Stockport County: Colchester United moment ends any debate about hero’s legend status - View | OneFootball

Highlights

Stockport County may have been heading for an incredibly tense fixture this weekend if it were not for the heroics of legendary goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe.

The three points earned by the Hatters at the JobServe Community Stadium means that fourth-placed MK Dons can only mathematically reach County's current points total by the end of their final three games, and with a 26-goal difference in favour of Dave Challinor's side, promotion is all but officially stamped.

County entered Tuesday's game needing three points to reach this point and, while that means they would have been in a strong position on Saturday no matter what, momentum is an important factor in football.

At 2-1 up, facing a barrage of Colchester United pressure, the hosts won a penalty. Up steps Cameron McGeehan, strong stays Hinchliffe. In the end, his penalty save would prove enough for County to take all three points back up to Stockport.

In all fairness, the penalty was not the highest quality you're ever likely to see, hit at a middling height and fairly central, it was tailor-made to be saved.

However, stopping a spot-kick in such tense conditions, regardless of the quality, is no simple feat. Hinchliffe had to hold his nerve until the last second to assess the direction of the ball and get in front of it, where he could have easily picked his side and committed too early.

His save kept County in the lead, a lead they held until the final whistle and a lead that ensured it was mathematically improbable that promotion would be missed this season.

A draw or loss would have meant there was still a possibility of being overtaken with the right combination of results, but barring MK breaking all kinds of records to overturn a 26-goal deficit in three games, the main objective of this season is sealed.

Challinor has made clear the celebrations won't start just yet, as his eyes are still firmly set on lifting the League Two trophy, but battling for that in the comfortable knowledge that promotion is secure makes Saturday a much more inviting prospect, thanks largely to Hinchliffe's important act.

Slightly harshly, Challinor noted in his post-match that Hinchliffe doesn't save loads of penalties, but he does save the important ones.

That he saves important penalties is most certainly true, and he has now done so in consecutive seasons.

This dramatic late stop is only matched by his performance at the end of last season, at Edgeley Park for the second leg of the League Two play-off semi-final against Salford City. County had managed to drag the game back to 2-2 on aggregate in extra-time and a penalty shootout beckoned.

It is in these scenarios that experienced goalkeepers earn their money. Hinchliffe earned his and then some, stopping two Salford penalties and giving Antoni Sarcevic the platform to thunder home the winner.

Challinor admitted that he is only harsh on Hinchliffe because he knows what he's capable of, but his assertion that he doesn't save many penalties is somewhat debatable when viewing the montage of him doing just that posted on X by County fan Chris Eaton.

His years of experience are vital and undoubtedly served to produce his all-important save against Colchester, adding yet another memorable moment to his extensive catalogue in a County shirt.

Hinchliffe will go down as a legend at Edgeley Park

Having joined the club in 2016 from AFC Fylde, while County were still in the National League North, he has been the one constant that has travelled with the club through that league, the National League, League Two and now into League One.

He still had a job as an HGV driver when he joined, and would occasionally miss matches in the sixth tier due to unavoidable work commitments.

With each promotion, there have been questions regarding whether Hinchliffe will handle the rise. With each promotion, he has duly risen.

He has the most appearances of any goalkeeper in the club's history and has been between the sticks for every step of what is likely to be County's most famous journey.

That he has achieved legend status is a debate for the distant past. The only thing to decide now is where to put the statue.