HOGAN’S ALREADY A HATTERS HERO!
A dream debut for Stockport new boy
LIAM HOGAN capped his Stockport County debut in style as his solitary strike sealed a hard-fought victory over play-off rivals Bromley at Edgeley Park.
The 31-year-old centre-back, who joined County from Salford on a two-and-a-half-year contract just 24 hours before kick-off, tapped in from Sam Walker’s corner at the far post in the 53rd minute.
And he earned his stripes at the other end of the pitch as well when denying Bromley striker Michael Cheek an almost certain equaliser 15 minutes later to earn the Hatters all three points.
“We made a couple of massive decisions today and I think they paid off for us,” Gannon said, hailing his squad as a whole. “If you look at the teamsheet we went back to the players that have served us well.
“We looked at a team that was a great blend of players that took us on this journey and players that are going to take us on the next journey.”
Stockport just about edged a disappointing opening half which suffered through both sides sizing each other up.
Elliot Osborne fired tamely at Bromley keeper Mark Cousins, whose opposite number, Ben Hinchliffe, had to be alert to smother an effort from Cheek.
Eight minutes into the second half, however, Stockport were ahead.
Walker’s centre was flicked on to the far post for Hogan to bundle in.
That sparked an immediate change by Bromley boss Neil Smith who brought on Billy Bingham and with his very first touch fired a wicked dipping volley that Hinchliffe did well to tip over.
Hogan, though, was immense for County, throwing his body on the line with a block on the hour as Cheek looked certain to slot home from eight yards.
Liam McAlinden worked hard as the lone striker for the Hatters and he conjured up a chance for Danny Lloyd when chasing a lost cause and squaring for the former Peterborough man, who hit a low drive wide.
Bromley, though, weren’t done yet and they went close to forcing an equaliser through Luke Coulson, before Cousins kept them in it by smothering an effort from Lloyd.
Bromley finished the stronger with substitute Adrian Clifton heading straight at Hinchliffe from Bingham’s cross before forcing the County stopper into a sharp save at his near post. Coulson almost nicked a point late on with a wonderful curling effort which just drifted wide.
Boss Smith said: “It was always going to be tough in the conditions. I thought we handled things really well, especially in the second half.
“Some of our play and some of the shots were good but I thought their keeper was outstanding.”