Fresh Hatters in
DONCASTER ROVERS ... 1 COUNTY ............................ 5
LEAGUE Two leaders Stockport County returned to action in style on Saturday, with a 1-5 thumping of woeful Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium to move five points clear atop the table.
Dave Challinor’s side clearly felt the benefits of a second January spell of more than a week without a game, racing into a two goal lead inside the opening ten minutes through Paddy Madden and an Owen Bailey own goal.
The resurgence of Connor Lemonheigh Evans continued as the midfielder netted a third to put the Hatters well in control by half-time, before Madden and Tanto Oalofe added early second-half goals to seal a South Yorkshire rout.
The result secured County a first away win in eleven weeks, which coupled with defeats for both Crewe Alexandra and AFC Wimbledon saw Challinor’s title hopefuls move five points clear of second place, and crucially seven points clear of fourth place with a game in hand.
With County’s last time out prior to Saturday coming a fortnight prior in a 3-1 home win over Walsall, Challinor was afforded the luxury of a triple chance as Madden, Nick Powell and Macauley Southam-Hales were recalled – replacing Neill Byrne and Ryan Croasdale (both of whom featured as substitutes), as well as the injured Kyle Wootton.
Southam-Hales was not the only Hatter returning from an injury lay-off a little sooner than anticipated, as the County bench also included the presence of Myles Hippolyte and Antoni Sarcevic – along with recentlyarrived Aston Villa loanee
Rico Richards.
In a clear sign of things to come, County fashioned the first chance of the afternoon with fewer than three minutes on the clock.
A neat flick by Madden to Lemonheigh Evans saw the latter cut in from the right before forcing home goalkeeper Louis Jones to parry.
And shortly afterwards, Nick Powell’s shot was deflected behind by Tom Nixon to earn the Hatters the first of two corners on the left in quick succession.
From the second, delivered by Southam-Hales, County went ahead, as Madden rose to head in at close range for his 12th goal of the campaign in all competitions.
Owen Bailey then went close for the hosts’ courtesy of a deft header flying just wide of County’s right post.
But moments later, another header by the same home player at the opposite end was to double the Hatters’ advantage, as, to his horror, he glanced past his own ‘keeper after connecting with a Lemonheigh Evans delivery from the right.
Joe Ironside – son of former County goalkeeper Ian – dived to head well beyond the Hatters’ upright, and Kyle Hurst, having latched on to Rowe’s low cross from the left, scuffed a shot past the opposite post, as the hosts strove to reduce their arrears.
A few minutes later, the Hatters had a third – and almost replicating their opener, albeit from the other side, as Ethan Bristow’s corner on the right was swung in for the impressive Lemonheigh Evans to head home.
Odin Bailey then went close in a dominant firsthalf for County, with a free-kick testing Louis Jones, who tipped the delivery around the right post.
With the home support growing more and more frustrated with their side’s awful display, The Hatters spurned further opportunities to add to their tally before the half was up, as defender Joseph Olowu blocked a Madden shot, Bailey, having been
played through by Powell, was denied again in a oneon-one with Jones; before Powell himself clipped the crossbar with a delightful chip from a tight angle.
Four Doncaster substitutes were introduced upon the resumption, but their side’s plight worsened further within a matter of 25 seconds, as Southam-Hales crossed from the right for Madden to head his second, and County’s fourth, goal of the afternoon.
County’s fifth arrived nine minutes later, as leading scorer Olaofe netted for the 16th time in all competitions – diving to head in, after Lemonheigh Evans had delivered from the right.
But, after a further ten, the hosts interrupted the run of five headed goals, as well as troubling the scorers for the first time themselves, as Ben Close, on the left, crossed for substitute Harrison Biggins to bundle home from close range.
Hakeeb Adelakun, newly signed on loan from Lincoln, and Biggins skied shots over, and Madden – whilst on a hat-trick – did likewise at the other end in added time, leaving the emphatic scoreline unchanged.
This dominant display and scoreline equalled County’s highest-ever winning margin over Donny – and more importantly, gave Challinor’s men some element of breathing space in the automatic promotion race.
Next up comes the visit of high-flying Harrogate Town to Edgeley Park this Saturday, with Simon Weaver’s side nicely poised for surprise tilt at the League Two play-off positions after a strong campaign so far.