Town’s late rally leaves Wild agitated
ANDREW CROMPTON STOCKPORT Town extended their unbeaten run to nine matches following a 2-2 draw away at AFC Blackpool on Saturday in the Hallmark Security League.
Goals from Richard Tomlinson and a Jack Williams penalty put The Mechanics 2-0 up in the second half.
And it looked like being one of those days when Daryl Grant earned Town a penalty – only for the rightback to place his spot-kick wide of the post.
But Aaron Dwyer and a stoppage time equaliser from Lions captain Adam Stubbs saw Town earn a point.
Following the game Lions boss Dave Wild gave his thoughts on the encounter. He said: “In all honesty I was extremely disappointed with how we played, we dominated in terms of possession and looked comfortable throughout but that was our downfall.
“We began to let off on Blackpool and weren’t anywhere near ruthless or aggressive enough and that cost us. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy that we scored two in six minutes but it shouldn’t ever take us 84 minutes to get going.
“We did enough to win the game, we hit the bar, hit the post and missed a penalty but to be fair to Blackpool and really when I say Blackpool I mean Jack Williams, they took the two chances they created and did the job we couldn’t for the main part of the game. Williams was a constant threat throughout and is a player that for me is certainly playing a level too low for his ability.
“We left ourselves with too much to do in short space of time, I appreciate that being 2-0 down with six minutes to go and getting a point is brilliant but it does feel like two points lost and that has left me very agitated!”
Stockport’s boss was overjoyed with Stubbs’ stoppage-time equaliser but felt on a different day the result would have been much different. Wild added: “As soon as we got the first goal I knew a second was coming because that’s the quality that we have in our ranks, so when we sent our keeper up for a corner and packed their box, there was always going to end up being a man free for us, and unfortunately for Blackpool it was Adam who dominated his marker and powered home.
“We were obviously elated with the goal and celebrated equally to that, but like I say, it’s left me frustrated. I said to the lads after, if the same 22 played each other today we would have won, it was just one of those games where the ball wouldn’t go in for us.
“It’s great that we’re now nine unbeaten but five draws is maybe a couple too many. There’s now been a couple of games that we should have put to bed and didn’t and that’s certainly something we’re going to be working on.
“To get nine unbeaten is something that we’re all very proud of and hopefully we can keep the momentum going on Thursday away at St Helens.”
Stockport Town face St Helens Town tomorrow (Thursday) night at 7.45pm with the match being played at Prescott Cables. The Lions then travel away to Atherton LR on Saturday afternoon, once again in the league, kick-off 3pm.
Boss Wild said: “We now have two games in 48 hours for the first time since I arrived as manager and it will be a huge test of character for our lads.
“We have a good solid squad so we will one hundred per cent be able to cope with the schedule and everyone is chomping at the bit to get involved a night game!”