Moors’ unbeaten run comes to end
SPENNYMOOR Town were beaten in the league for the first time since early January as they lost on the road at promotion rivals Stockport County.
A bumper crowd of over 6,300 witnessed Sam Walker grab the only goal of the game to help the Hatters to a narrow win over Jason Ainsley’s side.
The opening stages saw both sides have plenty of possession, but neither keeper was really tested until the half-hour mark, when Moors number one Matt Gould produced a fine save to deny Matty Warburton.
The visitors created two opportunities of their own in the last five minutes of a quiet opening half, as Mark Anderson’s wicked cross narrowly evaded Glen Taylor and James Curtis saw a goalbound header cleared from STOCKPORT COUNTY SPENNYMOOR TOWN 1 0
inside the six-yard box.
The second half followed the same pattern with both defences stifling the impressive array of attacking talent.
Moors forward Andrew Johnson brought an instinctive save out of County keeper Ben Hinchcliffe just before the hour-mark, just minutes before Warburton was denied once again by Gould.
The two sides continued to trade chances as a nervy second half continued.
County striker Frank Mulhern rounded Gould but the Moors keeper recovered to block his effort, and Johnson saw a rising shot tipped over by Hinchcliffe.
A goal seemed to be inevitable and it duly arrived on 73 minutes when a Sam Walker free-kick evaded everyone inside a crowded Moors area and nestled inside the far post.
Ainsley’s side pressed for an equaliser in the last 10 minutes but were unable to do so despite dominating possession in the closing stages.
The defeat leaves the Moors four points behind their hosts, and a further point behind leaders Chorley.
STOCKPORT COUNTY: Hinchcliffe, Minihan, Baines, Keane, Palmer, Stott, Osborne, Walker, Bell, Warburton, Kirby (Stephenson) Subs: Turnbull, Ormson, Cowan, Mulhern SPENNYMOOR TOWN: Gould, Williams, Harrison, Curtis, Brogan (Boyes), Chandler, Henry, Ramshaw, Johnson, Taylor, Anderson (Hall) Subs: Thackray, Elliott, Tuton