Notts County suffered a further blow to their promotion hopes when they were beaten 3-0 by runaway National League leaders Stockport County at Edgeley Park.
Two goals from Paddy Madden and an Ollie Crankshaw strike saw Stockport gain revenge over the injury and illness-ravaged Magpies, having lost 2-1 at Meadow Lane in October. The defeat means Notts remain outside the play-off zone in eighth place and stretched their winless run in all competitions to five games.
After watching his team go out of the FA Trophy at home to Wrexham on Friday, head coach Ian Burchnall again shuffled his pack, with some regulars unavailable for a variety of reasons and several players involved despite not being fully fit. Vitezslav Jaros came in for Sam Slocombe, while Jayden Richardson had recovered sufficiently from injury to replace Dion Kelly-Evans at right wing back. Cal Roberts started in midfield, Frank Vincent dropping to the bench, with Ruben Rodrigues and Kyle Wootton up front in place of Aaron Nemane and Kairo Mitchell.
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Stockport’s season has really taken off since Dave Challinor, returned in November after quitting the side he guided to promotion to League Two last season, Hartlepool United. Since losing 2-1 at Torquay in early December, the Hatters are now unbeaten in 18 games, winning 17 of them, and scoring a hatful of goals in the process, but it was Notts who started the better, attacking down both flanks but failing to create a chance.
Stockport slowly took control and had the first chance when a near-post flick went just wide, then a poor Jaros clearance was headed forward to Madden, but his shot was blocked. The home side were looking good and in the 11th minute Ryan Croasdale fired in a right-foot shot but Jaros got down well to turn the ball behind, then from the corner the keeper was there again to save with his feet.
Rodrigues led a Notts attack but his pass to the left was too strong for Joel Taylor, then it was Jaros in action again as he palmed away Will Collar’s header. In the 19th minute Richardson had a golden opportunity to give Notts the lead. He latched on to a poor backpass and sidestepped Ben Hinchliffe, only to inexplicably fire over the bar from six yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Unbelievably, Richardson found himself in an identical position three minutes later, again taking the ball wide of the keeper but taking too long to shoot and seeing his effort blocked out for a corner, which came to nothing. Notts gave away a freekick on the edge of their box and when the ball fell loose, Jaros was there again to tip away Myles Hippolyte’s shot.
Notts were defending desperately as Stockport piled forward and went behind in the 29th minute when a cross from the right found Madden between defenders and he headed home unchallenged. Notts were rattled and gave the ball away on the edge of their box but after several passes the home side’s final shot was straight at Jaros.
Notts’ short passing game was not working as they continually gave the ball away, piling pressure on themselves. But even when they got forward they were posing little threat to Hinchliffe’s goal, with Wootton and Rodrigues isolated and easily managed by Stockport’s defence.
Notts were lucky not to be further behind in the 39th minute when Hinchliffe launched a long clearance over all the Notts outfield players and Hippolyte was through on goal, only to flick his shot wide. It was all too easy for the Hatters, who seemed able to attack in numbers at will, and a late challenge from a frustrated Matty Palmer brought him a booking.
Stockport kept up the pressure and had a succession of corners but Notts held out to reach the break just one down. Nemane replaced Joel Taylor for the second half, which continued where the first left off, with Stockport in control, before Nemane got on the ball and released Chicksen on the left, who won a corner.
But when it came to nothing Notts suddenly found themselves 2-0 down. Another simple long ball from Hinchliffe found Madden in space and he released Ollie Crankshaw on the right and his fierce right-foot drive beat Jaros, who got a touch but couldn’t keep it out.
Notts were in danger of losing their heads and Ed Francis was booked for a late challenge, before Stockport’s Antoni Sarcevic was given a yellow card for exacting some retribution on Palmer. In the 60th minute Rawlinson misjudged a bouncing ball and handled needlessly, but the freekick was fired well over.
Crankshaw was replaced by Scott Quigley on the hour as the home side continued to expose Notts’ lack of energy as it became a damage limitation exercise for the Magpies. They enjoyed a rare foray forward when Roberts got to the byline but his cross was snuffed out.
Stockport were toying with Notts on the right and Macauley Southam-Hales got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Quigley, who forced an excellent double save from Jaros. In the 69th minute Roberts made way for Mitchell before there was a rare error from Jaros, who fumbled a cross out for a corner
Madden added his second of the night to make it 3-0 in the 72nd minute, Hippolyte getting clear on the left and pulling the ball back for Stockport’s leading scorer to stroke the ball home from the edge of the box. Notts responded with their first shot of the second half as Mitchell escaped down the left, only to see his strike saved low down.
But Stockport responded immediately and Jaros was forced into another fine save. And he was immediately called into action again to save at his right-hand post. The game was over as a contest, with Notts out on their feet, and they were relieved to hear the referee’s final whistle after three minutes of added time.
Notts County: Jaros, Richardson (Kelly-Evans 82), Lacey, Rawlinson, Chicksen, Taylor (Nemane 45), Francis, Palmer, Roberts (Mitchell 69), Rodrigues, Wootton.
Unused subs: Brunt, Vincent.
Stockport County: Hinchliffe, Kitching, Palmer, Southam-Hales (Minihan 84), Johnson, Hippolyte, Croasdale, Sarcevic, Collar (Newby 78), Crankshaw (Quigley 61), Madden.
Unused subs: Ashby-Hammond, Hogan.
Here is how Neil Richardson rated the Notts players.
Vitezslav Jaros: The on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper celebrated his call-up to the Czech Under-21 squad with a string of superb saves to keep the score respectable. 8
Jayden Richardson: Thrust back into action following injury and caused Stockport problems on the right but missed two absolute sitters when the game was goalless. Subbed late on. 6
Alex Lacey: Caught out for the first goal but did his best to repel constant Stockport attacks. 6
Connell Rawlinson: Has made the most of his chance since stepping into central defence but had a tough night against a potent Stockport attack. 6
Adam Chicksen: Never lets the side down but not able to get forward as much as he would have liked. 6
Joel Taylor: Back in favour at left wing-back but replaced at half-time. 6
Ed Francis: Did his best but second best in the midfield battle. 6
Matt Palmer: Frustration earned him a booking as he couldn’t impact the game in his usual way. 6
Cal Roberts: Looked far from his normal energetic self and was subbed. 6
Ruben Rodrigues: Tried his best but well marshalled by Stockport’s defence. 6
Kyle Wootton: Had a hopeless task up front with no service. 6
Aaron Nemane: Looking much sharper after being given more game time recently and could have a major part to play in the run-in. 6
Kairo Mitchell: Couldn’t celebrate his international call up by Grenada with a goal but created some chances. 6
Dion Kelly-Evans: The game was long gone by the time he came on. 6
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