County 3 Stevenage 0

Our biggest win since November takes us up to 71 points, and well on course for the play-offs

Apr 03, 2025

Thursday 3 April 2025

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NEXT HOME GAME: Rotherham United – Saturday 12 April, 3pm

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

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

I’ve not been able to find any of the 117 Stevenage fans at Edgeley Park on Tuesday night to talk to me, so you’ll have to make do with Nick Lee from SK3 TV for your midweek match report. Nick didn’t want to talk to me either to be fair, but I said I’d print off loads of photos with his tits out on the podcast and plaster them all over Castle Street.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Adam Edwards Photo. A big thank you to Adam.

Thanks also to Our Mutual Friend who sponsor our Stevenage content on the website.

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

Photo courtesy of Mike Petch

✍️ Tuesday’s match in one word

Pleasing.

🤔 Pre-match thoughts

Never really doubted that we'd win. The main thing for me though was starting to get consistent performances out of some of the players we've not seen much of.

🧐 Post-match thoughts

Delighted, especially with the performances of Diamond and Jezzy Fevs. Just a really good night all round.

🔵 Verdict on County

The first half wasn't much to write home about, but unlike on previous occasions we managed to get the goal and control the game from then on. In the second half it was clear that Challinor wanted us to use the wingers more, and it worked to great effect.

⚪️ Verdict on Stevenage

They made it tough for us in the first half, as you'd expect them to. We did switch off a bit and allow them a couple of chances, but as soon as the second went in their heads completely dropped.

🎩 Top Hatter

Definitely not Lewis Bate, for starters. I'd have to go for Diamond - he was absolutely unplayable and is starting to look like the player we thought we'd signed. Special mention for Tanto as well, he's just consistently superb now that he's fully fit and it's great to see.

⚪️ Top Boro

Dan Kemp. I'd happily have him here. A very good player.

👂 Atmosphere

It was a bit weird to be honest. It was very jarring seeing an empty Railway End, and there were a fair few empty seats dotted around elsewhere. Not sure if people had erroneously been told the game was off or something, weird that.

Credit to the lads in the upper tier though, they really tried hard to raise the atmosphere.

🙏 Hopes for the rest of the season

There's still a part of me that thinks Wycombe and Wrexham will falter (particularly after last night's results). Even if they do though, I think it'll be too late for us.

😀 Best part of the day

Diamond's goal. Louie Barryesque.

😡 Worst part of the day

The ridiculous detour to get to the Armo from the station. Absolute nonsense.

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 3-0 victory at home to Stevenage on Tuesday 1 April, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…

10.46am: Seen something that indicates tonight’s game is called off due to the drains issue?

10.57am: I've not seen anything. But if that's the case they should be calling it off now. A postponed game because the fog descends on Edgeley at 7.30pm is one thing. But you shouldn't in all conscience allow Stevenage fans to travel up knowing you've not fixed toilets it appears you've had three weeks to sort out.

10.58am: It’s 1 April.

10.59am:

11.00am: It was the "comedian" Hinks who posted it. Most amusing.

11.09am: If there is something you should never ever joke about, it's a game being off.

11.13am: If you are going to do it, first thing in the morning is probably the best time.

6.56pm: Diamond deserves to start after his performance off the bench on Saturday. Although I like Knoyle a lot, he's looked like an accident waiting to happen quite often in the last few weeks. Let's hope Fraser has a full 90 minutes in him.

7.26pm: There’s nobody going in the Pop Side.

7.32pm: That’s because Des has told everyone it’s off!

8.10pm: 1-0 Fevs. That came out of nothing. Down the right, cut inside, low shot inside near post. Big deflection I think.

8.56pm: 2-0. Possibly Wootton. Possibly an own goal. Don’t care.

9.18pm: 3-0. Lovely goal from Diamond. He’s deserved that.

10.11pm: Fuck me Bolton have actually won a local derby.

10.28pm: Did anyone see Horsfall’s volley into the crowd? Absolutely smashed someone in red. Hilarious.

10.29pm: I did and I absolutely laughed my cock off.

11.07pm: Well, that was a madcap second half with three very easy chances missed (Diamond, one of their players and Wootton), an own goal, a beautiful goal from Diamond, a foul on Fevrier that would have been a yellow in rugby (let alone football), and lots of action all round. Very pleasing to come out of it with all three points, as well as adding three to our goal difference.

5 questions with Adam Edwards

What was the best moment with your business in March?

I shot a few County matches in March and both Tanto and Addai reached out with kind words about photos of themselves, which was a nice surprise. They're my son's 2 favourite players so he's very impressed!

What’s your plans for the business in April?

Starting to get busy again with weddings and events - hopefully I'll be outdoors for a lot of it.

What would you like to promote The Scarf My Father Wore readers this month?

Nothing in particular for this month but if anyone's got anything coming up in the summer that they'd like an experienced, professional and personable photographer to cover, give me a shout.

I’m off to Exeter tomorrow. What’s your favourite place in the UK for a weekend away?

Anywhere in Wales, I think. Pembrokeshire is beautiful but quite far - so anywhere in North Wales will do for me. Two hours and you're on the beach with a Welsh cake. Perfect.

I’ve got Tony Burgess headlining my next Desmond’s Comedy Club at the end of this month, who played the brother of Johnny Vegas in the BBC sitcom Ideal. What’s your favourite sitcom of all time?

Flight of the Conchords. At one point this would've been my Mastermind specialist subject, I reckon.

➡️ Visit adamedwardsfoto.com for further details.

Photo(s) of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

19° in Devon this weekend. Very different weather compared to our home against Exeter, when Storm Darragh was causing havoc back in December.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) this evening. Conclave (12A) at 8.15pm.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £5.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £1.50, and 3 for £7 on Jägerbombs. Also, double up for £2 on premium spirits.

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 and a bite to eat.