County were beaten 3-0 by Morecambe on Saturday as a first-half double, and an early second half strike, condemned the Hatters.
The hosts delivered the first blow when a deep cross into the box was headed across the face of goal, where it landed to a Morecambe man, who volleyed the ball home.
Cameron Bradbury-Allen was unfortunate not to level the scores for County shortly afterwards. A loose clearance from a corner found the right-back who fired a low effort towards the bottom corner, but his strike was cleared off the line,
County began to grow into the game and could have found an equaliser through Jakub Hebda. Bradbury-Allen’s cross from deep was headed away as far as Hebda, but his strike was blocked.
Morecambe tried to hit County on the counter as the hosts were allowed to waltz through on goal, but a cross played across the six-yard box wasn’t met by anybody and rolled out for a throw in.
It wasn’t long before Morecambe did grab a second though. An uncontested run and shot from the edge of the box gave Dan Harrison no chance at his near post and the hosts increased the deficit.
HALF-TIME: Morecambe 2-0 Stockport County
County looked to make something happen early in the second half, and some great play by Ashton Mee found Dallas Omoruyi inside the box, but his curling effort was deflected wide for a corner.
The hosts did find a third early in the half. A looping cross was punched away by Harrison, but some quick thinking by the winger caused panic inside of the six-yard box, and the ball was poked home.
A great chance came and went for County, as they searched for a way back into the game. A flicked-on ball was met by Freddie Redshaw at the back post, but the goalkeeper made two fantastic saves on the rebound.
Kingston Fligg was unfortunate not to get one back late on. A first-time strike on the edge of the box looked destined for the net, but was somehow tipped onto the post by the goalkeeper and cleared away from danger.
FULL-TIME: Morecambe 3-0 Stockport County
County line-up: Harrison, Bradbury-Allen, Darby, Rogers, Jones, Fligg, Barry, Mee, Whittle, Omoruyi, Hebda.
Subs: Blake, Bryning, Redshaw.
Reporter: Dan O’Neill
