First run out for new look Hatters
STOCKPORT County got their pre-season underway on Saturday with a comfortable victory over local side Linotype Cheadle Heath Nomads.
Jim Gannon’s men were in total control throughout, scoring three goals in 90 minutes to pick up the win.
It was the first time that the public got the chance to see the new look County squad in action, with a number of players making their debut for the team.
There were 17 players in the squad for the match, including goalkeepers Ben Hinchliffe and Ian Ormson, along with defenders Michael Clarke, Scott Duxbury, Courtney Meppen-Walter, Sam Minihan and Chris Smalley.
Also in the squad were midfielders Lewis Montrose, Gary Stopforth, Adam Etches, John Marsden and Adam Thomas, while the forward options were Josh Amis, Kayode Odejayi and George West.
There were two trialists on offer to Gannon as well, with Craig Carney and Godwin Abadaki looking to impress.
The visitors were dominant during the opening stages and they managed to take the lead inside the first 15 minutes.
Despite being a defender, Meppen-Walter found himself in space in the opposition box, allowing him to fire a close range shot into the back of the net to put his side in front.
Stockport had a number of other chances as the half progressed, but they couldn’t add to their lead, meaning they went in 1-0 up at the interval.
It was more of the same from the away side in the second half and it didn’t take them long to double their lead.
Carney was one of the two trialists in action for County, and he ensured he made his mark when he made space for himself before firing home.
The Stockport defence still had to be alert at the other end, as they denied the opposition on several occasions.
Gannon’s men then wrapped up the win late on when defender Clarke got on the end of a corner, heading home to make it 3-0.
That’s how the match finished, with County earning themselves a straightforward victory in their first friendly of the summer.
It was a pleasing victory for the visitors, who were able to please their travelling fans who had made the trip to watch the match.
Stockport would have been hoping for a similar result in their latest match on Tuesday, as they were set to host Barrow at Edgeley Park at the Express went to print.