READING 1, STOCKPORT COUNTY 3
Stockport County followed up their narrow third round FA Cup exit in South London with a return to League One action and a trip to the capital’s surrounding home counties that saw them get back impressively to winning ways at Reading.
County’s first-ever visit to the Madejski Stadium and the club’s first assignment anywhere in the Berkshire town since 1997 proved an occasion to remember as Tanto Olaofe’s seventh strike of the campaign in all competitions, followed by a maiden County goal for Callum Connolly, put County two-up inside little more than a dozen minutes with substitute Jack Diamond adding a third midway through the second half, after the in-form Royals had scored on the hour.
Victory for the Hatters was their first in Reading for 32 years as well as a first maximum points-haul in League One since Christmas that both gave them their first double of 2024/25 and propelled them back into the play-off places. And, after a five-game wait in all competitions, boss Dave Challinor was able to celebrate his 100th triumph at the managerial helm.
The Hatters took to the field on a cloudy afternoon showing two changes from their starting line-up against top-flight Crystal Palace six days earlier with Ben Hinchliffe and former Royal Ollie Norwood – who had plied his trade in RG2 for two seasons from 2014 to 2016 – replacing Corey Addai and Odin Bailey respectively.
Kyle Wootton struck the first shot of the afternoon inside two minutes but, having been fed by Will Collar, the skipper fired narrowly wide of Reading’s right post.
Three minutes later, however, the Hatters made no mistake with their next opportunity as Norwood’s corner from the right was headed across goal by Macauley Southam-Hales for Olaofe, in front of the far post, to convert at short range and give County an early lead.
The 13th minute then proved far from unlucky for County as the advantage was doubled. Norwood’s second telling set-piece of the contest against his old club this time took the form of a free kick floated into the area for the unmarked Connolly, at the left of goal, to head home – getting his name on the scoresheet for the first time as a Hatter in the process.
Shortly afterwards, Olaofe went close to making it three by lifting the ball over home goalkeeper Joel Pereira only for New Zealand international defender Tyler Bindon to clear in front of goal. And, just past the first half’s mid-point, Olaofe had another effort blocked by Harlee Dean, before Norwood stung Pereira’s hands with a rasping shot from the edge of the box.
Norwood had the chance to weave some further dead-ball magic in added time, but his direct free-kick from the left of the area was cleanly caught by Pereira.
The trailing hosts, who were undefeated in L1 since Christmas and who had at kick-off occupied the final play-off position, one place and three points above County made a change upon the resumption by introducing Enfield-born defender Jeriel Dorsett, who had been capped for England Under-17 and 18 sides and, subsequently, at full level by Montserrat.
The Hatters also made an early second-half substitution, of the enforced kind, after Olaofe picked up a knock three minutes in and had to be replaced by Diamond, but soon went close to extending their lead when a Norwood corner was nodded on by Connolly to Ethan Pye whose header was cleared off the line by home captain Lewis Wing.
Cometh the hour, cometh a goal – albeit for Reading as leading scorer Sam Smith met Charlie Savage’s free kick from the left to volley in and halve the arrears.
But, seven minutes later, Diamond who, shortly beforehand, was denied by the feet of Pereira, having been played through on goal – restored County’s two-goal cushion when he executed a calm, left-footed finish past the keeper after Wootton had flicked on Collar’s delivery from the right.
The Royals strove to get themselves back in contention through the scorer of their consolation goal at Edgeley Park three months previously as Chem Campbell prodded narrowly shy of the near post from short-range following good work on the left by-line by substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.
But County stood firm to negotiate the closing stages, and make sure of a first success on the road since late November which has enabled them to leapfrog their latest hosts into sixth place.
Goals: Smith (60) for Reading. Olaofe (5), Connolly (13), Diamond (67) for Stockport.
Stockport County (3-5-2): Hinchliffe; Knoyle, Connolly, Pye; Southam-Hales, Collar (Fiorini 73), Norwood, Camps, Touray; Wootton, Olaofe (Diamond 48). Subs (unused): Addai, Mingi, Andrésson, Rydel, Gardner.
Attendance: 11,019 (779 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.