IHM Football Academy – 2
Stockport County 1st – 3
Date: Friday Friday 13th October 2023
Venue: Away
Competition: Inter College league
Man of the match: Muna
The IHM Football Academy team suffered their first defeat of the season away to Stockport County last Friday in the league.
The team started poorly in their visit to Stockport, struggling with the small pitch, meaning that they couldn’t play out from the back as effectively as before. This led to them resorting to a long ball, losing possession and inviting more pressure. It was a difficult first half with some mistakes from the visitors, allowing the home side to go two goals ahead through two well executed set pieces.
Going into the break 2 goals down, IHM came out for the second period set up as a 4 – 3 – 3, which game them more chance to create space and use their wide players. As the second half continued, it was a much-improved performance by the travelling team. So, with a fantastic bit of passing from the back, through the 3rds, they got a goal back with Ramsey having an easy task of converting the cross on the back post.
Shortly after this, with sustained pressure, IHM were awarded a penalty that looked like a chance to bring both sides level. However, the chance was missed and in the aftermath the home side went down the other end and extended their lead.
IHM managed a late consolation goal from Muna, who was the visitor’s player of the match. But, sadly it wasn’t enough to save any points and the game ended 3-2 to the home side and sealed the first defeat of the season for IHM Football Academy.
Head of Football, Sam said:
“It was our first half performance that let us down there. We just didn’t get into the game and deal with the set up soon enough, so we were chasing the game from early on. All credit to the team for their second half performance. I really thought that we were the better team in the second half and with a little more luck we’d have come away from the game with something.
Our first goal was great and shows what the lads can do. We just need to be more disciplined from the start of the game to give ourselves a chance.”
Next up its Stalybridge in the league, where the team will look to get back to winning ways.
