County 2 Barnsley 1

A fifth consecutive victory for Dave Challinor's men

Feb 10, 2025

Monday 10 February 2025

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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Barnsley supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Monday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

No Barnsley verdict today I’m afraid. Perhaps they’re all still hibernating from the winter weather because from my seat in the Cheadle End I didn’t hear a peep out of them on Saturday. Don’t fret, though, we’ve got Dave Philbin putting pen to paper for us today, which is always a fine way to start one’s week.

Today’s edition is sponsored by CE Building Services. A big thank you to Chris.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 216.74 miles

Total steps so far: 353,516

Total raised so far: £2,270

Total completed streets so far: 474 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

✍️ Saturday’s match in one word

Great!

🤔 Pre-match thoughts

It was an exciting prospect, being able to potentially consolidate our play-off position further, whilst dare I say, bridge the gap to second place? It was going to be tough against a play-off contender in what I had billed the Sam Cosgrove Derby (although he wasn't able to play). I was really looking forward to seeing our other deadline day additions in Brad Hills and Owen Moxon.

🧐 Post-match thoughts

Over the moon to get the three points above all. Barnsley know exactly what it takes at this level and we made them look bang average for the majority of the game. I would hate to be in the manager's position when we have a fully fit squad; how on earth do you go around picking that team? We are chalking the wins off, who knows where we can get to by the end of the season? We are in for a turbulent few months - sign me up!

🔵 Verdict on County

First half we were excellent, second half not so much, which has been mirrored in our last few games. We look to have adjusted to life without Louie Barry with five wins on the bounce, and with the change in system and how we approach games, it's becoming clearer why we signed Norwood. I felt he controlled the game in the first half and for parts of the second. Hills was outstanding on his debut and Moxon showed glimpses of what we can expect from him. Really excited about seeing what he does over the next few years with us! A shoutout for Andresson too, I think he has a part to play this season. He was a nuisance when he came on and I hope we see more of him.

🔴 Verdict on Barnsley

I expected much better from them if I'm honest. They had too many players who were under par on the day which is what cost them. Davis Keillor-Dunn always scores against us, so I was not surprised to see him get his goal at the end. They had a good spell for the last 20 minutes and if they were more clinical they could have got something out of the game.

🎩 Top Hatter

Brad Hills.

🔴 Top Tyke

Corey O’Keeffe.

👂 Atmosphere

It was the best atmosphere we’ve had at home for a few games. Still lots to improve on but it was good. I'm all for welcoming Benoný Breki Andrésson but we can't be doing an Icelandic Clap every time he gets subbed on, save it for when he scores a load of hat-tricks! The away end also looks so much better with away fans in it, so I hope that continues to happen.

🙏 Hopes for the rest of the season

Play-offs. Although I have convinced myself that Wycombe away on the final day is going to be a straight shootout for automatic promotion.

😀 Best part of the day

As always after three points, the final whistle!

😡 Worst part of the day

The Icelandic Clap. (Sorry.)

The British Library receives a copy of every single book published in the UK. In the same fashion, Des Junior believes a detailed record of every County game should be preserved for the history books. So here’s the full story of our 2-1 victory at home to Barnsley on Saturday 8 February, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…

10.01am: 10.01am and The Armoury isn’t open. Come on Ken, open up!

10.07am: I’m in now.

10.54am: Just seen a Range Rover with the reg GNP…

10.59am: Oh my god. Wouldn’t it be amazing if Great North Pies started handing out samples outside the ground.

11.00am: Free pie with every copy of The Light. Cheese and onion and conspiracy for lunch!

11.32am: Hills in, Macca out through injury.

12.00pm: Won’t be at the match today as the dreaded gout has attacked me. Enjoy.

12.01pm: Gout well soon.

12.09pm: Just seen a Barnsley fan in a long coat, bobble hat and short shorts walking the wrong way up the A6.

1.01pm: Superb finish from Tanto. I’m telling you, this lad’s quality.

1.05pm: 2-0! Collar from the spot.

2.31pm: Happy with the result and plenty of positives. Churlish to even say it after five wins on the bounce but can we please put two good halves together.

3.10pm: It was an odd game. I thought County were excellent first half, despite going off the boil for 10 minutes or so in the middle of the half. We were well worth the two-goal lead though. We seemed to try to just contain the game in the second half to snuff out their threat, which kind of worked but they still created a good few chances - a couple they wasted, one Ben made a great save from. Their goal seemed to come from nowhere, when I thought the game had petered out. They seemed really uninterested in making a game of it though. Not a happy club. Could hear their fans shouting “sack the board”.

6.33pm: County win. Crewe lose. England win. Get the fuck in! Perfect day.

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Photo of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

County fans enjoy a pre-match pint (and a burger) before our last meeting with Bristol Rovers back in August. Dave Challinor’s men picked up three points that afternoon. Do the same tomorrow night and we go above Wrexham into 3rd.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) this evening. A Complete Unknown (15) at 8pm.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

Bitter £2.30 a pint all night at The Cross Keys (SK8).

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), Flute & Firkin (SK12) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks or a bite to eat.