Careless County Crushed

A shocking Stockport County performance gifted Mansfield the three points in the first half hour of the game.
Jim Gannon made two changes to the team that lost 4-3 at The Valley on Tuesday, with Irishman Gary Dicker being replaced by Anthony Pilkington for his first league appearance this season, and Keith Briggs returning from a long-term injury for a straight swap with full-back Michael Bowler.
County had the first chance of the game, Jason Taylors drilled effort bringing an unorthodox save from former County player Carl Muggleton.
Mansfield haven’t won all season yet, so just Countys luck to get battered at Field Mill. And in the third minute of the game, Matty Hamshaw crossed for John McAliskey to collect and volley past Logan. 1-0.
Any thoughts of County coming straight back out of the blocks were dashed four minutes later when another ex-County player, Martin McIntosh, curled home an outstanding free-kick. Who’s ever heard of a central defender taking curling free-kicks?
So, County were 2-0 down after 7 minutes against a team whos fans have just been voted the most pessimistic in the Football League. Not after this game, they won’t be.
Jason Taylor could have given County some hope, but this was an un-Taylor like performance, and his shot sailed over.
County were being ripped apart at the back, and Gareth Owen nearly gifted ‘Field another goal when he allowed Mike Boulding to back-heel to Mullins, who nearly knocked out a couple of stewards with his ferocious volley.
Not to worry Stags fans, if you had any doubts, you can always count on County to give you a goal. Hamshaws corner was headed in by Captain Jake Buxton. If we want promotion, why the hell are we doing this against Mansfield of all teams?!
Conrad Logan saved a penalty at Charlton, only for it to be retaken. He must be feeling even worse after this. Stephen Dawson was in the area, and Logan, who had to come out, tripped the midfielder. Penalty. Booking for Logan. But not to worry, he dusted himself down and saved Mickey Bouldings well-struck penalty.
Like I said, after just saving a penalty, typical County shoot themselves in the foot. A minute later, the so far ineffective Taylor brought down John Mullins, and this time Mickey Boulding beat Logan from the spot. 4-0.
At this stage, County fans must have been thinking ‘Come On Gannon, sort it.’ And thats what he did.
Adam Proudlock, who had looked the only County threat, flicked the ball past Muggleton. 4-1. Surely not another comeback?
Gannon hauled off Matty McNeil and Jason Taylor and brought on Gary Dicker and winger Griffin before half-time.
And it worked. A couple of minutes later, Dicker sprayed it on the floor to Pilkington, a tactic County hadn’t been using, instead choosing the route one Hoofball. Pilkington ‘skinned’ the full back Gareth Jellyman, and crossed for Adam Proudlock to fire home.
Half time and it was 4-2. Surely not another ‘Charlton’ style comeback?
The second half began, and this time County DID come flying out of the blocks, with loanee Paul Tierneys free kick cleared off the line at the far post.
County were shooting towards their fans this half, and the Blue ‘N’ White Army were furious as the referee denied a clear penalty as Elding was tripped. An interesting fact is that the referee yesterday is the same referee that officiated the 7-2 drubbing at Rochdale. This game was panning out in exactly the same pattern.
County carried on trying, with a win looking more and more unlikely as time went on. The effective Pilkington nodded back to Elding, whos header hit the top of the net.
County were thrown a huge lifeline when Lee Bell was dismissed for an unforgivable two-footed lunge on Adam Griffin.
County had a few chances, with Elding missing three easy ones, but it was Matty Hamshaw who had Mansfields last big chance with a 55 yard run only to be denied by Conrad Logan.
So that was that, 4-2 against an average at best side who hadn’t yet won at all in the league, and had just been battered 3-1 against Morecambe. It was a shocking performance, and if we want promotion, we need to beat these sort of teams.