STOCKPORT COUNTY 2, EXETER CITY 0
Stockport County returned to winning ways with a two-goal victory in challenging conditions at Edgeley Park against Exeter to further cement their residency in the League One play-off positions.
The first meeting between the two clubs for nearly 15 years saw chances rather at a premium for much of the first hour before a Tristan Crama own goal put the Hatters in front and top scorer Louie Barry converted a penalty late on.
County had last succeeded in triumphing over the Grecians at home more than three decades ago, but, in the event, were good value for the points on this occasion – especially following an impressive second half in which the Exeter woodwork was also struck twice.
North-East Cheshire had mercifully been spared the worst excesses of Storm Darragh, but it was still a decidedly wet and blustery afternoon in and around EP as the Hatters took to the field, showing three changes from their starting line-up at Birmingham three days earlier.
Callum Camps, Fraser Horsfall – following completion of his one-match suspension – and Jay Mingi comprised the recalled trio. And of the players they replaced, Ollie Norwood and Ryan Rydel featured on the bench – while Macauley Southam-Hales missed out due to injury, having picked up a knock in the midweek contest at St Andrew’s.
The visitors from Devon’s county town included among their starters striker Millenic Alli who had spent 2021/22 on County’s books and made first-team appearances as a Hatter in that season’s Cheshire Senior Cup and FA Trophy.
Barry fashioned the first attempt of the contest, after shimmying into the area in the fourth minute – but his eventual shot fizzed past the left upright. And Exeter won the afternoon’s inaugural corner eight minutes later with Caleb Watts, from beyond the back post, meeting an Ed Francis delivery on the right to head over.
At the other end, just ahead of the first half’s mid-point, Barry’s low cross from the left found Kyle Wootton whose first-time shot from close range flashed narrowly shy of the near post. But shortly after the half-hour, and following a spell of treatment, the Hatters lost the services of Horsfall as Norwood was introduced and County’s defence changed to a back four.
Within a few minutes of his arrival, Norwood was presented with an opportunity – courtesy of a Camps assist – to break the deadlock but drilled past the left post. And shortly afterwards, Camps himself tried his luck only to see his on-target shot gathered up by visiting goalkeeper, Joe Whitworth.
Kicking towards the Cheadle End, but against the wind, upon the resumption, County again showed the greater attacking intent, as another Barry run into the area caused Exeter some nervousness; a well-struck, left-footed Lewis Bate shot hit the base of the right post; and Whitworth held on to an effort unleashed by Barry from outside the box.
Midway in the half, County finally made the breakthrough, albeit with a slice of fortune as Wootton’s shot from the right of goal was parried by Whitworth but only as far as the legs of the unfortunate Crama, to take a deflection back towards goal and into the net.
With each side going in search of a goal to follow that, visiting substitute Kamari Doyle went close when firing past the Hatters’ left post, before Barry cut in from the left at a tight angle to rattle the corresponding upright at the opposite end.
Then, three minutes from time, and following a County break, Barry was upended in the area by Crama. Referee Scott Oldham unhesitatingly pointed to the spot and the Aston Villa loanee sent Whitworth the wrong way to dispatch the penalty, by way of his 14th league goal this term, to make the game safe.
Goals: Crama (67 og), Barry (88 pen) for Stockport.
Stockport County (3-4-3): Hinchliffe; Connolly, Horsfall (Norwood 32), Pye; Mingi (Hughes 60), Camps (Bailey 89), Bate, Touray; Collar (Diamond 90), Wootton, Barry (Olaofe 89). Subs (unused): Addai, Rydel.
Attendance: 9,192 (687 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.