STOCKPORT COUNTY 1, WOKING 1
Luckless Stockport County’s grip on third place in National League loosened as they were held at home by lowly Woking.
It just wasn’t the Hatters’ day as they struck the woodwork four times, three during a remarkable second- half onslaught.
And for all their efforts, County failed to find the net as plucky part-timers Woking, who ended a run of 10 straight defeats, scored both goals.
Max Kretzschmar, a former Wycombe Wanderers’ first-team player, but Woking ahead and County’s equaliser came from Ben Gerring who put through his own goal.
It left County’s destiny not in their own hands as they battle Hartlepool for third place – they are one point ahead of the North East side having played one more game.
But with Hartlepool visiting leaders Sutton United tomorrow, County will need a helping hand to remain third for home advantage in the play-off semi-finals.
It was a plucky performance from Woking whose assistant manager is football commentator legend Martin Tyler.
They have 10 senior players on furlough with their side largely comprising youth team and loanees.
There was blatant and often embarrassing time wasting in the second period as indicated by six added minutes in the second period which ended up seven, but they defended at times heroically and with lady luck on their side.
To be saved by the woodwork four times was incredible as were a couple of the saves from Woking goalkeeper Ross Craig.
The 31-year-old showed why he was once an academy player with Southampton, Arsenal, Reading, Crystal Palace and Colchester.
It was clear from the start that lowly Woking weren’t going to sit back as they were adventurous.
But it was County who had the first chance when Macauley Southam-Hales broke clear only for Craig to make an important block.
Woking had openings as centre-back Jack Cook almost turned in a corner at the far post before former Tottenham academy player Sam Ashford broke clear only for goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe to save well.
Elliot Newby headed over when free and Tom Walker forced a save from Craig.
But it was the visitors who took a 44th minute lead through a spectacular strike from Max Kretzschmar.
When County failed to clear a cross into the box, the midfielder struck his seventh goal from the tightest of angles.
However, County levelled in first half stoppage time.
John Rooney’s long-range drive took a wicked deflection before striking the upright. Alex Reid whipped the rebound back across the face of goal only for Gerring to deflect it past how own goalkeeper.
County brought on striker Richie Bennett for left wing-back Ryan Rydel from the restart as they switched from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2.
Bennett made an immediate impact and had two great chances inside the opening seven minutes to put County ahead, both headers.
The first forced a fine flying save from Craig and the second cleared the crossbar before Tom Walker and Reid had chances as County went on the offensive.
County came within a whisker of a second twice in the space of seconds with Bennett and Rooney both denied by the woodwork.
Bennett’s header from Walker’s cross hitting the underside of the bar and bouncing down on the line with the striker convinced he had scored.
Rooney’s inswinging corner then eluded the Woking defence as it struck the far upright as County laid siege to the visitors’ goal.
County were denied by a stupendous save by Craig to keep out a point-blank far-post header from James Jennings’ corner as the second goal continued to elude them.
There was drama in the sixth minute of added time when County struck the woodwork for a fourth time in the half.
Jennings’ initial effort was saved by the legs of Craig but Reid, following up, struck the crossbar as it just was not their day.