TALE OF TWO GAMES FOR COUNTY FANS

A WEEK of contrasts started with a trip to old rivals Chester in the Cheshire Senior Cup last Tuesday. I know for a lot of supporters this competition is an unwelcome addition to the season but to the 200-plus who made the short trip it’s something worth winning and win the game we did.

It was an evenly balanced game, both sides having chances but that all changed when Millenic Alli came on as a substitute and had an immediate impact, racing from the half-way line, round the defence and shooting from the edge of the box. Great stuff, and something the firstteam strikers should be taking note of!

The week got better as on Friday Antoni Sarcevic, pictured below, was unveiled as a free transfer from Bolton. A real coup that even had a mention in the national press as it was so unexpected!

Then the antithesis. The much anticipated trip to Meadow Lane and the County battle.

There was a huge following of the faithful, by car, coach and train, it felt like Stockport and gone en masse to watch the game – 90 minutes later how many wished they hadn’t? All the hard work done in winning the past three league games was undone by a performance that was as bad as anything we’ve seen so far.

It says something when our MOTM was Ben Whitfield who only played the last 20 minutes.

Far too many of team went missing. Madden, injured early, struggled through the first half when it was obvious to all that he wasn’t fit.

I’d forgotten that Rooney and Croasdale were playing they were so ineffectual.

Our wide players – Kitching, Crankshaw and Southam-Hayles – came up against a home defence that did their job exceptionally well. While up front Quigley spent most of his afternoon either on the floor or arguing with the referee about why he was on the floor.

It was hard to spot what the boys in blue were doing; did we have a game plan? Was there any system? Or was it a group of talented individuals who can’t play as a team? Whatever the management had worked on during the previous week obviously wasn’t working.

In fact, it wasn’t until added time that we managed to get anything from the game. Sarcervic was fouled in the box and Whitfield slotted home from the spot but by then large parts of the away end were empty as the faithful gave up. We’ve now got winnable games coming up and they must be won or any thoughts of promotion can be waved goodbye.