FENTON IS FUMING AS BELL SAVES STOCKPORT
Hatters battle back to drown in-form Mariners
SUBSTITUTE Nyal Bell scored a late winner as Stockport County came from behind to beat gallant Evo-Stik North league leaders South Shields at Mariners Park.
It was far from straightforward though with the Hatters made to work for their win against determined and plucky opposition.
Carl Finnigan gave South Shields the lead just after the half-hour mark, but County replied almost immediately through Sam Walker.
The game looked set to finish level but Bell smashed home in stoppage time to send County into the third qualifying round.
“We’re really pleased” said Stockport manager Jim Gannon.
“When the draw came out we knew it was an extremely tough fixture.
“South Shields are really moving forward as a club, they’ve attracted a lot of good players and they’re top of their league.
“We’ve scored from two set-plays and we do a lot of work on that, but there’s a lot of work still to be done by us.
“This was important because if you’ve had a poor run in the league and then you lose in the cup everyone thinks the season’s over.”
County had won only one of their last seven coming into the fixture and they started the game slowly.
Finnigan snuck in ahead of Ben Hinchliffe but lost his footing, the ball fell to Gavin Cogdon on the edge of the box but his shot skewed wide.
The game was being played at a high tempo with both sides looking dangerous without really creating anything.
Shields took the lead on 30 minutes with the game’s first real proper opening.
Blair Adams burst down the right-hand side and fizzed a pass across the face of goal which was tapped in by Finnigan.
Stockport were level with the game’s next chance, Adam Thomas’ corner was fumbled by Liam Connell and Walker was there to take advantage.
Connor Dimaio then came close,
trying his luck from range, but his curling effort was just over the bar in the last chance of the half.
As with the first half, both sides were struggling to create chances after the break but Stockport came close again when Frank Mulhearn worked himself an opening, although Connell was well-placed to turn his shot behind for a corner.
The visitors were dictating the game and should have scored with 20 minutes left. Mulhearn played the ball across goal and Ash Palmer was waiting at the far post but couldn’t connect.
Stockport grabbed a decisive winner in the dying minutes, as Walker’s free kick found Bell, who fired home an acrobatic effort.
“I don’t care where they’re from, they are not as good as us as a team,” said South Shields joint boss Graham Fenton. “They beat us because we weren’t anywhere near our best. It’s that simple.
“I think possibly the occasion got to a few people. I don’t care if they’re a league higher or not, we should not be getting beaten by teams like that.
“We’re disappointed. It’s great to be involved in games like this, but not when you get beat and not when you get beat by teams that are not as good as you.” STAR MAN: Sam Walker (Stockport) ATT: 1,707 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Aaron Bannister