GANNON’S FIVE-STAR COUNTY SHOWING
Stockport run riot as Turnbull impresses
CLOSE-SEASON title favourites Stockport County lived up to their billing on the opening day.
A double for Matty Warburton, sandwiched in between Frank Mulhern’s opener and late goals from captain Paul Turnbull and substitute Kallum Mantack, saw off the Red Rebels.
The cause of the visitors was dealt an early blow when Brad Barnes twisted his knee and had to be replaced after just five minutes although they still created the first chance, as former Hatter Liam Dickinson broke through to force a save from Ben Hinchliffe.
But the Hatters were beginning to get into their stride. From their first corner, Mulhern’s shot was cleared off the line by Joel Senior. And from their second – also taken by Turnbull on the left – Mulhern again connected to head the hosts into the lead.
A minute ahead of the half-hour, County’s advantage was doubled, courtesy of a second assist from Turnbull who broke into the box, before squaring to Warburton.
Hinchliffe was briefly called into action to save an angled shot from Willoughby.
But action was otherwise concentrated in the opposite final third, where Mulhern, Warburton, Sam Minihan and Darren Stephenson all went close. And a minute ahead of half-time, Warburton made it three with another close-range finish – after Minihan had picked up and played across Scott Duxbury’s cross from the left.
Any thoughts that County’s firsthalf momentum would fade after the break were dispelled, when Mulhern saw a goal-bound shot blocked by another ex-Hatter, Stephen O’Halloran, within a minute of the resumption.
Mulhern then headed a Sam
Walker corner against the crossbar, before Willoughby’s shot, from a Sam Tattum cross on the right, took a heavy deflection off Ash Palmer and fizzed past Hinchliffe to reduce the arrears.
But County’s supremacy was not inappropriately emphasised before the end, when, first, Turnbull fired in from the edge of the box, and, on the stroke of full-time, former FC United loanee Mantack chipped teenage debutant goalkeeper William Crellin.
County manager Jim Gannon was understandably pleased with the outcome, enthusing: “It was a brilliant performance, full of energy, from our players and our fans.” STAR MAN: Paul Turnbull (Stockport) ATT: 4,577 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Tom Parsons