Match Report: Kidsgrove Athletic vs. Stamford, 21st Jan 2012

Injuries, illness, a suspension and work all contributed to a very threadbare Stamford squad but they still played their best football for several weeks and were left disappointed coming away from Kidsgrove with nothing from a game they totally dominated.

Stamford started playing down the slope and with a very strong wind at their backs. They were soon on top and the first chance went to Joe Pheasant from a Danny Brooks corner but his shot cleared the cross bar.

Stamford abandoned the long ball tactic of recent games and played good controlled football. A great move ended with a shot from a lively Bruno Holden which also just cleared the bar. Holden and Brooks combined well to set up Nick Ghislanzoni but his shot shaved the wrong side of the post.

The game was midway through the half before Kidsgrove came close to threatening and Luke Garton had to be sharp to cut out a cross clearing over the Stamford bar. At the other end Adam Hewitt played a good ball to Holden who despite being held, ignored by the referee, got a shot in but straight at Steve Hodgson in the Kidsgrove goal. Garton then fed Holden and his shot just needed the faintest of curves to creep in at the far post but carried on straight and another shot went just wide.

Then, completely against the run of play, Kidsgrove took the lead after 30 minutes. A good run from right back Danny Smith and top scorer Dave Walker turned in his cross with the help of the inside of the post.

Stamford continued to run Kidsgrove ragged. The referee allowed play to continue after a foul on Nathan Watson then blew for the free kick just as Holden had got past the Kidsgrove defence with just Hodgson to beat. Brooks took the free kick which crashed back off the bar and Harry Deane’s follow up was blocked and out for a corner. The corner went to Holden but another shot cleared the bar.

With the half coming to an end, another shot from Holden brought a superb full length save from Hodgson and then another hit the post. With the game in stoppage time, Kidsgrove won a corner and Stamford had some luck at last when Andy Kinsey headed the ball onto the bar. Stamford didn’t get the rebound away and the ball was played to a suspiciously offside Walker who made it 2-0 with the last kick of the half.

Kidsgrove had scored two from three chances, Stamford had nothing from a hatful. The second half started like the first with Stamford still on top even though now playing uphill and into a much stronger wind. Still nothing went Stamford’s way when a shot from Holden hit Jonathan Crompton wrong footing Hodgson but again the ball went just the wrong side of the post. A minute later Holden headed on a Brooks corner but Crompton cleared off the line.

Centre back Andy Taylor had been robust with several tackles and another on Brooks gave Stamford a free kick 25 yards out. Stamford supporters have been waiting for David Staff to tee one up since he came back and he showed why putting the ball into the corner of the net with Hodgson wrong footed guessing the ball would go the other way.

Like the first half, Kidsgrove rarely threatened but Walker wasted a superb chance for his hat trick shooting over from six yards. Stamford brought on Kieran Watson and Scott Mooney and both were soon involved. Watson forced his way past two defenders and into the box. His shot was well saved by Hodgson and then Hodgson saved the follow up from Staff. Hodgson denied Stamford again diving full length to turn away a Brooks free kick. From another Stamford corner Taylor cleared Mooney’s header off the line.

Finally, after 79 minutes, Stamford got the equaliser when Pheasant headed home a Mooney cross.

Stamford kept on pressing and it looked as if they must get the winner but good, desperate, Kidsgrove defending got bodies in the way or hoofed the ball away. There was amazement from everyone in the ground when the match sponsor overlooked Hodgson for his choice as man of the match picking Taylor instead. Even Hodgson showed his surprise!

The game moved into stoppage time and it looked as if Stamford would have to settle for only one point but disaster struck when Nathan Watson lost the ball and it was played forward quickly. A shot from substitute Danny Griggs took just enough deflection off a Stamford head to steer the ball over Whalin and into the net.

Can the home side have a smash and grab win? Stamford certainly felt they had been robbed of the three points they deserved from a game they had totally dominated. Kidsgrove knew they had three points from a game they had been clearly second bestbut they had scored three from scarcely more chances, Stamford only two from a multitude.

Stamford: Ross Whalin, Luke Garton, Adam Hewitt, Wayne Diuk, Joe Pheasant, David Staff, Nathan Watson, Harry Deane (Kieran Watson), Bruno Holden, Nick Ghislanzoni (Scott Mooney 66), Danny Brooks.

Subs not used: Ian Wheat, Mark Harvey

MOM: David Staff

Kidsgrove: Steve Hodgson, Danny Smith, Paul Taylor, Andy Taylor, Jonathan Crompton, Karl Charlton (Steve Brannan 82), Ashley Carter, Criag Dove, Dave Walker, Andy Kinsey (Liam Shotton 76), Gerald Mulholland (Danny Griggs 59).

Sub not used: Geoff Bsford