Stockport County 0-0 Notts County (National League) 23.02.21

It was honours even in the wind and rain in midweek Greater Manchester as Neal Ardley’s side took a credible draw at fellow promotion chasers Stockport County with a point to bounce back on following defeat at the weekend at home to Chesterfield.

A scrappy start to the game saw chances few and far between before Gilmour had the ball in the net on 28 only to have been adjudged to be offside.

No VAR in the National League, the Referee and Assistants call final, the only real action of slim pickings in a first half stalemate between two competitive but largely unattractive footballing sides.

The second half was at least a little more action involved as the home side came out the traps quick. On 55 Notts goalkeeper Pilling made a great save from Reid who raced through on goal before a goal-line clearance saved the Magpies blushes which followed a Stockport County corner.

Barnett came close on 59 for Notts as his looping cross landed on the roof of the net whilst Connell at the other end headed a corner which was saved by Pilling before Dalby shot wide as the hosts looked to gain some advantage.

It wasn’t to be though, a late Rooney free kick denied again by the excellent Pilling that after Cal Roberts made his long awaited return from injury as a second half sub.

Notts next face Oxford City in the FA Trophy at the Lane on Saturday with attention drawn to cup football after a solid nights work in the North West, County fifth in the table on 37 points and inside the playoff zone all be it ten points behind top of the table Torquay.

Stockport County: Hinchcliffe, Palmer, Jennings, Hogan, Miniham, Gilmour, Rooney, Croasdale, Walker (Bennett 67), Reid (Collar 79), Dalby.

Notts County: Pilling, Rawlinson, Kelly-Evans, O’Brien, Lacey, Doyle, Barnett, Wootton, Wolfe (Knowles 79), Boldewijn, Rodrigues (Roberts 78).

Venue: Edgeley Park

*Main image @Official_NCFC action between two playoff contenders as neither side could score.