Wanderers came from behind to maintain their momentum in the final straight of the play-off race as two of the top-six rivals ceded no ground ahead of a possible re-match in the end-of-season shoot-out, writes Pete Oliver.
Both sides still have work to do to guarantee a play-off spot but both added a handy point to the tally and chalked off another game as the protagonists continue to jostle for position behind the top two.
Stockport also overcame a deficit to cancel out Johnny Kenny’s second goal in as many games for the Whites with goals either side of the break to threaten back-to-back League One doubles over Wanderers.
But Steven Schumacher’s men avoided that prospect with a deserved equaliser – an own-goal from Ben Osborn – and could well have gone on to win it in a dominant late push in search of a second win of the Easter weekend.
On the back of Friday’s timely victory at Plymouth and with John McAtee suspended and George Johnston unwell – bringing to an end the defender’s run of 39 successive league starts since the opening-day loss at Stockport – Wanderers made four changes to their starting line-up.
Widemen Rob Apter and Ibby Cissoko were among those back in the side and Cissoko was prominent early on with one lobbed effort forcing Corey Addai into a full-length save before failing to make more of a chance after former Wanderers’ defender Josh Dacres-Cogley had lost his footing.
County, hunting a play-off place to go with their appearance in the final of the Vertu Trophy at Wembley next Sunday, also kicked off their Easter programme with a win and pressed for the opening goal as Ollie Norwood tested Jack Bonham with an effort with Whites’ keeper easily touched over the top.
Wanderers arguably carried the greater threat, however, and seven minutes before half-time went ahead through Kenny’s first goal on ‘home’ turf.
The on-loan Celtic man had set Wanderers on their way from the penalty spot at Plymouth and again showed his hunger to get on the scoresheet when looking odds-against to convert a chance created by Sam Dalby’s flick from an Eoin Toal pass.
Showing the strength to hold off County defender Ethan Pye, Kenny was also presented with a tricky angle but managed to beat Addai with a lovely, clipped effort which floated between the posts to give him third goal in English football.
That should also have been enough to give Wanderers a half-time lead but deep into stoppage time the visitors were allowed a leveller. Osborn’s deep cross went unchecked to the far post and Adama Sidibeh – who may well have been awarded a penalty earlier in the piece following a tangle with Jordi Osei-Tutu – bundled the ball home to also claim his second goal in four days.
With that route back into the contest, County then grabbed the initiative six minutes after the re-start. Tayor Edun had replaced injured captain Lewis Bate at the break and it was the substitute who was in the right place to force the ball home after a shot from Odin Bailey had pinged around the Wanderers’ penalty area.
Bailey almost added a third with an effort he curled just wide moments later and with the Whites needing a pick-me-up, Schumacher made his first change with Thierry Gale replacing Apter with half an hour to go.
One of Gale’s first contributions saw him poke the ball through for the busy Kenny, who did well to get a shot off on the turn and bring Addai back into action. Wanderers still needed more, though, and the boss followed it up with a triple change which brought a welcome return after more than two months and 12 games out for fit-again winger Amario Cozier-Duberry.
Ruben Rodrigues and Mason Burstow were also asked to try and find an equaliser and twice that combination nearly paid off, Rodrigues providing and Burstow just crowded out at the far post before steering another header just wide from a floated pass.
Rodrigues had brought a fresh energy and with just over 10 minutes to go he helped bring the scores level. Another teasing ball into the penalty area this time didn’t find a colleague but was met by retreating County defender Osborn who rifled the ball into his own net.
That set the stage for a concerted late push as Wanderers peppered the County penalty area. Cozier-Duberry saw a shot blocked to deny him the perfect comeback and then in stoppage time, which also brought a second yellow card for County substitute Louie Barry, Chris Forino was inches away from a dramatic winner with a glancing header that hit the crossbar to leave both sides with something to take forward should they meeting again in May.
Wanderers: Bonham; Osei-Tutu, Toal, Forino, Conway; Apter, Sheehan, Dempsey (Rodrigues, 72), Cissoko (Cozier-Duberry 72); Kenny (Burstow 72), Dalby. Substitutes: Harrington, Temple, Christie.
Booked: None
Stockport County: Addai; Dacres-Cogley (Dixon 67), Olowu, Pye, Osborn; Diamond (Barry 82), Bate (Edun HT), Norwood, Bailey; Wootton, Sidibeh (Stokes 82). Substitutes: Hinchcliffe, Dodgson, Mothersille, Barry, Stokes.
Booked: Sidibeh, Barry.
Sent off: Barry
Referee: Carl Fitch-Jackson
Attendance: 23,855 (Stockport 2,445)