County Defeat Tranmere

Stockport County put out League One side Tranmere Rovers in the first round of the Carling Cup last night after a late Matty McNeil winner.

County stuck with the same side that beat Dagenham on Saturday, and put in a similar performance.

The game was a midfield battle, and County were winning it. However Tranmere had the tall Zola upfront and soon resorted to playing long balls to Zola and playing off him, Zola came close with a header from a cross aswell, but Conrad Logan brilliantly pushed the ball away from goal diving low to his right.

There weren’t many more clear cut chances in the first half, the pitch was wet and any long balls skidded off the surface. It was tough for both keepers but the score remained 0-0 at half time.

In the second half there was only one side playing football. County were all over Tranmere but were failing to make any proper chances, so Gannon resorted to Saturday’s tactics and brought on Liam Dickinson for Adam Griffin, giving County three strikers.

And Dickinson was soon in the game, he crossed for McNeil, who thought he had scored from five yards, but the Tranmere defender slid across and brilliantly stopped the ball crossing the line.

Despite not playing well Tranmere still had the odd chance, and Calvin Zola again went close with a diving header.

Steve Davies then went close but Logan again saved brilliantly, he had kept County in the game with his two magnificent saves.

But with five minutes to go County attacked and Liam Dickinson broke free, he was brought down by a defender and the keeper slid for the ball. The ball went out of the box though, and Matty McNeil struck the ball from 20 yards out, it went through the sea of bodies and into the back of the net. 1-0 to County!

And that was it, there was no more chances and County had won again!

Two games, two goals, two wins, two clean sheets, and into the second round of the Carling Cup!

We’re on the way up!