Return to form For leaders
COUNTY ............................ 3 WALSALL .......................... 1 SAM BYRNE
LEAGUE Two leaders Stockport County earned a muchneeded return to winning ways on Saturday, with a deserved 3-1 victory over an improving Walsall side at Edgeley Park.
The 0-2 home defeat to title rivals Mansfield Town had started 2024 on a sour note for The Hatters, with a remarkable injury crisis continuing to dampen spirits around the club despite Dave Challinor’s side holding onto top spot throughout the last few months.
But an excellent second half showing was the catalyst here for County to remain top yet again, as goals on the day from Akil Wright, Tanto Olaofe and a late Paddy Madden penalty sealed all three points over Mat Sadler’s Saddlers.
After a twelve day break from action following that Mansfield loss, Challinor was rather forced into four changes to his starting line-up owing to yet more injuries and absences around the camp.
Minnesota United loanee Ethan Bristow was handed his debut, whilst the returning Connor Lemonheigh Evans went straight back into the side following his recall from a loan spell at AFC Wimbledon last week.
Defender Neill Byrne and striker Olaofe were also handed starts, replacing Ethan Pye and Kyle Knoyle – both of whom had suffered injuries during the Mansfield loss and now face several weeks and months out of action respectively.
Ibby Touray has now departed to the African Cup of Nations with Gambia and will be away from The Hatters’ camp for the next month or so.
Ryan Croasdale took the captain’s armband in place of Paddy Madden, who featured on a bench that also included teenage right-back, Jid Okeke, newly recruited from Oldham Athletic under the Emerging Talents programme at Edgeley Park.
There were naturally some nerves around the ground at County’s jittery run of form in recent weeks, but The Hatters started on the front foot and were largely dominant in possession throughout the first half.
Visiting goalkeeper Jackson Smith was the first into action on the day, as he smartly tipped Odin Bailey’s header over the crossbar, with Bailey starting just days after his signing as a Hatter been made permanent from Salford City.
The visitors were looking for a sixth victory in seven league matches, and fashioned their first real opportunity ten minutes before the interval, with the lively Tom Knowles testing Ben Hinchliffe low from distance.
But, during a half in which chances came at a premium, it would take until stoppage time at the end of the first half for both sides to trouble the scoresheet.
Shortly after Liam Gordon had headed over a glorious chance from a Knowles cross for Walsall, The Hatters looked to have earned a half-time lead through deputising rightback Wright.
The former York City man collected Bailey’s clever backheel to drill home hard and low from 25 yards, with mere minutes remaining until the break.
But County’s joy was short-lived, as straight from the restart, Douglas James-Taylor headed in at close range after meeting another corner by Knowles.
That instant leveller threatened to break the hosts’ stride going into the second half - but within ten minutes of the restart, the advantage swung back in County’s favour.
After a comedy handball by Knowles on the County left, an excellent free-kick by Callum Camps curled past Smith and cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and onto the upright, with
Olaofe the man on hand to lunge in and head home almost on the goalline.
Lemonheigh-Evans and Wootton forced saves from Smith in quick succession thereafter, and Byrne skewed a shot over as County looked to turn the screw.
The Hatters sought to freshen up their attacking effort by introducing Madden and Nick Powell – and within three minutes of the change, the former stepped up to make the game safe by converting with typical aplomb from the spot, after Lemonheigh Evans had been felled by Gordon following a clever give-and-go with substitute Powell.
The win maintains County’s two-point lead at the top of the table, while results elsewhere saw the cushion above the playoff places increase to five points.
Up next, weather permitting, comes a trip to managerless Notts County this Saturday (20th January) at Meadow Lane, with Notts having recently lost popular manager Luke Williams to Swansea City, and playing their part in a barmy 5-5 draw with Grimsby Town at the weekend. COUNTY LINE-UP (4-4-2): Hinchliffe;