Osborne hat-trick has County in play-off bid

AN Elliot Osborne hat-trick fired Stockport County to a 5-1 win over FC Halifax Town at Edgeley Park in the National League.

Hatters manager Jim Gannon labelled the forward’s man-of-the-match display as ‘excellent’ while still praising the rest of the squad.

He said: “I put today down to the effort and the energy of the players, and the quality.”

Festus Arthur and a bundled own goal after a Tom Walker corner completed the rout with Halifax’s goal coming when County were already 4-0 up and proving only a consolation in the end.

Before the game the sides were level on points in eighth and ninth respectively, but yesterday’s result means County have sneaked into the play-off places in seventh and are now just four points off third.

The scoreline also means the Hatters have an astonishing 13 goals in their last three home games.

Altrincham came away with the bragging rights as a late Tom Peers strike meant they beat local rivals Curzon Ashton at the Tameside Stadium in the National League North.

Commenting afterwards, Peers thought his side were dominant.

He said: “It should’ve been four or five nil, I think. They had a couple of half chances, but we could have finished better.”

It was the Robins’ first league win since November 19 and if they win all four of their games in hand, they could climb as high as third.

For the Nash, yesterday’s result now means they have just a four-point cushion between themselves and Blyth Spartans in the final relegation place.