STOCKPORT COUNTY 2, BLACKPOOL 1
Icelandic striker Benoný Andrésson inspired a second-half comeback by Stockport County as the teenage substitute’s brace saw the Hatters begin a new month by edging out Blackpool at Edgeley Park.
The Hatters’ first home match in three weeks, following as many successive fixtures on the road, saw them go behind to an early goal from Ashley Fletcher before Andrésson opened his County goal-scoring account with his first touch of the game to equalise shortly after the interval.
He then headed home his second, and the 81st-minute winner, to secure a victory that took fourth-placed County to within four points of the automatic promotion positions.
The win was the Hatters’ fourth one running at EP as well as their first there against the Seasiders in more than 28 years and secured a third double of the current campaign.
County took to the field on a gloriously sunny afternoon that heralded March in, showing two changes from the starting line-up at Cambridge a week previously.
Ethan Pye replaced Callum Connolly, who, due to his dismissal late in the Cambridge game, was serving a one-match suspension that saw him miss out on an appearance against the visitors with whom he had plied his trade for the three seasons immediately before his arrival at EP. And the other returning Hatter, Jayden Fevrier, made his first appearance in three months coming in for the injured Macauley Southam-Hales.
The mid-table Seasiders, whose most recent loss had been back on Boxing Day, had avoided defeat in their last five visits to SK3, included among their substitutes goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell who had turned out between the sticks for County while on loan from Chesterfield in 2013.
The first chance of note arrived in the seventh minute, and was to put Blackpool in front, as Albie Morgan’s pinpoint through-ball found Fletcher who netted with a dinked finish over Corey Addai.
Seven minutes later, the Hatters enjoyed a huge let-off after Morgan and Fletcher combined to good effect again only for the latter to be denied a quick brace when his back-heeled effort hit the inside of the left post and bounced into a relieved Addai’s hands.
County’s inaugural opportunity was taken just after the quarter hour by skipper Lewis Bate who, following an Ollie Norwood corner from the left, unleashed a volley that spun off the ground and on target before visiting goalkeeper Harry Tyrer acrobatically parried it away.
Tyrer was tested again five minutes ahead of the break but again responded well to tip over Tanto Olaofe’s dipping shot from 25 yards. And, as added time approached with County finishing the half with more attacking intent, Ibby Touray’s low drive from the left deflected off CJ Hamilton and into the keeper’s arms.
County rang the changes upon the resumption, by way of a triple substitution that saw Andrésson, Callum Camps and Owen Moxon introduced. And, within just over a minute, the shake-up paid dividends with Andrésson latching on to Olaofe’s squared ball from the right and calmly slotting home for his first goal as a Hatter.
At the other end, a couple of minutes later, Addai kept the scores level with a stunning, point-blank save to deny Hamilton at the far post, after the visiting winger had headed on Hayden Coulson’s delivery from the left. And Andrésson, shortly following the hour-mark, cut in from the left to fire a low shot that Tyrer dived to smother.
Micah Hamilton was brought on with 13 minutes left and sought to emulate Andrésson by making an immediate impact off the bench in the Blackpool final third, but his shot from the edge of the area cleared the Cheadle End crossbar. And Addai executed another excellent reflex save, as he tipped over a close-range header by Stoke loanee-striker Niall Ennis.
Nine minutes from time, Andrésson bagged his and County’s second courtesy of a header into the far corner after connecting with a cross from the right by-line by fellow substitute Camps.
And the Hatters proceeded to see the game out for a precious three points, a feat they had last managed, while hosting Blackpool, late in 1996.
Goals: Andresson 47, 81) for Stockport. Fletcher (7) for Blackpool.
Stockport (3-5-2): Addai; Knoyle, Hills, Pye; Fevrier (Camps 46), Collar (M Hamilton 77), Norwood (Moxon 46), Bate, Touray; Wootton (Andrésson 46), Olaofe (Cosgrove 84). Subs (unused): Metcalfe, Rydel.
Attendance: 10,554 (1,119 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.