Birmingham were unable to convert constant second-half pressure into goals and
left Stockport empty handed.
It may be a blow to their promotion hopes but the manner of the performance -
with Jon McCarthy outstanding on the right flank - was encouraging for the
remainder of the season.
Stockport, for whom keeper Carlo Nash made several outstanding saves, were
recording two successive league wins for the first time this season. It followed
a 2-0 win at Norwich last Saturday and helped move them into the comfort of
mid-table.
The game turned out to be a tale of two corners. In the 10th minute Stockport
converted theirs when Colin Woodthorpe swung the ball in, Flynn headed across
goal and Angell headed home from close range for this 17th goal of the season.
Then in the 56th minute Birmingham looked certain to have equalised from a
corner when McCarthy similarly swung the ball into the six-yard box but
centre-half Darren Purse saw his close-range header somehow scooped off the line
by Nash.
Peter Ndlovu then had three chances in as many minutes. From another McCarthy
cross he sidefooted the ball wide from 15 yards when he might have done better.
Then he blazed high and wide from 25 yards and thirdly, on 64 minutes, he rose
majestically in the area but headed just over from another McCarthy cross.
It was all Birmingham in the second half and full-back Simon Charlton joined
the fray but his left foot blast from 30 yards just past the far post. McCarthy
again tormented the Stockport defence but there was a misunderstanding between
Paul Furlong and Adebola and the chance went begging.
Birmingham continued to press towards the end and right full-back Gary Rowett
hit a free-kick which Nash could only hold at the second attempt.
Stockport mounted a rare attack near the end but after Angell had played the
ball in Ellis hit it well over.
Birmingham still had chances to equalise in the last couple of minutes but
Furlong headed straight at Nash and a McCarthy shot was also beaten out by the
home keeper.
It was not to be Birmingham's day but the home team deserved credit for a
plucky performance with captain Mike Flynn marshalling the back four.
Teams:
Stockport: Nash, Gannon, Dinning, Smith, Flynn, McIntosh,
Matthews (Travis 71), Hughes, Angell, Ellis, Woodthorpe.
Subs Not Used: Connelly, Grant.
Goals: Angell 10.
Birmingham: Poole, Rowett, Charlton, Robinson (Hughes 46), Purse,
Johnson, McCarthy, Adebola, Furlong, O'Connor (Forster 77),Ndlovu.
Subs Not Used: Grainger.
Booked: Johnson, Furlong, O'Connor.
Att: 9,056
Ref: R Pearson (Peterlee).
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