County 2 Burton 1

Not the most convincing of performances, but Dave Challinor’s men strengthen their grip on a play-off place

Mar 31, 2025

Monday 31 March 2025

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NEXT HOME GAME: Stevenage – Tomorrow, 7.45pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Exeter City – Saturday 5 April, 3pm

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Burton 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.

We’ve got two Daves for the price of one today. Our regular Cheadle End correspondent Dave Philbin shares his thoughts from a “tense” afternoon at Edgeley Park, while Burton fan Dave Child joins us for the first time.

Today’s edition is sponsored by B.J. McKenna & Co Solicitors. A big thank you to Adam.

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: 253.75 miles

Total steps so far: 418,084

Total raised so far: £2,292

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

Dave P: Tense.

Dave C: One-sided.

🤔 Pre-match thoughts

Dave P: I thought the defeat at Wrexham was going to stand us in good stead. Rarely does a Dave Challinor team lose two games on the spin and I expected this to be no different. Having said that, Burton have been in better form whilst fighting for the lives, so it wasn’t going to be a pushover.

Dave C: Expected to get something from the game.

🧐 Post-match thoughts

Dave P: Job done. At this stage of the season, it really doesn’t matter how you play, the only thing that matters is getting three points and that’s what we did. Very nervy end to the game when it didn’t need to be, I bet Nick Lee loved the jeopardy, the weirdo. I thought at the time that Ethan Pye’s second yellow looked very harsh, but having watched it again I don’t think you can have any complaints. Just glad we have Hills back for Tuesday!

Dave C: Very disappointed we came away with nothing. Burton were the better side and had far more chances.

🔵 Verdict on County

Dave P: For the opening 10-15 minutes we came out looking like a side with a point to prove. Some lovely football was being played and we were rewarded early doors when Wootton ended his drought. Tanto then had his one-on-one where he had too much time to think about it and had that gone in, the rest of the game looks different and we probably score three or four. After that we seemed to sit back, pass it sideways and not look a threat at all. I thought our second goal was really good; the pass from Knoyle to Diamond was sensational, then Diamond remained calm and played it through to Tanto at the right time before he slotted home. Tanto will be disappointed not to get a hat-trick after his first-half chance, and then his last chance which ended up on the Northern Rail service to Blackpool, but the win is what we needed and the win is what we got. Another solid performance from Corey Addai. Feels like he’s winning more fans over recently and it’s showing in his performances.

Dave C: County started well but went backwards after the 30-minute mark.

⚪️ Verdict on Burton

Dave P: They looked good in fairness. Packed out the midfield which forced us to play differently than normal, and were unlucky to only score one in the end. They were able to carve us open on multiple occasions, and rather than saying we were just poor, they have to be given the credit for making us play the way we did.

Dave C: Great performance from Burton with no reward. We deserved a draw at least.

🎩 Top Hatter

Dave P: Norwood. Thought the sponsors got it spot on.

Dave C: Your keeper. Kept you in the game to secure the points.

🍺 Top Brewer

Dave P: I am going to award this to Super Jack Stretton, because why not?

Dave C: Ryan Sweeney, but Kylan Lofthouse put in a serious shift also.

👂 Atmosphere

Dave P: Awful. Felt like a friendly game for the most part - possibly the issue with these early kick-offs. And I noticed we’ve created our own take on the Liverpool/Wrexham song with the ole ole ole - please can we stop? 2-1 up with eight minutes to go or whatever it was isn’t the time for new songs that nobody knows, all in my opinion.

Dave C: I was surprised your lot were so quiet. Not massive support for our lot, but you always hear them.

🙏 Hopes for the rest of the season

Dave P: Play-offs please. Just keep chalking the wins off and try and get 3rd or 4th, but I think there needs to be a horrendous turn of events for us to not finish in the top six now. And if we’re in the play-offs, go and win them hopefully!

Dave C: We’ve got a very tough run-in. Obviously the target is to stay up, so fifth from bottom would be bloody brilliant!

😀 Best part of the day

Dave P: The final whistle.

Dave C: The Chinese takeaway in the evening.

😡 Worst part of the day

Dave P: Ethan Pye getting sent off.

Dave C: Getting nowt from the game after a good performance from the boys.

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 Burton Albion on Saturday 29 March, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…

12.05pm: Big queues at the Pop Side. Sewage tank thing being backed through the car park. Gates closed…

12.08pm: No toilets on the Pop Side today.

12.09pm: Be fair. It’s only been three weeks since the last home game. When else could they have done this?

12.41pm: Well that was easy. Lovely football that.

1.27pm: Apart from the opening 15 minutes, where we were excellent, that was a struggle it really shouldn't have been. At least the Wootton haters on social media won't have as much to say as they have for many weeks.

2.10pm: Get in! Finally. Nicely worked that. Cool, calm pass from Diamond. Composed finish from Tanto.

2.23pm: Bollocks. 2-1. Good strike.

2.28pm: Pye sent off. We’re doing our utmost to cock this up.

2.39pm: We've made really hard work of today and made Tuesday harder with Pye's second yellow card. Rather frustrating despite the win.

Prepared for anything: the vital role of a Lasting Power of Attorney

Creating a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a crucial step in ensuring your wishes are respected and your affairs are managed if you become unable to make decisions. While Alzheimer’s and dementia are common scenarios that might prompt the need for an LPA, there are many other situations where having one in place is invaluable.

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Mental health crises can also create situations where an LPA becomes necessary. Conditions like severe depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia might make it challenging to manage your affairs effectively. An LPA ensures that during these periods, someone you trust can take over, safeguarding your interests.

In essence, an LPA is about preparedness. It’s not just for the elderly or those facing terminal illnesses; it’s for anyone who values security and continuity in their personal and financial matters, no matter what life throws their way.

➡️ Visit bjmckenna-solicitors-stockport.co.uk for more information.

Photo(s) of the day

Broadhall Way, Stevenage

Stevenage visit SK3 tomorrow. Here’s a few snaps from the trip to their place back in December.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (15) at 8.30pm.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day 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.