Browse Sections

• Stockport County FC
• Sale Sharks
• Local football
• Local cricket

Heartbreak

27/12/2007

Shrewsbury Town 3
County........................1

TWO late goals crushed the hopes of ten-man County at the New Meadow.

Anthony Pilkington produced a stunning 73rd minute strike to haul the gallant Hatters back to 1-1 after they had seen Michael Raynes red-carded in the first half, but later goals from Shrewsbury’s Ben Davies and a Dave Hibbert spot-kick meant the three points were to stay with the high-flying hosts.

County boss Jim Gannon made a couple of changes for the trip to Shropshire, but despite going into the game on the back of a three-game unbeaten run, everything appeared to go against the visitors in the first half.

Hatters’ ‘keeper Conrad Logan almost produced a comical own goal in the opening seconds after making a mess of a clearance from Raynes’ back-pass, before the Shrews went close with the first real opportunity on four minutes when David Hunt fired a long-range effort just wide.

Early on County looked comfortable enough and only lacked that killer final ball, but they were punished by an old nemesis on 22 minutes.

Davies floated a free-kick into the County box, and veteran striker Andy Cooke - who scored two hat-tricks against the Hatters last term - flicked the ball home.

The recalled Gary Dicker shot straight at Shrews’ ‘keeper Glyn Garner, but County’s prospects were dealt a savage blow just before the half-hour mark when centre-back Raynes body-checked the on-rushing Marc Tierney, and referee Mr Woolmer sent him off.
County were stunned, but they did manage to hold out until the break as Cooke and Davies missed chances to increase the hosts’ lead.

The visitors rallied gamely after the restart, and after Logan had tipped a Hibbert shot onto the County crossbar, Gannon’s men did grab a lifeline with 17 minutes left.

Pilkington twisted and turned inside Marc Tierney just outside the hosts’ box, before smashing home a shot which beat Garner all ends up.

Parity was restored and the Hatters were eyeing an unlikely yet hugely welcome point, but just three minutes later Shrews’ sub Chris Humphrey crossed, and there was Davies who thumped home a sweet diving header.

Hibbert’s penalty four minutes from time, after Gareth Owen upended Stewart Drummond, finally ended County’s gutsy resistance.

COUNTY: Logan, Owen, Poole (Tunnicliffe, 31), Dicker, Griffin, Briggs, Raynes, Pilkington, Dickinson (Elding, 80), Turnbull, Proudlock (Tierney, 75). Subs not used: Rose, Tansey.