County 2-3 Brentford

Jim Gannon looked to have restored some confidence in the County camp after the 2-2 draw with Cheltenham Town on Monday. There also seemed an unusual air of confidence among County fans as I walked into Edgeley Park today. Something that hadn?t been there in recent months under Turner.

Gannon looked to stick with his 4-5-1 formation which worked well on Monday and the only change in the side was one which saw Dean Crowe go out of the side and onto the bench and for Danny Boshell to come into the side.

County could have and should have took the lead early on when a cross from Harpal Singh went across the Brentford penalty area but Keith Briggs failed to get onto the end of it. Briggs had another chance, which he should have also scored, just minutes later but a misfired volley was easily saved by the Brentford goalkeeper.

Brentford could have also took the lead when a well worked free kick went across the other way than expected and the ball then came back across but Spencer snatched it out of the strikers feet before he could guide it home (it sounds confusing, so was the free kick!).

Brentford did take the lead straight after though, when Brentford keeper Stuart Nelson smashed a goal kick up field, Michael Raynes let it bounce and took too long on the ball and this gave Lloyd Owusu loads of time to grab the ball off him and then pull of a great strike as he lobbed Jamie Spencer from 30 yards out.

County pulled it back level though just 6 minutes later when Danny Boshell passed a free kick (yes I said passed, not hoofed forward) to Damien Allen who slotted a wonderful through ball to Jermaine Easter who got the ball past the Brentford keeper to draw the game level after 20 minutes.

County should have took the lead just before half time when Keith Briggs made a defence splitting pass to Jermaine Easter but he slammed his shot against the cross bar.

The half time whistle went and at 1-1 County were in the game here. Yet again Gannon and Peter Ward rushed the players in at half time and they all responded and ran in.

It surprised me going downstairs that there seemed to be some life back among the County fans, because it was absolutely packed and it was like a rugby match to try and get to your destination. I was also delighted to see Scunthorpe beating Man City 1-0 at half time.

As I came back upstairs with my life fully intact the second half had already kicked off and County were on the attack. Harpal Singh was running down the left wing and attempted a cross which was blocked and went for a corner.

Singh and Hamshaw have their corner routine were Hamshaw taps it, Singh stops it and Hamshaw swings in a cross. It?s the opposite for the opposite side. The cross came across the box, Raynes missed the header but Briggs ran in at the back post and headed the ball into the net! 2-1 to County, the fans went mad, the Brentford fans went silent and the atmosphere of the County fans rose. 4th round of the FA Cup? It was a possibility with just 40 minutes left!

Brentford equalised in what was a dubious goal, but you could just tell it wasn?t going to be for County. When the ball was crossed the first time there was a good save and the ball went back out, but the ball was crossed a second time and Campbell headed (I think) towards goal and the linesmen flagged for the goal. Jamie Spencer came charging out of his goal towards the linesmen but it was a goal. It was also shown on telly that it was a goal.

County should have had a penalty when Easter was fouled outside the area, Singh picked up the ball took the free kick quickly and passed it to Allen and Allen was brought down inside the area by the Brentford keeper. The referee waved play on, but the County fans and players were sure it should have been a penalty! ?You don?t know what your doing!? rung from the Cheadle End as Brentford attacked.

The bottom of the league bad luck was compounded for County when Isaiah Rankin hit home to give Brentford the lead, and the place in the 4th round draw.

County didn?t give up without a fight though, and Jamie Spencer was even up for the last minutes for a succession of corners and throw ins, but it came to no avail as Brentford walked out the winners in what was a close match.

To compound the bad luck, Brentford will go and get Manchester United (or Burton Albion!) in the 4th round of the cup in a massive money spinner.

Not all was lost though, as mad Stockport County fan and friend Tony O?Shea won in the first round of the BDO World Championships 3-1 against Tony West. Lets hope Tony can put out a good performance this week, as he is also wearing a County coloured shirt with Stockport written across the back.