County v Leyton Orient

The last couple of League Two champions go head-to-head in SK3

Sep 21, 2024

Saturday 21 September 2024

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

Orient won the League Two title in 2022-23, County were champions a year later. Today, we meet for the first time since that memorable 3-0 win at Brisbane Road in April 2023, which kept our automatic promotion hopes alive going into the final day. Jonathan Baker, Russ Johnson and Ian Brown join us before kick-off.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury. A big thank you to Shlean.

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: 176.31 miles

Total steps so far: 284,130

Total raised so far: £2,001

Total completed streets so far: 399 (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

The last meeting between the two clubs resulted in a 3-0 win for County against an Orient side already celebrating the title (Photo courtesy of Mike Petch)

Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Will Collar’s out for a month with diarrhoea… blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham for a thousand years.

Fortunately, he has a number of fellow County content creators to call upon. Here’s their thoughts, general chit-chat and score predictions, as County look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season against an Orient team currently in the relegation zone.

Jonathan Baker, The County Away Day Show

County 2 Leyton Orient 1

Do you put Bate straight back in today, and if so who does he come in for?

Bate for me was the standout performer among the new signings over those first couple of games we saw him, with so much of our most impactful play emanating from his busy and efficient work (with and without the ball) at the base of the midfield, so the way the team have prospered in his absence says a lot for the strength and depth of this season’s squad – especially in that all-important ‘engine room’ department.

Each of the midfielders currently in possession of the shirt have done plenty to advance their credentials for a regular spot, but I’ve seen enough of our new team captain’s presence and class in those early games to persuade me that his name still deserves to be one of the first on the teamsheet when fit. For me, he starts this afternoon.

As for who drops out? Camps is clearly in the form of his life and relishing the opportunity to showcase his talent at this higher level, so needs to retain his shirt. And while Collar’s performances may have been slightly inconsistent, the Blond Bomber’s singular brand of box-to-box energy provides a vital ingredient within the manager’s high-intensity setup, so he also gets my vote. Which leaves Norwood as the unlucky man; not due to any perceived deficiency on his part – more simply that a like-for-like swap for our number four feels like the change that can (ever-so-slightly) strengthen the team as a whole, while retaining its established balance, intent, and emerging identity. The ex-Sheffield United man clearly has so much to offer, however, and his availability off the bench may yet prove vital this afternoon, as we seek to break down lowly-placed opposition whose ambitions may extend no further than a season-steadying stalemate.

Prediction? I think the trapdoor-troubled Londoners will defend doggedly, but the Championship-chasing-Cheshiremen will prevail.

Jonathan, aka Geordie Hatter, hosts The County Away Day Show on selected Saturday mornings during the season, when the Hatters are on the road (the latest one is on air right now). All episodes can be found at the-geordie-hatter.mixlr.com.

Russ Johnson, The Scarf Bergara Wore

County 3 Leyton Orient 0

Would you go with three or four at the back today?

It’s a tough one, but seeing as we're at home I think you'd be stupid not to go four at the back and release somebody further up the field.

Can't say what the actual team is going to be – I don't think anyone's going to get 11 out of 11 on FanHub this week – but four at the back, three in midfield, two wide attackers and probably Woots up top.

Russ is part of The Scarf Bergara Wore team, hosting live County podcasts every Wednesday at 8pm. Click here for links.

Ian Brown, All Things Stockport County

County 3 Leyton Orient 0

Best and worst memories from previous games against the O’s?

I’ve plumped for our 3-0 away win in September 2008 as the best. A truly wonderful County performance right out of the top drawer from Jim Gannon’s team. The starting 11 was full to the brim with exciting young players like Pilkington, Dicker, Blizzard and Rowe.

It was typical of Gannon’s progressive thinking that he chose to line the inexperienced James Tunnicliffe in central defence alongside the experienced Gareth Owen. The result was an immaculate effort that included a brilliant header by young James that smashed into the angle of bar and post without reward.

County played brilliantly throughout putting Orient under constant pressure, the only surprise being it took us almost 15 minutes to take the lead. It stayed 1-0 until the stroke of half-time when Anthony Pilkington’s free-kick was headed home by Jim McNulty.

I recall Orient putting us under pressure for about 10 minutes after the break without unduly disturbing County’s game plan, but I also remember the home side struggling to contain us thereafter, with Tommy Rowe wrapping things up with 20 minutes to go. Seldom have long journeys home felt so good!

My worst memory is from November 2022, the last time Orient were in town. County suffered a classic double whammy: facing the league leaders in a game refereed by Sebastian Stockbridge.

It all started so well, as Myles Hippolyte gave County the lead early on from close in.

Enter Mr Stocksbridge. About to head an incoming Orient throw-in clear, Fraser Horsfall was taken out, before Darren Pratley took full advantage, heading the ball into the net. No free-kick followed; the goal stood. I fumed, along with nearly 9,000 others. It was 1-1.

County to their credit kept the pressure on and it seemed that they would succeed as a free-kick saw Madden about to score in the box before going head down in the mud via the attentions of the defender who then wellied the ball clear. It was an obvious penalty, but one was not given. Instead, Orient were allowed to break up the park, win a corner, and score the winner via a brilliant finish from Omar Beckles.

The Orient keeper was a busy lad in what remained of the game, and it looked like he would be toast five minutes into added time as Hippolyte fed Wootton smack in front of goal. It was a shoo-in until he was hauled down by someone in red. Need I repeat myself? It was a clear penalty, but we pleaded in vain. Orient held on for the win.

Ian follows County home and away, producing detailed match reports every week, along with lots of other great content. Head over to hedgegrower.blogspot.com.

Today’s other predictions

Hatters Matters: County 3 Leyton Orient 1

SK3 TV: County 3 Leyton Orient 1

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Dreen, a member of Shlean's group at Houldsworth Working Men’s Club in Reddish, has reversed her type 2 diabetes losing 1st 2lbs.

Shlean runs groups on Mondays at Bredbury St Marks Cricket Club and Tuesdays at Houldsworth Working Men’s Club in Reddish.

For more information give Shlean a call on 07725 088549 or email shlean@sky.com.

Photo of the day

The Attic, Southampton

I was hoping to announce my takeover of Stockport County today, after being presented with the chance of winning a life-changing prize at a stand-up comedy competition in Southampton on Thursday night. Unfortunately, I finished 3rd, and so my phone call to Mark Stott is on hold, having narrowly missed out on the three jam tarts and a fiver. (Seriously.)

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (15) at 3.30pm and 6pm, followed by Alien: Romulus (15) at 8.30pm. Click here for tickets.

💿 DJ

Stockport’s biggest party at the weekend is at Bask (SK1), with DJ Gareth Brooks playing till 3am. Last entry 1.30am.

🍺 Food and drink

All pints £2.50 at The Cross Keys (SK8) from 6pm till 9pm.

If you’re simply in the mood for a couple of pints today, pop along to one of our featured venues such as AMP (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Armoury (SK3), The Steelworks (SK6) or The Three Tunnes (SK7).

🎵 Karaoke

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) with Lee. From 8pm.

🎸 Live music

The Newman Rockets at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). A brilliant three-piece covers band, guaranteed to bring the house down! 8pm.

Stockport Blues & Roots Festival at The Spinning Top (SK4). There’s over 30 acts performing this weekend (at The Garrick Theatre round the corner as well). Tickets are priced at £18 for today, £15 for tomorrow, or £28 for both days. Click here for tickets.