Sheffield United sealed the last remaining play-off place in spite of looking
tense and nervous and failing to impress in the entire 90 minutes.
Clearly the exertions of three games in eight days had left them weary.
The Blades playing their 59th game of the season settled better, knocking the
ball around confidently but it was Stockport who crafted the first chance.
United had a half chance after 10 minutes when Nicky Marker chipped the ball
up before cracking a volley just over the bar.
At the other end Byrne almost opened the scoring when he drilled the shot just
wide of the right hand post after the Blades conceded possession.
The game had developed into a battle of midfield supremacy with the Blades
showing no urgency to score a goal. A Wayne Quinn free-kick on the edge of the
box whistled well wide of Eric Nixon's left-hand post and seven minutes later
good work by Paul Devlin on the right saw a Dean Saunders effort saved
comfortably by Nixon.
Katchouro spurned a gilt-edged chance on 24 minutes when he was sent clear
only to fire wastefully wide and he was again involved eight minutes before the
break when the busy Devlin sent in a cross from the right flank.
Katchouro attempted an acrobatic overhead kick but missed the ball completely
and Saunders lurking at the far post was unable to capitalise.
Two minutes into the second-half Aaron Wilbraham should have opened the
scoring when a free-kick found the youngster in acres of space inside the box.
He had time to control the ball before arrowing an effort towards goal only to
see it cleared from the line by Tracey.
Phillips maintained the pressure when he saw a fierce volley go just over from
25 yards and County had penalty appeals brushed aside on 55 minutes when Byrne
appeared to have been fouled by Hamilton inside the box.
A mammoth goalmouth scramble then ensued which saw Angell and Wilbraham both
see efforts blocked on the goalline before the rattled Blades eventually
cleared.
United's play-off hopes were dented on 61 minutes when winger Kevin Cooper
spectacularly fired the home side into the lead. A Blades defensive clearance
fell to Cooper on the left hand edge of the box and he fired home a speculative
shot which nestled in the right hand corner of the net.
United were severely lacking any penetration up front and the introduction of
Gareth Taylor did little to pep up the attack. It took the Blades 30 minutes
before they registered their first noteworthy attack.
Devlin set up Taylor who saw his low drive comfortably saved by Nixon. At the
other end the industrious Byrne saw an overhead kick comfortably held by
Tracey.
Saunders almost grabbed an undeserved equaliser with six minutes left on the
clock when he fought the attentions of Searle before darting into the box and
releasing a shot that looked destined to nestle into the net only for it to
bobble just wide.
As the final whistle was blown the United players were left with an anxious
wait to hear of their fate. News eventually filtered through that Birmingham had
been unable to break the deadlock.
Teams:
Stockport: Nixon, Connelly, Searle, Byrne, Flynn, McIntosh,
Phillips, Wallwork, Angell, Wilbraham (Grant 69),
Cooper (Woodthorpe 83).
Subs Not Used: Dinning.
Booked: McIntosh, Cooper.
Goals: Cooper 62.
Sheff Utd: Tracey, Short, Quinn, Wilder, Sandford, Holdsworth,
Saunders, Marker (Morris 52), Devlin, Hamilton,
Katchouro (Taylor 63).
Subs Not Used: O'Connor.
Booked: Marker, Devlin.
Att: 9,683
Ref: C R Wilkes (Gloucester).
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