It was another away day defeat for Stafford Town as they fell to Stockport Town 3-0 in bitterly cold, windy conditions. Stafford defended stoutly in the first half but lacked much attacking threat compared to the hosts, eventually conceding what always looked to be the crucial first goal early in the second half; two later mistakes playing out from the back ending the contest. There was an early chance for Stockport in the sixth minute, the forward somehow lifting the ball over the bar from close range following a low cross from the right. Two minutes later Kyle Ashman had a good effort from distance tipped over after he cut inside his man and drove towards the goal. Ben Vangucci then headed wide at the backpost from an inviting free kick by Josh Wilson. Stockport missed the target with another couple of chances and whilst they had thus far failed to get the final decision right they nonetheless looked the more likely to score. Stafford were struggling to pass the ball sharply enough to build attacks whilst frontmen Declan Arber and Ryan Taylor were finding it difficult to impose themselves on the well organised Stockport defence. After a Wilson delivery from a corner flashed across the Stockport goalmouth in the 25th minute, Wilson was involved in another cross from the left a few minutes later that was well defended for a corner. Stockport were having plenty of corners of their own but Stafford were generally dealing with them well, whilst the backline of Vangucci, Matt Dudley and Harry Bowers marshalled the significant threat from open play astutely. Stafford ‘keeper Henry Smith was also doing his part in the defensive effort, making one excellent save in the 44th minute when Stockport attacked down the left and cut inside to shoot. The half ended with an excellent run by Wilson, who carried the ball half the length of the pitch before being fouled on the edge of the area, the subsequent free kick coming to nothing. HT 0-0. In much the same vein as the meeting earlier in the season the first goal in the match looked likely to be decisive, Stockport failing to convert from a cross in the 49th minute and Smith pushing another effort wide minutes later. The 54th minute saw a dangerous break by Stafford eventually come to nothing, Arber opting to shoot when it looked as though a simple pass to Taylor would have resulted in a clear run on goal although perhaps he did not see him. Stockport eventually got the breakthrough in the 56th minute, an attack through the middle eventually leading to Smith being rounded and the ball finished. Stafford looked for a way back into the game but despite getting into the box in the 60th minute they could not get off a shot. After another Stockport shot was saved by Smith, Stafford gifted the hosts a second goal in the 75th minute that effectively ended the contest; substitute Ben Wood attempted to play out from the back but instead passed the ball straight to the Stockport forward who finished into an empty net. Stockport added some gloss to the scoreline with five minutes to go, again winning the ball high up the pitch and cutting the ball back into the box for the finish. FT 3-0 Stockport Town. Attention now switches to a huge Staffordshire Senior Cup match at Evans Park on Tuesday 30th November against our local rivals from higher up the pyramid, Stafford Rangers, followed by a home league tie against Cheadle Heath Nomads on Saturday 4th December.
