Connor O’Riordan’s first senior goal saw Crewe Alexandra draw with Stockport County at the Alexandra Stadium last night, which resulted in the hosts completing an unbeaten January.
Manager Lee Bell made two changes from the last game, a 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town with midfielder Callum Ainley and forward Bassala Sambou replacing Tariq Uwakwe and Lachlan Brook in the starting eleven, who both dropped down to the bench where they were joined by January signings James Beadle, Ryan Finnigan and David Amoo.
The opening chance fell to the hosts in the 7th minute with Sambou having a long-distance shot easily saved by Ben Hinchliffe in the visitors’ goal before their first effort came 10 minutes later with Kyle Wootton heading a cross well wide of the post. Stockport would hit the base of the post on 27 minutes through midfielder Callum Camps before Sambou would get on the end of an O’Riordan ball, cut in from the left to have an effort saved with Elliott Nevitt hitting the post from a tight angle.
The opening goal came a minute before the break as Regan Griffiths’ corner was flicked on at the near post by Rod McDonald allowing fellow centre-back O’Riordan to convert from 8 yards unmarked before the visitors levelled just after the break. That lead didn’t last long as the visitors levelled 3 minutes after the break, Wootton playing a 1-2 with Will Collar before firing across Dave Richards into the bottom corner. County defender Neill Byrne would be the next to have a chance to put his side into the lead with 7 minutes to play but was denied by a last-ditch touch from Conor Thomas.
The next games for the Alex host Grimsby Town on Saturday before also hosting Leyton Orient next Tuesday.
What can we take out of this game?
It was a result that most Alex fans would have been happy with pre-game but a little disappointed not to have taken all three points from. It was also good from COR to arrive late to get his goal (and, just as importantly, keep it down instead of thrashing at the ball) but it’s a shame to concede a little give-and-go for the equaliser.
If we can get a body or two into the area when we look to put crosses in then we might be able to get onto the end of them, something that we can look to do ahead of the next couple of games.