STOCKPORT COUNTY 3, STEVENAGE 0
Stockport County proved themselves to be nobody’s fools as they marked the first day of April with a fine three-goal victory under the Edgeley Park lights against mid-table Stevenage.
Jayden Fevrier’s first goal in more than six months gave the Hatters the lead midway through a cagey first half before an own goal shortly following the interval doubled their advantage and Jack Diamond added a third to make the points safe.
The result, only County’s second-ever triumph over the Boro in seven competitive meetings, kept the Hatters in fifth place, while also increasing to nine points the margin between them and positions outside the play-offs zone.
The Hatters took to the field on a balmy spring evening in SK3 showing three changes from the starting line-up that had hosted Burton three days previously.
Brad Hills returned from suspension while Diamond and Fraser Horsfall, who had shone as second-half substitutes at the weekend, completed the incoming trio, replacing Will Collar, Kyle Knoyle, and Ethan Pye who was serving a one-match ban on account of his added-time dismissal against the Brewers.
The visitors fielded an ex-Hatter in the shape of their captain, Carl Piergianni, who had plied his trade at EP in County’s inaugural National League campaign of 2011/12.
Nearly a dozen minutes had come and gone before night’s first attack of note with Diamond, having been fed on the left by Ibby Touray, drilling a dangerous low delivery into the Stevenage six-yard box that was cleared by Welsh Under-21 international Eli King.
Fevrier was next to try his luck, courtesy of a shot from the right which narrowly cleared the Railway End crossbar before turning provider with a cross for Kyle Wootton, at the far post, to head into the arms of visiting goalkeeper Murphy Cooper.
Then, shortly after the first half’s midpoint came Fevrier’s third deed of the evening on the right flank which put the Hatters in front as he cut in to unleash a low shot that took a deflection off Piergianni and into the far-bottom corner for the winger’s third goal of the season in all competitions.
Louis Thompson, from the edge of the County area, blazed the visitors’ inaugural effort into Cheadle End orbit before an Ollie Norwood free kick into the other end’s box found Horsfall, whose volley was cleanly caught by Cooper.
One minute was announced by way of time added on, although the stoppage-period extended somewhat after Horsfall required treatment for a facial injury suffered in the course of a melee following a County corner.
Horsfall, thankfully, re-emerged upon the resumption with his fellow Hatters who soon created an early second-half opportunity with Diamond, under pressure, firing over after connecting with a Tanto Olaofe delivery from the right.
But the next time Olaofe, again on the right, fed the ball in, it led to County’s second, as Wootton, facing one of his former clubs, tussled with Luther James-Wildin and the unfortunate Antiguan and Barbudan right back was accredited with the final touch that saw the ball bundled over the line.
Leading Boro scorer Dan Kemp strove to reduce the arrears on three occasions in quick succession but to no avail as his low shot ended up in the left side netting, his downward header from a corner bounced over the bar, and a delivery from the left was poked behind for another corner by Callum Connolly.
Two minutes ahead of the hour, Wootton had a gilt-edged chance to increase County’s tally, but headed over after Fevrier’s cross from the right had deflected to find him in space at the far upright. And a mazy run by Fevrier five minutes later took him into the visitors’ box, before his shot was saved by Cooper in front of the right post.
Eighteen minutes from time, Diamond made it three with a delightful solo effort, after collecting the ball from Lewis Bate on the edge of the area, weaving his way into the box and slotting past Cooper.
A triple-substitution followed, with one of the replacements, Micah Hamilton, forcing Cooper to dive and smother a shot from the right. And, during added time, Horsfall used his feet rather than his sore head to meet a corner late in the half – volleying past the near post, after connecting with Norwood’s delivery from the right.
Goals: Fevrier (24), James-Wildin (50 og), Diamond (72).
Stockport (4-4-2): Addai; Hills, Horsfall, Connolly, Touray; Fevrier (Knoyle 66), Norwood, Bate (Moxon 78), Diamond (Powell 78); Olaofe (Hamilton 78), Wootton (Andrésson 90). Subs (unused): Wogan, Collar.
Attendance: 8,427 (117 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.