DOVER SOUL CAN’T STOP A HATTERS PERFECT 10
PADDY Madden’s late goal saw Stockport County set a club record of ten wins in all competitions – but only by the skin of their teeth.
Madden struck six minutes from time after battling Dover frustrated the league leaders in this top-versus-bottom clash despite playing with only ten men following the 37th-minute sending off of Myles Judd.
“We’ve been good at keeping clean sheets and that has been important for us today because we have not been at our best in terms of our quality, admitted a relieved County boss Dave Challinor.
“I don’t think we did not deserve to win the game but it looked like it was going to be one of those days for us.”
County started the stronger and should have opened the scoring inside three minutes. Macaulay Southam-Hales crossed and it looked for all the world Scott Quigley would nod home but he missed the ball completely.
But what would end up Dover’s best chance of the game came early and Koby Arthur should have done better than scuff his shot wide when he found himself with a half-chance on the angle.
A botched Dover clearance fell to Madden, he advanced towards goal and Adam Parkes pulled off a wonderful save, the ball looked like it was falling to Quigley but Jake Goodman made a goal-saving challenge.
Dover had worked incredibly hard to keep the scores level but received a massive blow when Judd caught Southam-Hales with a poor challenge and referee Paul Marsden produced a red card.
Dover made it to halftime but it was maximum pressure on Dover after the break as the Hatters shot towards their favourite Cheadle End.
But the best chance of the half fell to Ash Palmer, up from the back he skied his volley from eight yards after Ollie Crankshaw’s pullback. Southam-Hales and then Palmer then fired more ammunition over the bar.
It seemed the deadlock would not be broken but it was Madden who finally got the breakthrough and over 7,000 County fans erupted.
Rydel swung another corner in, Will Collar headed towards goal, Madden was in the way and poked home to spark the loudest decibel levels inside Edgeley Park for a long time.
Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler was fulsome in the praise for his side. “I’ve been in the game a long time and I’ve probably lived through a career of working like that week in and week out and that epitomised me a little bit today and that’s why I’m so proud,” he said.
“They gave everything for the shirt and that’s the key. We’re not giving up, we’re going to keep fighting. I’m speechless to be honest, I feel for lads in the changing room.”