North Ferriby United end Stockport County’s unbeaten run

They replaced the injured Lewis Montrose (knee) and Chris Smalley (calf), as well as Wade Joyce – who dropped to the bench – and Joe Garvin, as the Hatters adopted a 5-2-1-2 line-up at the outset.

The substitutes also included returning loanee-goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, together with other recent arrivals, Sam Grimshaw and Brandon Wilson. In the event, Grimshaw and Wilson were both to make appearances – and, after factoring in Poscha’s selection, this took the number of players used by County in the current campaign to a club-record 45.

The opening exchanges featured little to note, save for spells of treatment following injuries to Ferriby’s Josh Wilde, and to Danny Morton who had collided with home goalkeeper, Adam Nicklin. Both Wilde and Morton were to soldier on for the rest of the first half – although each had been replaced before 10 minutes of the second had elapsed.

The game’s first chance eventually came the way of the hosts, when, with 19 minutes on the clock, their skipper, Liam King, sent an overhead kick wide of the left post. But, following that, the Hatters – clad in aqua – settled down to create a greater share of the opportunities and shade the half.

Kay Odejayi, after cutting inside to latch onto a Richard Brodie flick, and John Marsden, with defenders surrounding him near the edge of the box, both shot on target – albeit without the pace to trouble Nicklin who caught the efforts comfortably.

In between crafting their respective individual efforts, Odejayi and Marsden had combined well to tee up Brodie, who fired over. And Brodie, sporting a rather frighteningly severe haircut, sought to return the favour when he shrugged off Danny Hone, before crossing from the right to Marsden – whose header, under pressure, cleared the home crossbar.

HALF-TIME: North Ferriby 0 – County 0.

Just as the first half at North Ferriby had gone much the way of that at Hednesford the previous Saturday – with the Hatters having the edge in a contest of few clear-cut chances – so, too, did the beginning of the second, as County’s hosts re-emerged to display a greater sense of purpose.

The Villagers, having had not a single corner to their name before the break, forced five within a 10 minute spell in which Ian Ormson was forced to concede two of them after making excellent saves: firstly, from Tom Denton’s point-blank volley at a narrow angle; and then following a long ball from deep by Wilde’s half-time replacement, Sam Topliss, that bounced just in front of goal and County’s number one did well to tip over.

Just ahead of the hour-mark, County carved out an opportunity of their own, as Marsden’s cross from the left found the head of Brodie. But the latter, looking to place the ball as opposed to simply burying it, glanced his effort beyond the far post.

Four minutes later, the hosts took the lead – courtesy of a move that started with a Nicklin clearance, and was followed by a header from King, before Curtis Bateson flicked the ball over County’s defence to find Wayne Brooksby to the left of goal and 15 yards out. The latter allowed a couple of bounces before left-footing ferociously past Ormson, to put Ferriby ahead.

Brooksby caused further difficulty for the Hatters, with a dangerous cross from the left into the six-yard box, moments later – but Wilson, by then at an early stage of his debut, headed the delivery away from the on-rushing King.

It was, alas, only a temporary reprieve. For, six minutes after scoring the opener, the Villagers doubled their advantage – and, once again, a flick over the back-line was to set up the decisive strike, as Nathan Hotte played Denton through. The beanpole of a striker, and Ferriby’s leading scorer, showed himself to be much more than an aerial target as he unleashed a low, right-footed drive home from six yards.

The Hatters, now with all three substitutes in play and operating a 4-3-3 formation, strove to get themselves back into contention – albeit with little success in the final third as the game entered its final phase.

With two minutes remaining, Nicklin dived to his right to keep out a well-struck drive by Marsden. A couple of late corners for County followed in quick succession – and, in added time, Wilson looked to crown his inaugural appearance with an attempt from distance that fizzed wide of the right post.

There was, however, to be no repeat of the comeback at Hednesford, and no instance of lightning striking twice – although there was, with sad inevitability for an Easter weekend, a fair smattering of drizzle…

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