Dave Challinor admits Scott Quigley will represent a crucial piece in the make up of his Stockport County side, following the 2-2 draw against Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup First Round.
Scott Quigley wheels off in celebration after scoring Stockport County's opening goal - Credit: Mike Petch / Stockport County FC
By Amos Murphy
Instrumental in Stockport County’s all-round play, Scott Quigley tormented the Bolton Wanderers defence throughout the pair’s FA Cup First Round tie.
Scorer of the first goal, Quigley latched on the end of youngster George Thomason’s wayward back pass, before bullishly beating the covering defender and slotting underneath the onrushing Joel Dixon.
Amongst the constant pressure being applied by Quigley at the top of County’s 4-2-3-1 system, the striker was also instrumental in the visitors’ second goal of the afternoon.
Once again breaking in behind the Bolton backline, Quigley held the ball up until backup arrived on the scene, where Paddy Madden slipped through Ben Whitfield to equalise just before the break.
A vintage performance from a striker of sheer class, with new boss Dave Challinor excited about the prospect of working with Quigley.
Having endured a stuttering start to life at the Hatters, Quigley netted his maiden goal for the club in the previous round of the FA Cup against Stamford, and Challinor is keen to see the 29-year-old kick on:
“There’s been an injury and a little bit of frustration (for Quigley), but we’ve got to be able to create the chance, because if we do, he’s shown he’ll take them”.
Take his chance he did. Quigley’s clinical opener offered the ever-vocal 5,000 strong County faithful at the University of Bolton Stadium a sight of the quality they had rarely seen from the former-Barrow man, with Challinor insistent there’s more of the same to come:
“Scott and Paddy (Madden) are going to be the starting point for us up the pitch and they’re going to initiate presses, so I wanted them to empty the tank and they did that.
“We’re looking to get him to a point where he’ll get the rewards for his effort, just like he did with the opening goal”.
Part of the attraction towards Challinor for County was his proven record of getting the most out of players, with Quigley earmarked as the 46-year-old’s latest talismanic forward.
When manager of AFC Fylde, former Stockport striker Danny Rowe became the focal point of Challinor’s promotion-chasing side, finishing the 2019/18 season as the league’s top scorer.
Whilst admitting they are “very different players”, Challinor does see some likeness between two of the division’s most potent predators:
“If you look at the goals we’ve scored this season, 99% of them are in the width of the goal inside the 18-yard box.
“He got a chance today and scored with a really good finish. Over time he’s going to get better and better”.
Similarly to Rowe, Quigley has pedigree for finishing the season as the National League top scorer, albeit during the null and void 2019/20 campaign.
Quigley netted 20 goals in 35 matches for eventual champions Barrow, with Stockport fans now hoping the Shrewsbury-born man can produce a similar number to revive the Hatters’ promotion hopes.
Proving he can do it against a near-full strength League One defence is nothing over than a positive sign for Quigley and Stockport, who Challinor will now look to build his new-look County side around.
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