Stockport County 4 – 2 Wealdstone
Stockport County4 - 2
WealdstoneA second-half comeback from league leaders Stockport County saw them gain a 4-2 victory over Wealdstone at a sunny Edgeley Park.
Wealdstone took a two-goal lead into half time after Jack Cook and Aaron Henry put them in front however they were pegged back by a penalty from Paddy Madden and then goals from Ryan Johnson, Ash Palmer and Antoni Sarcevic.
Stones were cheered on by almost 200 vociferous away fans and made just one change going into the game today with Connor McAvoy out and David Sesay taking his place.
As expected the league leaders came out the blocks to a lightning start and Sesay produced a goal-denying block to prevent Madden from opening the scoring just three minutes in.
Madden then went close again inside seven minutes and George Wickens also had to be alert to deny Myles Hippolyte.
But from then on the Stones took over. Charles Clayden was a handful on the left and hit a low cross into Josh Umerah who was just denied by Palmer to win a corner.
And then from that corner the Stones lead. Henry whipped a ball into a load of bodies and Cook rose highest to head past Ben Hinchliffe and send the away end into a frenzy.
Cook almost doubled his tally on 26 minutes, nicking the ball in the midfield before playing in Rhys Browne down the right, Browne countered and delivered the ball back in for the free Cook at the far post but he headed into the ground and the ball bounced just wide.
The Stones did double their lead on 34 minutes. Henry had a 25-yard free kick in a wide position; Hinchliffe anticipated a cross before the Charlton loanee caught the keeper out and swerved a free kick right inside the near top corner. Wealdstone were in dreamland.
Stockport looked shellshocked and again failed to deal with two more Henry corners that saw skipper Jerome Okimo flick an effort just over and then Browne thwarted by Hinchliffe’s legs at the far post just before half time.
A fightback was anticipated from the table-topping hosts and they went ahead inside just six second half minutes.
They needed help for the first when Oliver Crankshaw’s cross hit the unfortunate Clayden’s face and then arm, however the referee was nonplussed and awarded a penalty which the experienced Madden expertly converted on 55 minutes.
Madden turned provider just two minutes later, delivering a pinpoint low cross to Johnson who slotted in from close range.
The Stones nearly went back in front just a minute later. Henry’s corner was flicked on by Okimo to Cook who poked an effort at goal only to see Hinchliffe tip it over the crossbar with a great save. Umerah headed just over from the resulting corner too.
And then on 62 minutes the hosts had turned it round. Sarcevic’s corner was met by the head of Palmer who powered the ball into the far corner.
With full time looming the Sarcevic started and finished a move, dispossessing Nathan Ferguson before playing Madden in, he shrugged off Cook and crossed low to Will Collar who’s effort struck off the post back to Sarcevic who tucked it away into the top corner.
Wickens kept the score down in injury time, pulling off a great stop to deny Stockport sub Scott Quigley after he broke away.
The Stones are back in action on Saturday when Bromley are the visitors for Non-League Day. Ticket details will be released in due course.
WEALDSTONE: Wickens, Cook, Okimo (c), Mundle-Smith, Sesay (Mascoll 73), Henry (Charles 77), Ferguson, Cooper (Elito 75), Clayden, Browne, Umerah. Subs not used: Jackson, Dyer.
Report by Chris Woods
Stuart Maynard post Match interview HERE
Jon Taffel Match pics HERE
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