The new era for Stockport County began tonight at the Victoria Ground against Northern Premier League side Northwich Victoria currently managed by former Hatters hero Andy Preece.
County took to the field with a team that included regulars Owain fon Williams, Greg Tansey, David Poole, James Vincent and Danny Swailes, who was wearing the captains armband, Manager Paul Simpson's first signing Mark Lynch was also included at right back.
County's first real attack saw Lynch race on to a cross field pass from James Vincent and put a great ball in only for one of the 'trialists' playing up front to be barged off the ball in the six yard box but no penalty was awarded.
Soon it was David Poole who got onto the end of another fine cross field ball and after turning his man inside out he was brought down out on the right wing. From the resulting free kick Danny Rowe sent in a great cross for skipper Swailes to head home at the far post past former County keeper James Spencer to give County the lead on eight minutes.
Within three minutes County extended the lead after a good run from Danny Rowe was ended with a block challenge on the edge of the box, fortunately the ball squirted out to David Poole who lashed it home from 20 yards.
On the half hour mark County were awarded a penalty after the 'trialist' centre forward was upended again, this time after a mazy dribble from Poole had freed him in the box, Greg Tansey stroked the spot kick into the bottom corner to make the score three nil.
With the boys, in their smart new home strip, comfortably in front they spent the rest of the half moving the ball around the park smoothly, quickly and very impressively, although the home side did finally get a strike on target as fon Williams gathered a long distance strike at the second attempt.
Paul Turnbull captained a very different looking County side in the second half with latest signing Barry Conlon making his debut amongst a very young Hatters team.
The new look team continued to use the ball well, keeping possession which eventually brought about a chance for another one of the 'trialists' who unfortunately blasted the ball high and wide.
The home team created some pressure of their own which saw Barry Conlon more involved defending corners and free kicks in his own half than he would have expected.
Soon County took control of the game again and a tremendous bit of football from County saw a great through ball for the 'trialist' to take in his stride before placing the ball past the advancing keeper for County's fourth with around fifteen minutes to play.
Some good switch play saw Ritchie Partridge find captain Turnbull who had found space down the left to deliver a quality ball across the six yard box, unfortunately just too far for the stretching Conlon to reach, and shortly after the big Irishman missed an opportunity to claim a debut goal when he put a good chance over the bar.
Within a couple of minutes County did find their fifth as a couple of quick passes again found Conlon in the box who then laid the ball into Partridge's path to find the bottom corner.
The goal saw another spell of pressure and Spencer had to be at his best to tip over a fine strike from Adam Griffin and from the resulting corner Gianluca Havern had a header cleared of the line which was to be the last meaningful effort of an entertaining performance from the large squad of players sent out in Manager Simpson's first 'competitive' match in charge.
Team (First Half)
Fon Williams, Lynch, Trialist, Swailes, Nicholas, Poole, Tansey, Vincent, Rowe, Trialist, Fisher.
Team (Second Half)
Trialist, Halls, Havern, Trialist, Griffin, Darkwah, Hare, Turnbull, Partridge, Trialist, Conlon.
