Match report posted by samc  (view the full thread on the forum )

Being a South Manchester resident Stockport away is my home match and so I thought it only my duty to post a match report.

Like being the boy who lived nextdoor to school but was always late I missed the first 5 minutes. To make matters worse I entered via the first turnstile I saw to avoid missing anymore of the action and thus ended up sitting with the Stockport fans. On the plus side, it meant I was sat just a few rows back from Town dugout which was very interesting. Danny Wilson isn''''t quite as calm as I would have anticipated.

Anyway, when I did actually sit down Swindon seemed to be dominating. Three dangerous corners were followed by a period camped in the Stockport''''s half and a home fan sitting behind me commented ''''this could be a long a night''''. However, Stockport gradually took control and began to string a few good passes together. At which point, the homes fans responded and really got behind their team. Unfortunetely for Town, you sensed the fact Stockport hadn''''t played for nearly month and had 5 new players it was the start of a ''''new season'''' for them where the previous 11 defeats had been forgotten.

Stockport continued to press and had two shots from outside the area which didnt trouble Lucas. However Lucas was backpeddling when Partridges cross-cum-shot from the right wing looped over his head nearly crept in at the back post (similar to the goal he conceded at Oldham - but closer). Luckily for us, it didnt and the half ended with little else to note.

The second half began with Stockport on the attack again but without ever really having any chances, or even half chances for that matter. Praise must go to Gordon Greer who was immense throughout. The whole defence was superb but Greer had the best game I''''ve seen him play. He really organises everything and in my opinion the presence of Greer and Lucas is the main reason why we''''re challenging this year. If this was last year I am in no doubt we would have been at least 2 down by this stage.

The Stockport fans turned from being upbeat to increasingly agitated and vocal against the referee, which was compounded when the home side had goal disallowed for offside. I really don''''t why they were getting so angry. The player (maybe Jemal Johnson) was at least 4-5 yards offside. Their frustration hit boiling point when with 15 or so minutes left we were awared a penalty. Again, I couldn''''t see the contention. Awankwaah made a great run from 10 yards outside the area, got the wrong side of the defender and was pulled down.

Swindon defended the last 10 minutes without any problems and McGovern and Paynter did well to see out time down the right flank and by the corner flag which frustrated the home fans even more. In truth, I felt very sorry for their fans. I''''ve been to Stockport for the last 5 years and it''''s a really friendly club with great fans and a real community feel. It''''s sad to see them on the brink of financial ruin and morooned at the bottom. It reminded me of how I felt supporting Swindon when we finished bottom of Div 1 with Jimmy Quinn. I can understand why their fans are frustrated.

It puts in perspective how lucky we are at present to be in a stable financial position. All in all, a very good win and 5 points ahead of 7th place (with a game in hand). Bring on Leeds