The 10 man Lions were knocked out of the Buildbase FA Trophy at Edgeley Park despite taking a one goal lead into the second half, read more in our match report sponsored by BuildADrive.com.
Jonathan Wafula gave his side the lead with a finish on the slide in an opening half with chances for both teams but Hamza Bencherif’s red card and a triple substitution from Stockport County turned the game on its head in the second 45 with Alex Reid netting a brace before former Lion John Rooney added a late third.
It was Bencherif who had the first chance of the game, his header went just wide of Josh Barnes’ post with the keeper scrambling trying to safe the effort.
There was nearly a slip up at the other end as George Cantrill headed on a long ball but Brad Wade had already come off his line to collect the ball, the defender recovered and cleared the danger.
The best chance of the game so far came shortly after, Louis Britton saw his effort crash off the post with the loose ball falling to former Lion Ash Palmer who looked to have opening the scoring but Wafula cleared it off the line with Wade beaten.
Connor Jennings looked to be in a golden position to score but Cantrill recovered to clear Macaulay Southam-Hales’ ball, Jennings was played in again shortly after but Andrai Jones made an excellent sliding block to stop his effort heading towards Wade’s goal.
The opening goal came after 35 minutes, an over hit pass looked certain to be claimed by Barnes but he hesitated and Wafula slipped it underneath him to give his side the lead in the tie.
It was the last chance of note in the opening half with Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill the happier of the managers heading into the Edgeley Park changing rooms.
The first chance of the second half fell to Lebrun Mbeka with his header dropping just wide of the post with Barnes at full stretch trying to save the effort.
In the 54th minute though came a turning point in the flow of the game, a long ball over the top found Reid in behind with only Wade to beat, Bencherif pulled him down and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty. Shortly after came the second punishment with the captain given a straight red card and sent down the tunnel with him handing the armband over to Kaine Felix.
Reid stepped up to take the penalty but blazed it over the bar and into the empty stand behind the goal.
Then came the onslaught, there was constant pressure from the hosts with chances for Jennings and Britton but both headed over the bar.
It looked as if Reid would get his goal, he was in behind the defence with just Wade to beat but the keeper made a brilliant save to stop the hosts from equalising.
County named a strong bench and took full advantage of it with all three substitutes introduced with Sam Minihan, Jordan Williams and Rooney coming on.
One minute later the hosts equalised with Reid heading in a corner right into the top corner of Wade’s goal.
Stockport were looking for the killer blow and looked to have got it when a series of shots were blocked and the loose ball fell to Ryan Croasdale who beat Wade but Cantrill cleared it off the line.
It didn’t stop them for long though as a minute later Reid had his second when his powerful effort from close range beat Wade.
Chukwudalu Molokwu was introduced from the bench for his senior debut with a minute left but there was nothing he could do to stop Rooney’s goal in injury time, a clearance fell to the forward who unleashed a first time effort into the top corner.
The Road to Wembley may be over for The Lions but they can certainly hold their heads up high after a spirited performance at one of the favourites for promotion from The Vanarama National League.
Marcus Bignot’s post match interview
Team:
- Brad Wade, 2. Isaac Currie (89′ Molokwu), 3. George Cantrill, 4. Milan Butterfield, 5. Hamza Bencherif (C), 6. Andrai Jones, 7. Kaine Felix, 8. Lebrun Mbeka (89′ Howarth), 9. Jonathan Wafula, 10. Josh Parsons (75′ Newall) and 11. Brad Nicholson.
Subs:
12. Nathan Newall (75′ Parsons), 13. Declan Lambton (GK), 14. Mark Howarth (89′ Mbeka), 15. Chukwudalu Molokwu (89′ Currie), 16 Gabriel Johnson, 17. Adam Haw and 18. Miracle Okafor.