Match Report: Stockport County vs Newport
13/03/2024
By Charlie Barry
University of Sheffield
Photo Credits: Charlie Barry
On Saturday, League 2 saw title contenders Stockport County take on mid-table Newport. Despite the latter being firm favourites, it took to the dying minutes of the game for the points to be decided. A late winner from Paddy Madden in the back end of injury time ended County’s four-match winless run and goal drought in the league.
The game saw Stockport take 27 shots against Newport keeper Nick Townsend who remained unbeaten until the dying minutes of the second half. He prevented an early lead from midfielder Antoni Sarcevic in the first half hour after denying two back-back corners from the number 10.
Newport’s back line remained strong into the end of the first half, pressuring a header from Madden just wide of the post and into the Cheadle End.
HALF-TIME: County 0, Newport 0
Odin Bailey and Callum Camps were brought on by the Hatters just before the hour mark in an effort to find the back of the net. Camps soon found himself sending a shot just wide of Townsend and round the left post, another close call for Newport.
But, 20 minutes before the end, newly-arrived substitute Isaac Olaofe was tripped within the box: penalty. Up stepped Paddy Madden, looking for his 9th goal of the season. But Townsend guessed right, diving to his left and maintaining his clean sheet.
But, despite Townsend’s antics, Stockport found a way. Just three minutes before the final whistle, Madden fired back with a scrappy volley on the end of a free kick, ending a 7 hour goalless run for the side and taking Stockport to second in the league. Now just three points behind top of the league Mansfield, they will be looking to carry this momentum into next week's fixture against Salford, who sit 18 places below them in the table.
FULL-TIME: County 1 (Madden, 90 + 3), Newport 0.
Booked: Wootton.
Man of the Match: Pye.
Attendance: 8,865 (315 away).
Reporter: Charlie Barry