Thomas strikes late winner to thwart Shaymen

A FABULOUS strike by substitute Adam Thomas sealed a 2- 1 Natonal Premier League win for Stockport County, despite a valiant effort from FC Halifax Town.

The Shaymen had gone in front through an own goal by goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe, which was cancelled out by Mark Kitching before half- time.

Both teams created chances in a gruelling tussle, but Stockport won it with Thomas’s wonderful shot with 10 minutes remaining.

Despite the result, Town can take a lot of encouragement from the performance, which was full of the effort and endeavour that was missing on their last appearance at Edgeley Park.

Town took the lead with a bizarre goal when Jack Earing raced to keep the ball in play by the goal- line – which Stockport argued he didn’t – drilled it towards Hinchliffe, and the ball inexplicably ricocheted off his heel and in.

It was no surprise when Kitching latched onto a clever pass by Connor Jennings and equalised, finishing calmly past Sam Johnson near the angle of the six- yard box.

Luke Summerfield came close to his second goal in as many games when his shot cracked off the bar.

The second- half slowed down a little in intensity, with both sides having caught their breath and now finding the other more difficult to penetrate.

But there was no stopping Thomas’s thunderbolt when he cut in off the right and smashed a sensational left- footed strike into the top right corner.

York City kicked off their National League North campaign with a 3- 1 win over Chorley at Bootham Crescent.

The hosts went in front after 12 minutes, when Paddy McLaughlin netted.

Scott Barrow doubled the advantage on 49 minutes, before Michael Woods ( 83) added a third goal.

Lewis Riley scored a stoppagetime penalty for Chorley.

Farsley Celtic suffered a 2- 1 defeat at Spennymoor Town, but Guiseley enjoyed a 4- 0 victory over Blyth Spartans.

Goals from Jon Stead, Dan Jones and Brendan Kiernan helped Harrogate Town to a 3- 1victory over Leicester City Under- 21’ s in their EFL Trophy Northern Group H match at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Doncaster Rovers suffered a 2- 0 defeat at Oldham Athletic, after second- half goals from Danny Rowe and Zach Dearnley.

Chris Hughton has been appointed as the new manager of Nottingham Forest last night after the club sacked Sabri Lamouchi.