Gary Johnson’s men travel to Edgeley Park for their penultimate game of the season looking to continue their recent good form.
Who’s the boss?
Dave Challinor took over the reigns at Edgeley Park in November having previously managed Hartlepool United, where he led them back to the Football League after a penalty shoot-out win against United at Ashton Gate last June.
A playing career as a centre back saw him tally over 400 games for Tranmere Rovers, Bury and todays opponents Stockport. His playing days ended at Colwyn Bay and this was also to prove the starting place for his managerial career.
Challinor then took over at AFC Fylde in 2011 and his eight seasons there proved fruitful where four promotions in five years led the club to their highest place in the pyramid. 2016/17 saw Fylde clinch the National League North title and reach the National League, and it was in 2018/19 that Fylde had their most successful season to date with Challinor leading them to both the Play-Off and FA Trophy Finals. Fylde fell short of promotion to the Football League being beaten 3-0 by Salford, but then went on to beat Leyton Orient 1-0 in the Trophy final.
Player to Watch
Collar previously spent time in the Brighton & Hove Albion academy where he had played since the age of ten, rising through the ranks and making his full debut for the Premier League side in 2018, starting in an EFL Cup tie with Southampton.
In the Summer of 2019, he left Brighton to sign for Scottish Premier League side Hamilton, making 19 appearances in his first season, helping the side retain their place in the division – his first goal for the club coming in a crucial 2-1 victory over relegation rivals Hearts.
The midfielder joined Stockport in the summer and has since gone on to be a regular in the starting line up, scoring 8 league goals including the equaliser in the Hatters 2-1 defeat here at Plainmoor in December.
How have they been doing?
Stockport have been up and around the front runners for most of the season, topping the league for long parts until their defeat to title rivals Wrexham on Sunday, where the 3-0 defeat saw the Welsh side go above them on goal difference. Recent form has dipped with County coming into this game on a run of one win and three defeats in their last four games. The reverse fixture this season saw United run out 2-1 winners thanks to a Collar own goal and an Asa Hall penalty. The Hatters record for this season so far reads 28 wins 4 draws and 10 defeats with a points total of 88.
Played for Both
Jamie Ward is a journeyman striker who came through the ranks at Aston Villa, but it was a loan spell at Stockport where he made his debut. Ward then spent the 2006/07 season here at Plainmoor making 25 league appearances and scoring 9 goals. After leaving United he had spells at both Chesterfield and Sheffield United before a loan spell at Derby County led to a four year spell at the Rams. A move to local rivals Nottingham Forest was next for Ward, and while at the City Ground loan spells at Burton, Cardiff and Charlton were made before he joined Scunthorpe in 2019. After playing at Solihull last season Ward is currently at Buxton. The 35 year old is also a full Northern Ireland international having played 35 games and scored 4 goals.
Previous Encounter
Stockport County 2 – 2 Torquay United, 16th May 2021, National League
United’s showdown with Stockport County ended with honours-even, as two goals from Scott Boden secured a 2-2 draw at Edgeley Park.
Despite a bright start by Gary Johnson’s men, it was County’s Macauley Southam-Hales who opened the scoring, however the lead lasted just a few minutes, before Boden levelled things up from the penalty spot. A second from the same player after the interval raised hopes for another three-point haul for United, however Stockport responded through Ash Palmer soon after to take a share of the spoils.
In an open and entertaining 1st half it took till the 35th minute for the opening goal, as Southam-Hales made inroads down the right, before exchanging passes and cutting inside Dean Moxey to curl a left-footed effort into the top corner of the net.
However six minutes later United were level with Lemonheigh-Evans once again reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the box, and a rash challenge from Ryan Croasdale saw the referee with an easy decision to make, and he wasted little time in pointing straight to the spot. Boden responded emphatically, with absolutely no nerves whatsoever on show, as he slammed the ball down the middle of goal with some vigour to make it 1-1.
In the 57th minute a throw-in from Ben Wynter midway inside opposition territory may not have instantly set pulses racing, however after Lemonheigh-Evans picked up possession and fed Andrews in space to his left, a low ball across the six yard box was finished at the second attempt by Boden, who gleefully bundled the ball home after his initial effort struck the crossbar.
Sadly, there was little time for the Yellow Army to fully celebrate and after winning a corner in the 63rd minute, John Rooney’s corner was delivered deep into the box, leaving Palmer to rise highest and head home at the back post, leaving things all-square once more.