Jim’s praise for resilient County
STOCKPORT County manager James Gannon hailed his side’s resilience after they began the National League North season with a 4-3 victory over Alfreton Town.
After initially throwing away an early lead, a stoppage time goal from Gary Stopforth gave the Hatters the win at Edgeley Park, much to Gannon’s delight.
“It was a game of many parts. We flew into the lead and it could have been more,” he told the club’s official website.
“They got a goal and in the second half they
‘With each substitute we went up a level as we went further into the game’
started on fire. They pegged us back, but the mentality of both teams when they got the lead seemed to be to take their foot off the gas.
“At 3-3 they did it and tried to kill the game rather than going for the win. We always felt that after their good 15 minutes in the second half they would fade away. It was all about exploiting the fresh players on the pitch.”
Alfreton had Tom Allan sent off late on when the match was still all square, and Gannon felt that was the difference.
“Psychologically it makes a difference when a player is sent off, and it also changes the mentality of the group,” he said.
“Rather than being composed and controlled and continue doing what they were doing, they started trying to keep it in corner and were giving the ball away, fouling and giving away set plays.
“Their mentality got edgy and they didn’t cope well with that. Bringing Scott Spencer, Gary Stopforth and Josh Amis on gave us a sense of purpose to step the game up.
“I think with the introduction of each substitute we went up a level as we went further into the game.
“The sending off added to the game and I was pleased as we asked tough things of our front players to break and then get back in. With the squad we have we loaded the bench with attackers, so it was nice for them to bring on extra forwards and get a goal.
Stockport’s goals came from a number of different avenues, and Gannon has revealed which areas he has been focusing on.
“We’re only just touching on corners and freekicks at the moment, but we’re working really hard on goal kicks and throwins, so it was nice to score from them,” he said.
“Most people don’t really analyse where goals come from but I do, and then the players buy into it. Our third goal was a free kick too, and a third of our goals came from set plays last year.”
Stockport were set to travel to Bower Fold to take on Stalybridge Celtic as the Express went to print on Tuesday.