THE GAME
Head Coach Inigo Calderon made two enforced changes from the side that beat Peterborough United in their last outing.
With goalkeeper Josh Griffiths having been recalled from his loan, by West Bromwich Albion, Jed Ward returned from his loan at Forest Green Rovers to make his first Gas appearance of the season. Up front there was a recall for Chris Martin in place of the injured Gatlin O’Donkor.
Stockport came into the game in fourth place in the league and seeking a sixth consecutive victory but both sides began the game well and created early opportunities.
For Rovers, Martin headed wide from a Matt Butcher free kick, though he was then ruled to have been offside. At the other end, Ward was called into action to deny Will Collar, who managed to get on the end of a cross from Jack Diamond and get a shot away.
Luke Thomas was next to go close for Calderon’s side, but he headed wide from a Ruel Sotiriou cross. However, with Stockport exerting pressure on Rovers back line as the half wore on, they went close to scoring just before the break.
One again Rovers were indebted to Ward, as he made an instinctive save from Kyle Wootton’s point blank header following another ball into the box from Diamond.
The visitors edged ahead eight minutes into the second half. Diamond found Wootton out on the right and his cross struck the post and rebounded to Isaac Oloafe who fired in from close range.
At that point, it looked as though an impressive Stockport side, with Norwood pulling the strings in midfield, would go on to win the game comfortably. However, Rovers weathered a tricky spell and a quadruple 70th minute substitution saw Calderon make a tactical switch from a back four to a back three.
His side stuck doggedly to their task and were rewarded with an equaliser in the first minute of added time. Michael Reindorf, on for his debut as a substitute, was fouled. The resulting free kick was swung in by Rovers own midfield general, Matt Butcher and Sil Swinkels, another player making his Rovers debut as a substitute, headed past goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe.
THEY SAID WHAT?
‘I am happy with the point, though it’s true that I don’t really like to draw. I prefer to go and try to win the game, but obviously, when you are losing against a good side, to score at the end is good. It’s really important for the team to keep believing until the end, even if you play against a good side. I think you have to fight until the end, and I’m happy for the boys. When you cannot win, you have to take what you can. Especially losing in the second half, there was nothing in the game. So we tried to change a few things, and it was working. At the end, a set piece was the changing moment.
‘I was quite positively impressed with Jed Ward because I have to be honest, I did not know too much about him. I tried to watch games, but it is not the same. I’ve been watching the sessions, but it is not the same. I think he was really good. I think he looks comfortable with the team, and that was important. He already was with the team, and I think that helps. He felt really, really, good like he’s been here the whole year with us. So, I’m really happy for him.
‘After they scored there was nothing in the game. I think we were playing the way they wanted. It was like a false control for us. So, there was nothing in the game. I tried to change something. I don’t think the impact was that good. The last 15 minutes, we tried to put on two strikers. We even put Connor Taylor up top just to make something happen, put in some crosses and let’s make some noise, but it was not working. As you know at the end, it was a set-piece, and I think it was a great delivery and a great header from Sil Swinkels.’ (Rovers Head Coach Inigo Calderon)
‘It feels very good and I’m just happy to help the team, and especially on my debut as well just makes it extra special. I’m very happy. I think it’s a very good point at home. We worked hard. We had a week where we didn’t have a game, so we had time to get things right for the next two weeks. We’ve got a lot of games coming up, and to start it like this against a Stockport team that’s been strong this season, it’s very important for us.
‘For me, coming in and having the full week of training and just getting to know the lads, even just the simple things like getting to know the names and the style of play, has been a really good. I know Matt Butcher has got a lovely left foot. We spoke about it in the meeting to be fair. We did say to try and get in the middle of the goal as that’s where the easiest goal is. That’s all I had in mind. I was just looking for where the space is and where I can get in between their zonal players. I thought, hopefully, it lands on my head, and it did.
‘As soon as it left my head, I was looking at the ball, and I was thinking it was going to hit the post and come back and maybe get a rebound. I don’t know how, but it bounced in. So, it was a bit of luck, I guess. The fans were very, very important. I’ve been here twice in the stadium, and the last ten minutes were incredible. It was very nice and have the fans behind us, obviously we need them, and we can’t do it without them. (Rovers goalscorer Sils Swinkels)
‘It’s the manner of the goal that we conceded and goes alongside what I’ve said in recent weeks about us taking care of our performance. We’ve not got what we deserved tonight but the performance was miles better in my opinion than the previous five that have got us five wins.
Sometimes that’s how football works. Of course, there’s going to be a disappointment in how we’ve conceded the goal and how late we’ve conceded with us having real control – and the control element is really important. We were much, much better today so that was a real positive. If we’re being critical we would say that we should get the second goal and then one mistake doesn’t cost you points.’ (Stockport Manager Dave Challinor)
