Hope springs eternal

Ok. So the blue skies didn't last long. After a quick dash into town (Carol's Cheeses for the latest batch of Cheshire & Stilton), it was a dash to avoid the downpour. Sadly I failed, arriving at Edgeley Park feeling (and looking) rather soggy.
Thus far, the biggest cheer of the day has greeted the sight of Alex Ferguson after Everton's 2 injury time goals snatch a draw from the jaws of United victory. For once there is a buzz in the stadium, and not just because of the fate befalling the red side of Manchester. Even the flags are back in the Cheadle End! Just goes to show the effect a win can have on supporters as well as players.



What's nice is that there is a decent crowd today (4277), with a fair number from Bradford. Throughout the game there has been a bit of noise around Edgeley Park, the first time in a long time that that has happened.

Sadly, we've only got a point from the game, when a little bit of composure (at both ends) would - and probably should - have seen another 3 points in the bag. Sadly, Bradford easily weathered the County pressure (if not the torrential downpour), and took the lead just after half time. A hopeful long ball caught the County defence at sea. A slip by the to this point solid Assoumani saw the Bradford player clean through on goal. One square ball across the 6 yard box later, Bradford were 1-0 up against the run of play. Cue wild celebrations in the rain for those in amber & claret; rueful shakes of the head for those in blue & white.



However, County - rather than buckling - pressed for the equaliser. Donnelly, Proctor ( who to be fair did well when replacing the woeful Conlon), Vincent & Tansey all had efforts either charged down or narrowly wide. As time wore on and County's final ball became slightly more desperate, the breakthrough came. A brilliant short corner caught Bradford out, and Griffin's pinpoint cross enabled Donnelly to bundle the ball home. A deserved equaliser and more to the point, the first goal at home for a long time.

After that point, Bradford seemed to settle for the point while a bouyant County pressed for a winner. Again, a frustrating lack of movement and poor final ball tended to end promising moves.

For once, County recovered from going a goal down and showed real character. It helped that the crowd - although frustrated by the slow final ball - kept behind the team. Assoumani made a single mistake in the whole match and got punished, but didn't let that get to him. Vincent was excellent in the "defensive midfield" role and rightly won man of the match. The only disappointment was Conlon: his substitution was greeted by cheers such was his obvious lack of effort.

On the train home I'm encouraged by the performance, if a bit disappointed over the final result. At least I can now say I've seen a goal for County at Edgeley; just need that elusive win now...




-- Post From My iPhone

Rain, rain, go away!

This doesn't look terribly promising. I'm just south of Macclesfield on the train to Stockport and the heavens have opened. What's worse, the wind direction looks like it's blowing from the east: in other words, straight into the faces of those in the Cheadle End (i.e., me). Mind you, the away fans won't fare much better, at least the home fans have a roof!

Speaking of away fans, today should see a sizeable following from our cross-Pennine opponents Bradford.

Bradford have so far failed to live up to the billing of pre-season promotion favourites. Mind you, they've failed to love up to that billing for a few years now. Just goes to prove that gates of 10,000 don't necessarily equate to success. So far they've struggled to get results, and could probably do with a win today to kick start the season.

County on the other hand are looking to win successive games for the first time in, well, a very long time.

So it could be a tense affair. Or it could follow the trend of previous matches against Bradford in being a thriller (if not necessarily high scoring). Either way, County need a result to build on last weeks defeat of Macclesfield, so I'll stick my neck out and say home win. As I say this, here comes the Sun; must be an omen!



-- Post From My iPhone

Miracle at Moss Rose

Yyyyyyeeeeesssss!!

Finally after 6 months of waiting, County fans can finally celebrate a win. The performance wasn't necessarily great and Macclesfield were terrible, but a win is a win, especially against your local rivals.
Paul Simpson made a brave decision by giving Matt Glennon his debut in place of OFW, and brought Matt Mainwaring (now recovered from his horrific broken leg) into the midfield alongside Tansey, Turnbull and Vincent. Fellow new signing Josh Simpson started on the bench.
Once again, details on the match are fairly sketchy (neither the BBC nor Sky deemed the game important enough for extensive coverage) so the first I was aware of any excitement was just before half time. George Donnelly - who up until this point is the only player to score for us this season - picked the ball up wide on the left, cut inside (beating 4 Macclesfield defenders in the process) and hit a low shot into the far corner. Cue mass celebration amongst the massed County supporters behind the goal.
Early in the second half, Glennon made an instant bid for hero status amongst the fans. Normally the award of a rather dubious penalty (following a 'foul' by Assoumani) against County leads to inevitable capitulation. On this occasion however, Glennon saved the (admittedly terrible) penalty to preserve County's slender lead. Furthermore, the next goal was scored by County (at the right end thankfully); Assoumani lashing the ball home from 6 yards out following a Griffin free kick. 2-0 to County, when was the last time that happened?
Despite some rather nervous moments (and woeful finishing from the Macclesfield forwards), the final whistle finally blew to confirm the first 3 point haul for the season. What's more, the spectre of a 19 game winless run had been ended, lifting County to the heady heights of 16th in League 2.

If I was being harsh, I'd be worried Donnelly is our only real goal threat; that the midfield still looks as tough as a limp lettuce; or that a hint of accuracy from Macclesfield would have converted some of the many chances they created. But that would be wrong: a win is a win no matter how it comes, and it's about time County had one to celebrate. The hard part now is building on it: we can't afford to wait another 6 months for the next one!

-- Post From My iPhone

Derby Day

SCFC vs. Macclesfield Town
Moss Rose, 3pm

Today is one of those dates most keenly looked for in the footballing calendar; a meeting with a local rival. In this case, County make the relatively short trip to Macclesfield for a game that bears more significance than who has the local bragging rights.

Almost 4 years ago, County were well and truly demolished 6-0 in this fixture, leaving us rock bottom of League 2 and staring non-league football in the face. What happened afterwards is a tale of returning heroes, epic last day survival, record breaking runs (for the right reasons) and eventually, promotion. We've since paid the price for that high, and now return to Moss Rose once again occupying one of the relegation spots (yes, I know there have only been 4 games played).

This is one of those games we have to win. Not only would the 3 points be very welcome, but also as a means of exorcising the ghosts of that 6-0 defeat. It would also help erase another painful memory for County fans. Unable to play an FA Cup tie at Edgeley Park due to pitch conditions last year, we ended up playing "at home" to Torquay at Moss Rose. As if playing a home tie on someone else's ground wasn't bad enough, we lost 4-0 to a side near the bottom of League 2 (ok, we were bottom of League 1 at the time, but that really was unacceptable).

What is quite positive today is that we have 3 (yes, three) new signings eligible to play. Robbie Williams I've mentioned previously, while yesterday, goalie Matt Glennon and midfielder Josh Simpson were signed up. For a long time we've been without decent cover for OFW in goal, and Simpson - despite being so young- does seem to have a bit more experience about him than our current midfielders. Hopefully they will have a positive impact both in terms of results and team morale.

I'm quietly confident today that we can get something from the game. Last weeks non-performance obviously hurt everyone, and I suspect nothing less than a whole hearted, battling performance will be accepted by Paul Simpson or the fans. Lets face it, if you can't motivate yourself for a derby game, there really is no hope. If we can get that, we certainly stand a decent chance of gaining that elusive first win.

-- Post From My iPhone