Stockport County 2 Barnsley 3

Guy Nelson

May 08, 2004

COUNTY'S 11-game unbeaten record came to an end when they crashed at home to Barnsley.

Defensive mistakes allowed in Nicky Wroe and Gary Birch in the first-half, and even though Owen Morrison scored a cracker for County in the second they were finished off by Alex Neil's goal.

Sun Stuart Barlow scored a consolation goal in injury time for the Hatters.

Injuries to striker Aaron Wilbraham, who fractured two ribs at Bournemouth last week, and Rob Clare (ankle) meant Stockport boss Sammy McIlroy had to make two changes to the side that earned the point that guaranteed County Second Division safety.

Luke Beckett was given his first start since suffering his cruciate ligament injury back in September, and Rob Jones was brought back into defence for his first starting appearance since October.

Beckett had a great chance to grab an early goal on his return, but he pulled his shot across the face of goal after Jon Daly nodded the ball into his path ten yards out.

And County were made to pay a minute later when Neil Austin played a ball behind the defence where Nicky Wroe arrived first to turn the ball past James Spencer.

Sadly for the promising keeper he was at fault for Barnsley's second, completely missing his clearance after he had come out of his area, allowing Gary Birch to sidefoot the ball into an empty net.

The two goals seemed to unnerve the whole side, with a series of misplaced passes not helping matters.

But they were unfortunate to pull one back when Owen Morrison's low cross from the right was met by Ashley Williams's snap shot. Unfortunately Ross Turnbull in the Barnsley goal pulled off a great diving save.

County could have gone further behind in the 36th minute when a misunderstanding between Rickie Lambert and Jones allowed in David Murphy, who fluffed his shot allowing Spencer to make the save with his legs.

Morrison gave some hope of sustaining County's unbeaten run when he produced a piece of magic in the 58th minute. Running at the Barsnley defence he passed three opponents, including the final one with a delightful shimmy, before beating the keeper with a low shot into the corner.

And a couple of minutes later they came so close to getting an equaliser when Danny Jackman's free-kick was headed over by Lambert from close-range.

Defensive frailties again cost County a goal in the 72nd minute, when three failures to clear the danger left Alex Neil with the opportunity to beat Spencer with a low shot.

County piled on the pressure for a way back in, Jon Daly unable to turn in Morrison's cross, Lambert going close with a low drive and Daly again having his header saved by Turnbull.

Sub Stuart Barlow helped Stockport to still end the season with a smile with an injury-time goal which he despatched from a tight angle.

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Alan, Offerton (10/05/2004 at 19:52)

The worrying signs were back on Saturday. Yes the importance of the game was insignificant but surely we still wanted to win? One wouldn't have thought so looking at the effort applied. The worrying signs? Well, Jim Goodwin was allowed to stay on the field for 75 minutes after turning in one of the worst performances I've seen. Yes, Jones was awful but we all know he's way out of his depth in Div 2. I would blame Jones for the second goal even though it was Spencer's fresh air clearance that presented the goal to Barnsley. To wave your GK out of the box to clear a ball when you are closest to it, well...... suffice to say that Asley Williams would have put it out of the ground. Back to Goodwin...he never got near the ball but pushed kicked and punched their players in a display of reckless abandon. Had he actually got the ball he would have simply given it back to Barnsley as the man hasn't got a pass in him. And this is our Captain and apparently one of the men SM is backing to lead us into Div 1 next season. Do me a favour!!!! Beckett too was puffing and blowing after just 2 minutes - a very poor decision to play him and what's with the four strikers and no goalkeeper or defenders on the bench!! Madness, complete madness. Yes I know we were already safe and well done to SM for eventually getting the team selection and tactics right - Alby and Daly up front in a 4-4-2 formation and no more of the atrocious Gibb was a massive step in the right direction and one I'd been calling for for months before SM duly obliged. Let's face it if SM had persisted with the insanity that was 4-5-1 we would now be a 3rd Division side. I find it laughable that people are now tipping us for promotion next season. Yes we had a great run for 11 games but a few injuries - the imperious Clare and impressive Alby mainly - and we were back to being as bad as we were for most of the season. A reality check is needed - avoidance of a relegation scrap next year (for the first time in many years - will do me just fine.

PS. What's all this fuss about Feeney? 13 goals in a team in the top half of the league. 24 goals in nearly 3 seasons in Div 3 including one season in a promotion winning side. Alby and Daly don't score enough goals but this is acceptable if you have a fellow striker knocking in 30 a season like Luke could. However, there must be some doubts over Luke recapturing his former glorys so we must be looking to bring in a proven goalscorer in my opinion. Feeney does not appear to meet this criteria.

Sam E, Whaley Bridge (11/05/2004 at 19:53)

A very perceptive and courageous analysis by Alan of Offerton. Courageous, because he cuts through a lot of the emotive and unrealisic reaction to our survival which the likes of many fans would not accept. Ok - we survived but Saturday showed the fraility of our resources which have preserved our status, simply by a tremendous effort, with some good luck, to avoid relegation. With the same side and resources it could be a re-run next season.

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