MATCH VERDICT: Stockport County 2-1 FC Halifax Town

A fabulous strike by substitute Adam Thomas sealed a 2-1 win for Stockport County, despite a valiant effort from FC Halifax Town.
Stockport County v FC Halifax TownStockport County v FC Halifax Town
Stockport County v FC Halifax Town

The Shaymen had gone in-front through an own goal by goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe, which was cancelled out by Mark Kitching before half-time.

Both teams created chances in a gruelling tussle, but Stockport won it with Thomas' wonderful shot with 10 minutes remaining.

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Despite the result, Town can take a lot of encouragement from the performance, which was full of the effort and endeavour that was missing on their last appearance at Edgeley Park.

Immediately apparent was Stockport's aggressive pressing game, closing down Halifax, and trying to force mistakes.

Neither side was all that interested in playing it long unless they had to, preferring to build from deep, although Gold Omotayo was a very effective aerial presence.

Both sides had good movement off-the-ball and looked lively.

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But the goal had nothing to do with any of that. It was just downright bizarre.

Jack Earing raced to keep the ball in play by the goal-line - which Stockport argued he didn't - drilled it towards keeper Hinchliffe, and the ball inexplicably ricocheted off his heel and in.

The camera missed the ball for a Halifax goal on Saturday, this time it was the opposition keeper.

After last season's 5-1 mauling here, Town would definitely take that.

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Stockport responded by forcing a couple of corners and a bit of penalty box pinball; the goal seemed to have fired them up if anything.

It was no real surprise when Kitching latched onto a clever pass by Connor Jennings and finished calmly past Sam Johnson near the angle of the six-yard box.

It was well and truly game on now.

Luke Summerfield came close to his second goal in as many games when his shot cracked off the bar.

At the other end, the impressive Jennings' shot was saved after a corner was cut back to him on the edge of the area.

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Town, the excellent Summerfield aside, looked a little more rushed in possession than Stockport, who were quick to gain ground and get bodies up the pitch when on the ball, with Jennings an increasing influence.

There was a little more composure to Stockport's play, although there were some nice touches by a confident-looking Earing and Jeff King got forward well, while the hosts looked nervy at the back, as another Town cross was cleared behind while the goalkeeper hesitated.

Omotayo had the beating of the Stockport centre-backs in the air, but needed the service to prove it.

Alongside him, Jamie Allen, Town's only change in place of Gevaro Nepomuceno, got into some promising positions but couldn't take advantage of them.

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Stockport had put some dangerous crosses in, most of which necessitated precision defending from Town to repel, with some fine defending from Halifax's back three, who were again providing a solid last line.

Summerfield again went close with a superb shot from the edge of the box that Hinchliffe did terrifically well to tip over, redeeming his earlier error.

It had been fast and frenetic at times. Two good teams going toe-to-toe.

The second-half slowed down a little in intensity, with both sides having caught their breath and now finding the other more difficult to penetrate.

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The early vigour and sharpness of both teams had slightly diminished, and it was now a rain-soaked physical battle of hard running and 50-50 balls.

From one such 50-50, Earing burst towards the box before sliding in Allen to his left, but his low shot was tame.

Moments later, King was played through down the right of the Stockport area, but his shot on the slide went wide of the near post.

Gaps were starting to appear for Town on the break as Gevaro Nempomuceno was brought on midway through the second-half.

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Stockport looked like they were running out of puff, but Town were working hard, closing down, harrying, standing strong.

For all their efforts, it took a tremendous Sam Johnson save to keep out Ash Palmer's header at point blank range, moments before he also brilliantly denied a low shot across goal from Jennings.

But there was no stopping Thomas' thunderbolt when he cut in off the right and smashed a sensational left-footed strike into the top right corner.

Town pressed for the remainder, but to no avail.

Stockport: Hinchliffe, Minihan, Palmer, Stott, Keane, Southam-Hales (Thomas 60), Kitching (J Jennings 84), Maynard, Rooney, C Jennings (Reid 87), Bennett. Subs not used: Barnes, Croasdale.

Scorers: Kitching (24), Thomas (81)

Shots on target: 7

Shots off target: 5

Corners: 6

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Halifax: Johnson, Byrne, Clarke, Bradbury, King, Williams, Summerfield, Woods (Green 46), Earing, Omotayo (Nepomuceno 67), Allen. Subs not used: Davison-Hale, Benn, Tear.

Scorer: Hinchliffe (Own goal 12)

Shots on target: 2

Shots off target: 7

Corners: 4

Referee: Adam Herczeg

Town man of the match: Luke Summerfield - another excellent performance from the midfielder, who was measured, calm and composed in possession and twice went close to another goal