Stockport Georgians secured a playoff place on Saturday after picking up a point away from home against relegation-fighting Shawbury United. Here's how it played out.

Stockport came into the game relatively unchanged from their draw with Eccleshall the previous weekend, barring different personnel in the centre of their back four.

Ollie Hitchcox, who was previously unavailable due to illness, retook his role in the centre of defence, a position he has made his own since signing in January.

In place of the suspended Harry Lambert, who received his 10^th booking of the season in the previous fixture, was Matty Widdowson, who had just seen out his own suspension after his sending off against Telford at the start of the month.

The weather had a big hand in the majority of the game, and this was no different for the first 10 minutes, as both sides struggled to manage the unforgiving wind.

The first, and probably Georgians' best chance excluding their goal, came in the 12^th minute, as the visitors were denied by the crossbar.

Captain Paul Connor whipped a difficult bouncing ball into the box, which eventually dropped for Kyle Wych, who could only send his half-volley onto the frame of the goal before it was dealt with by the Shawbury goalkeeper.

The next opportunity for Stockport came just before the half-hour mark, as Will Wareing rolled Ollie McFadyen through down the left flank.

advertisement

The dangerous Georgians' winger faced his man up before drifting past him towards the byline, but the Shawbury shot stopper was out quick to cut off any chance of an opening goal, blocking McFadyen's attempt.

Shawbury, who hadn't created much in the way of chances, were first on the scoreboard just two minutes after Georgians could have gone ahead. Kenzie Cookson brought down his man thirty yards from goal, on the right flank; under normal conditions, a shot would have been ambitious, but Jamie King's effort was more than justified in the strong winds, with his left-footed attempt rocketing in off the bottom of the crossbar and giving the hosts the lead.

Little followed the opening goal, and the referee eventually blew the first half to a close in the 48^th minute, just before a heavy period of rain replaced the Shawbury sunshine.

Adding to the difficulties of being behind, Georgians were also forced into a change at half time, as Ollie Hitchcox was forced to the sidelines with an ankle injury, being replaced by Danny Kyobe. This substitution, mixed with the wind now blowing in their favour, put life into visitors, who had the first big chance of the half in the 51^st minute.

Ollie McFadyen, after turning in just inside the opposition half, sent a lovely curling ball over the head of the Shawbury left back, putting Joe Collins through on goal. A well-weighted first touch allowed Collins to burn past the recovering defender, but his finish didn't match the beginning of the move, as his tame low effort was easily blocked by the onrushing goalkeeper.

Four changes came before the next notable chance, this time in the 74^th minute. Having been on a little longer than 10 minutes, Harry Lynn picked up a shanked clearance from the Shawbury goalkeeper, and, from distance, sent a sweet strike towards the home side's goal. Fortunately for Shawbury, their goalkeeper, Jayden Bevan, made up for his prior mistake, diving acrobatically to turn Lynn's effort onto the post and out for a corner.

Lynn, who had a positive impact after coming off the bench, was also hugely involved in the Georgians' leveller. Shawbury midfielder Essa Faburay, who was already in the referee's book for persistent fouling, brought down Lynn unnecessarily in the box as he was running away from goal. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Georgians' top goalscorer Ollie McFadyen made no mistake with his subsequent penalty, passing into the bottom right for his 29^th of the season.

Things went from bad to worse for Faburay in the 91^st minute, as he made one foul too many, leading to an early dismissal for the midfielder.

advertisement

Following Shawbury's reduction in personnel, the game ran out quietly, securing a top-five finish for the visitors and providing an important point for the hosts, who continue to fight against relegation.

• FT: 1-1 (HT:1-0) (McFadyen)
• Att: 51
• MOM: Harry Lynn