Sam makes it sticky for Toffees

EVERTON’S David Unsworth brought a strong U23 side to Edgeley Park – most notably Tyias Browning and Brendan Galloway with Premier League experience – but they were given a shock by Stockport in the first half.

County started strongly and Sam Minihan’s pace on the right-hand side caused the Everton defence problems.

On five minutes he broke down the left and pulled one back for Matty Warburton, who couldn’t sort his feet out and get a strike off.

It was no surprise when the opening goal was created by Minihan on the quarter hour.

The right winger beat his man and played a perfect cross into new signing from Guiseley Frank Mulhern, who trapped the ball before firing it into the roof of the net.

Neat interplay between Warburton and Darren Stephenson saw the latter pull his shot wide of the far post.

County were deservedly in front and keeper Ben Hinchliffe preserved their lead when Ash Palmer’s slip handed Everton a two-on-one situation.

Bassala Sambou slipped the ball to Fraser Hornby but Hinchliffe flew out of his net to smother his effort.

However, it was a completely different story after the break when the only two half-time substitutes for the Toffees made a difference. Matthew Foulds and Sambou served notice of what was to come when their efforts were tipped over by an alert Hinchliffe.

Foulds’ effort was essentially a free-kick aimed for the far post that ended up nearly looping in but Sambou’s was a piece of quality footwork in the penalty area.

Then the first sub Con Ouzounidis rose the highest at the far post to head home from Harry Charsley’s cross to equalise on 56 minutes.

Three minutes later the other half-time substitute Nathan Broadhead slotted home after the ball fell to him in the penalty area.

It was one-way traffic and when Dennis Adeniran was given too much space to get his shot off outside the area, Palmer managed to block it but it fell straight to Sambou who fired past Hinchliffe in the 72nd minute.

Broadhead nearly bagged his second of the afternoon but curled his shot wide.

He made up for that with five minutes left, sweeping a through ball by Antony Gordon past the onrushing Hinchliffe.

It was a good workout for County but they will be disappointed by the nature of their second half performance.

Next up for the Hatters is a trip to Warrington Town on Tuesday and then it’s Macclesfield Town at home next Saturday as the countdown to the big kick-off continues.