Dave Challinor ‘frustrated’ despite Stockport’s late equaliser at Morecambe

By Sports Desk December 09, 2023

Stockport boss Dave Challinor admitted he was “frustrated” despite his side earning a last-gasp point from a 1-1 draw at Morecambe to move six points clear at the top of League Two.

Kyle Wootton’s goal three minutes from time helped County edge a further point clear of Wrexham whose game at Forest Green Rovers was called off.

Challinor said: “We are all a bit frustrated because we had enough of the ball to take more from the game but didn’t make the most of it really.

“With others around us not playing we could have extended our lead at the top even further but at the end of the day when you are trailing with three minutes to go you have to be happy with a point.

“The conditions were horrible and the wind made football difficult. That meant it was never going to be a day for intricate football. Sometimes it is not about quality and we overplayed at times and didn’t get the crosses into the area as much as we should. When we did we got the goal.”

Morecambe boss Ged Brannan said he was proud of his team’s efforts as their game plan almost came to fruition.

He said: “We knew it was going to be tough against a top side, especially in the conditions which were horrendous. But we had a plan to keep things tight at the back and hit them on the break and we did just that with our goal.

“We defended superbly, worked hard as a team together, and probably the only time we didn’t deal with a cross they scored which was frustrating obviously.

“I can’t do anything but praise the lads for all they did. I’m really proud of them because I thought they were brilliant.”

Morecambe took the lead when on-loan Burnley man Michael Mellon scored his 13th goal of the season after a swift counter attack as he ran on to David Tutonda’s throughball.

Mellon had the chance to double the Shrimps’ advantage minutes later but could only shoot straight at keeper Ben Hinchliffe after running on to Adam Mayor’s ball over the top.

For all their possession Stockport produced few clear chances. Odin Bailey always looked their biggest threat with one first-half effort forcing a superb save from Adam Smith after his effort took a huge deflection.

Bailey then forced the Morecambe keeper into a smart save as he tipped over an inswinging corner that was heading for the top corner before Smith was finally beaten in the dying moments by Wootton’s smart finish from Kyle Knoyle’s cross to the far post.

Bailey almost earned County victory with a 95th-minute effort which curled inches wide of the post as both sides were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

Related items

  • Everton x-x Brentford: xxx Everton x-x Brentford: xxx
  • Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner

    Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training. 

    Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term. 

    The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.

    She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.

    But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.

    "We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said. 

    "But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.

    "So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.

    "The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.

    "But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."

  • Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run. 

    Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.

    The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.

    However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.

    Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang. 

    The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.

    Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand. 

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.