Stockport County Ladies continued their solid start to the new season on Sunday afternoon, claiming a hard-earned point away at high-flying Middlesbrough Women.
County were playing the role of party gatecrashers in the North East on what was a big occasion for the home side, who were playing at the Riverside Stadium for the first time in the club’s history.
Steve O’Hara’s side showed no signs of being overawed at playing in front of a bumper crowd of over 2,000, dominating possession for large parts of the game and putting the home side on the back foot. Although they couldn’t quite find that breakthrough goal, there were plenty of positives to be taken from a clean sheet and a point on the road.
Manager Steve O’Hara takes us through the game:
“A great experience to play at the Riverside Stadium, for myself, the players and my staff. To play on a Championship-standard pitch really allowed us impose our style of football.
“I felt we dominated the game for large parts and they only really had little spells at the start of each half, although Meg Hunter had to be sharp to stop a one on one late in the second half. Although we enjoyed lots of possession, we never really tested the Boro keeper enough throughout the game – a few long shots, and ourselves having a one on one which was hit straight at the keeper.
“We can never complain about a point on the road, particularly to one of the top teams, but we’re really disappointed we just couldn’t find that goal which I felt our performance deserved. All in all though, a really positive experience and it pleasing to see we didn’t freeze on the big stage in front of over 2,000 fans.”
The result leaves County in 6th place early on in the campaign, just three points behind Middlesborough in 4th. The team are next in action this Sunday, as we welcome Hull City to Stockport Sports Village, in a 2pm kick-off.
The Tigers have won all four of their league games so far this season and sit in second place, so it promises to be another big test for O’Hara’s side – we encourage all County fans to come down and get behind the team on the day, to help them get over the line!
Click here to see the Ladies’ full fixture list.
