TOWN FALL TO HOLKERS DEFENSIVE RESOLUTION

STOCKPORT TOWN 1 HOLKER OLD BOYS 3
NWCFL 1 @ STOCKPORT SPORTS VILLAGE
6 JANUARY 2018 --- 3PM


STOCKPORT SPORTS VILLAGE

The writing appeared to be on the wall in the first minute when Danny Keenan put Holker Old Boys ahead and when John Paul Stanway made it 2-0 on the half hour mark Town were forever chasing this game.  With the home side having by far the majority of the possession it was frustration city that they couldn't convert this into goals of course this was due to the tremendous work rate of their Barrow based visitors.
Melting snow and then heavy rain had waterlogged many pitches mainly around home base in the East Midlands so most of the week had been taken up possibly planning any new 3g pitches to undertake but in the end the 3g at Stockport Sports Village a ground that had assisted me on quite a few occasions in poor weather was the order of the day.

THE LITTLE BEAUTY WOBBLES OUT OF BREDBURY STATION

Todays departure saw a change in Sheffield station for the all stopping Peak District service to Manchester the two carriage sprinter was filling up very nicely by my time of departure at Bredbury.  Having covered this area previously there were just some small changes waiting at the end of the 5 minute walk to the adjacent Woodley.  With the former snooker hall now demolished the shuttered suburbia shopping precinct in the 1970's style, its sounding like Antiques Roadshow, had now lost its Lloyds Bank much like many small towns no doubt the big wigs would have said falling number but most locals found more queues than ever.  The Post Office now had the shutters down and closed as the local newsagent had taken over its responsibilities, with hair and beauty prominent a bakery, fruit and veg shop, warehouse furniture, charity shop, two bookmakers, tattoo parlour, vape shop and hardware outlet you get the feel for how sadly English suburbia is being lost and the fabric of communities is being lost on the positive side Iceland remains.  The shining star is of course the much visited friend Taylors fish and chips shop with smart restaurant seating its always a pull to any game in Woodley or even Hyde a year ago.  The last few weeks have been taken up by yellow golden arches take-aways that it was good to get back to the research!

RESEARCH RE STARTS

Unbelievably it is just short of two years since I last saw Stockport Town and this was also surprisingly against Holker Old Boys and its not far off the same time since Taylors.  Since then the former, at time current, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron had called in at the shop and undertaken a photo opportunity with owner Ann and her husband.  Today Ann was briefly seen but there was not the chance to renew acquaintances only with her fish and chips which as ever were creditable and as I hope you can see were good enough to eat!
Early arrival at SSV found little changed with the Glossop v Stalybridge Under, I guess, 21 game just coming to an end, having completed a few circuits and obtained the teams, there was time to find a toilet block that did work with most seeming to be out of order luckily the main receptions were not.  With admission paid and programme purchased of which I have to say although £2 this was a really good smart and well produced effort, especially for a club who struggle for attendances today's declared total was 53 but I'm not sure how.

DANNY KEENAN DISAPPEARS UNDER THE CELEBRATIONS OF HIS FIRST MIUTE GOAL

With both clubs sat side by side in the league table it looked like a close game but after just a minute you wondered with Callum Livingstone set up Danny Keenan courtesy of a keeper error to fire Holker into the lead.  Town were having to fight hard to get back into the game with Ben Halfacre forcing Christopher Pearce into an excellent save.

STOCKPORT CAPTAIN BEN HALFACRE TAKES A MOMENT OUT

It was Stanway who added the sucker punch on the half hour mark when he broke away and slotted home to double the visitors advantage.  Again Halfacre was the man looking dangerous for Stockport his next effort flew across goal before on 43 minutes Conor Downes struck home a glorious 25 yard free kick to reduce the arrears and as the home side moved up a gear Aaron Dwyer saw his effort fly back of the base of the post.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

The opening stages of the second half proved a bit tetchy with a halfway push starting a melee before a disturbance that resulted in a four minute stoppage that resulted in the referee consulting both his linesman separately and then taking no action.  But Town player Tyler Devlin has become so upset by what had taken place that he was substituted before he may have got an unnecessary suspension.

HOLKER MANAGER GUY HEFFERNAN URGES HIS SIDE ON

The pressure was all from Stockport now but this Holker side were going to defend their advantage with gusto and so they did displaying a determined side that was to be admired.  As so often happens the second sucker punch arrived as Holker broke on 77 minutes with Nathan Reid slotting past the out coming Dylan Forth.

STOCKPORT MANAGER DAVE WILD POINTS THE WAY FORWARD

Still Town looked for a way back and Dwyer who had become increasingly influential with his passing and willingness to shoot forced Pearce into a wonderful from his 25 yard effort.

HOLKER RIGHT BACK ROBERT PARKER ALSO EXPERT FENCE VAULTER

Holker held on in the latter stages of the 8 minutes of added time fairly comfortably and took away three points from their long trip, although I guess there all fairly long.

GO ON THEN ANOTHER LOOK AT THE EARLIER SOCIALISATION

To tight for the 5.03 train allowed time for a pint in The Rising Sun before just about getting onto the Sheffield bound train one hour later which was now gorged with Manchester City fans on their way back from their home FA Cup game with Burnley.  An excellent re visit and if you want a game on 3g pop along and don't forget to call in for your fish and chips which always make Stockport Town a good experience.