and Liam McAlinden.
Ash Palmer levelled the scores through his third headed goal in as many games just before the hour mark.
With 14 minutes left McAlinden struck from 20 yards as County scored more than once in a game for the first time in 2020.
After a stuttering start to the year that didn’t see them win until the February 15, the Hatters are now unbeaten in six games.
Manager Jim Gannon credits the upturn in form to his side’s attitude.
“We’re on a good run, we’ve needed that,” he said. “It’s all about the grit and the integrity and this game showed that.
“We’ll just leave what will happen next with the government and the National League, but for now we’ll enjoy the victory.”
Curzon Ashton gained a vital three points in their battle for survival as they beat second bottom side Bradford Park Avenue 2-0.
Midfielder Mike Calveley opened the scoring at the end of the first half with a fantastic finish with the outside of his right foot.
With five minutes to go substitute Fabio Tavares then doubled the Nash’s advantage putting Curzon 11 points clear of the bottom two.
Despite a second-half Tunde Owolabi hat-trick, FC United lost an eight-goal thriller at the top of the Northern Premier League as leaders South Shields ran out 5-3 winners. The Durham side raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time thanks to two goals from former FC striker Jason Gilchrist and one from Josh Giles.
A triple substitution at half-time from FC saw them revitalised as Owolabi made it 3-1 only for another former FC player Nathan Lowe restore the advantage less than a minute later.
Owolabi made it 4-2 in the 70th minute but Bali Mumba killed hopes of a comeback in the 89th minute before Owolabi completed his hat-trick in stoppage time.
Manager Neil Reynolds rued his side’s first-half performance as they remain in second. “It was absolutely abysmal, shocking. I don’t know what happened. Too many lads didn’t turn up,” he said.