CHALLINOR IS GETTING A TUNE OUT OF HATTERS
Stockport showing top form
DAVE Challinor has taken the handbrake off at Stockport County – and now they are heading for top gear.
County netted four more at Wealdstone to take their tally to 16 goals from their last four games, moving them into playoff contention.
They are only six points behind leaders Chesterfield and are playing the type of football under new boss Challinor that was expected of their star-studded squad.
Stockport’s lack of goals under Simon Rusk ultimately led to his sacking last month but since then they’ve scored 24 in seven games.
Ollie Crankshaw bagged a second half hat-trick in their latest rout – having thumped King’s Lynn Town 5-0 in midweek – to crank up the promotion push.
“We have to try and build that momentum and keep it going,” said Challinor, whose team led at the break through Scott Quigley. “We’re a long way from where we want to be but there’s been positive signs. Hopefully it shows others we’re putting a run together and carrying a bit of momentum.
“I have my thoughts on how and what can be successful at this level. I want us to be on the front foot, press, high intensity, high energy, we’ve got a real plethora of attacking players.
We need to use that.”
County showed
Wealdstone manager Stuart Maynard enough to predict they’ll go all the way.
“They’re a top, top team, the best we’ve played by a mile, I think they’ll go on to win the league,” he said. “If they went into League Two I think they’d be in the title race as well with the squad they’ve got.”
The National League’s front runners will know they are being hunted down by a revitalised County.
There will be tougher tests to come for Stockport but Wealdstone, who were unbeaten in five, are no mugs and, only last weekend, took a point at Wrexham.
Their keeper George Wickens did his best to thwart the Hatters, saving from Ryan Croasdale and Ryan Rydel.
Wealdstone’s bright moments came through right-wing back Jayden Sweeney, whose left foot shot was turned behind down low by Ben Hinchliffe and from the resulting corner, Connor McAvoy shot wide.
Similarly, Stockport’s success came through their attacking
full-backs Rydel and Macauley Southam-Hales – the latter putting an opening on a plate for Quigley, who missed from three yards.
But he soon did score when Antoni Sarcevic won the ball deep in the Wealdstone half off Alex Dyer and played in Crankshaw. His effort was blocked but Quigley arrived to fire home. From then on there was only going to be one winner.
Quigley and Southam-Hales both shot over at the start of the second half before Rydel drove the ball into the area and Crankshaw turned it in.
Then he had a tap-in from another low cross before stealing possession off the Wealdstone defence and slotting past Winkens for a hat-trick.
Wealdstone at least saw sub Ira Jackson blast past Hinchliffe for a consolation but knew they were well beaten.
“To try and get to where Stockport are at the minute is hard because of the financial backing,” added Maynard. “But, as a group, that’s the standard we need to aspire to.”
STAR MAN: Ollie Crankshaw (Stockport) ATT: 1,382
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Scott Jackson