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Stockport County

Stockport County 1 Chesterfield 1

Stockport County will most likely be relegated if they only win 17 more points this season – but if they put in 17 more performances like this one before May, they might just have a chance of staying in the Football League.

A point was scant reward for the industry and endeavour on show and even though a win is still proving elusive for new caretaker manager Peter Ward, he will surely have sent the County fans home happy.

The temporary boss was forced into two changes with 19-year-old striker Tom Fisher replacing Rochdale-bound Robbie Williams and Jordan Rose stepping in at the last minute after Anthony Elding picked up a knock in the warm-up.

The other two changes from the squad that were well beaten by Rotherham came on the bench and were announced by the players themselves on the social network website Twitter.

David Poole revealed he was ruled out through illness – “food poisoning not good, been lay on the sofa all day tryin to sweat it out of me” - before @danpilks, better known as Danny Pilkington, revealed he was leaving the club in the run up to kick-off.

“Would like to thank all the Stockport County fans for their support for the last three seasons,” he tweeted. “It was my decision to leave as it is not my ambition to be a league 2 sub!! I genuinely hope the club survive the drop this year!”

On this evidence, County have more than just a hope of playing league football next season.

They had made a solid start against top-of-the-table Chesterfield. Rose harried and hassled to protect the leaky back four while his team-mates ahead of him huffed and puffed looking for a breakthrough.

Ishmel Demontagnac spun away from two defenders before sending Tom Fisher racing away down the left. It won County a corner that was just out of Aaron Brown’s reach at the back post.

Without Jack Lester, who had tormented County at the b2net Stadium on New Year’s Day, Chesterfield looked toothless.

Getting to half-time goalless, not least against the league’s top scorers, represented something of minor triumph for the Hatters.

Chesterfield were sent out early for the second half by manager John Sheridan but it was County who were out of the blocks first, Rose flashing a header over the bar from Greg Tansey’s free-kick.

Fans in the Cheadle End had their hearts in their mouths when Craig Davies rattled the bar with a fierce free-kick but moments later they were out of their seats. Tansey found a surging Paul Turnbull with a clever chip over the back four and the County skipper held off Dwayne Mattis to volley past Lee.

But the Hatters aren’t bottom of the league for no reason and less than a minute later their defensive frailties were all too evident.

Danny Whitaker was allowed the time to clip a cross to the back post and Deane Smalley rose highest to head past Glennon.

It may have been heartbreaking, but the heart Ward and his players will take from a well-earned draw against the best team in the league should stand them in good stead for their battle against relegation.

COUNTY: Glennon 6, Lynch 6, Griffin 6, Brown 8, O’Donnell 8, Rose 8, Turnbull 7, Tansey 7, Husband 7, Demontagnac 7, Fisher 6 (Darkwah 89). Not used: Ormson, Assoumani, Halls, Vincent, Rowe, Mainwaring.

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Great result against the top team, pity we gave away a goal straight away. Hope this spurs us on in our fight against the drop. With both Hereford and Lincoln getting their acts together, we will have to rely on Barnet, Burton, Bradford and Macc having bad results, tho I hope Macc survive, but not at our expence.So on to Torquay on Saturday, they've just lost to Crawley and Hereford at home, so hopefully we can hit 'em while they're down.

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That was a really good performance by the team.why have we let danny leave he is so much better then any other wingers we got plus he's young.he could of helped us climb up the table.what happened to Salam lad.where's he.

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Ok just seen that Salam guy has left the club after 6 game play time.so who we got left up front.we do need a strike force as much a a defence.I wonder what will happen if we do get relagated.will the club go busted or do we have enough money to cope.that's what we need to know.

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Really good all round performance - not what we were expecting after last few awful weeks ,but heavilly reliant on loan players - O' Donnell and especially Husband and Demontagnac - áll need to stay if County are to stay up.

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I know Pilks Jr. is still pretty young but what a shocking attitude. There has to be a reason managers aren't starting him, seems to me that he would do himself and the team a favour to do something about it instead of bulding himself a reputation as a quitter. Imagine you're a player sat next to him on that bench that he's whining he's too good for. Way to be a team player Danny boy, way to respect your fellow team members. Don't let the doorknob hit you in the arse on your way out son.

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Regardless of this flukey draw they are doomed, go down scroteport and please never return, you are a disgrace to the memories of the likes of the great Jack Connor, Trevor Porteous, Danny Bergara, and Vic Bernard, go go go county ??, yes please go go go away, never return, and hang your heads in shame you useless rabble.

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From losing 4-0 against the bottom team, to drawing 1-1 against the top team - that's quite something.

Hopefully they read my strongly comment in the last article and were determined to prove me wrong at all costs... In any case, something seems to have worked.

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Pathetic Thistle, Dora in disguise, why do you bother ?

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I hope we can loan a new striker in the emergency loan Market which opens on Monday.because I don't think elding and fisher are up for the challenge.we do need another striker.

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