Stockport County 2 Hartlepool United 1

ON A quagmire of a pitch that is as used to seeing rucks and scrums as much as shots and crosses, Hartlepool went down to defeat against Stockport after a mauling at the start of the second half.

Edgeley Park is home to rugby union side Sale Sharks as well as County and the League One hosts converted their chances clinically when they arrived in quick succession after the break.

Man of the match Leon McSweeney was left unmarked six yards out and cashed in to crash home a volley from Michael Rose’s pinpoint centre.

And cash-strapped County were two goals to the good ten minutes later through a thunderbolt from James Vincent, who thumped in an unstoppable strike from 20 yards after McSweeney’s corner had only been half-cleared.

Striker Michael Mackay came off the bench to give Pools hope, picking out the bottom corner from Joel Porter’s assist for his second league goal of the season.

But Chris Turner’s side were forced to concede a first away defeat in three, after being revitalised with a recent win at Swindon and a draw at Colchester.

Turner said: “It was very difficult out there, the pitch isn’t suited to football and it didn’t see much football.

“But saying that, I thought we more than matched Stockport and deserved something from the game.’’ Defences had been on top in the first half, Mc- Sweeney going closest for Stockport when he tried to curl one into the top corner and he also headed over at the far post, as Andy Monkhouse stabbed wide with Pools’ best effort.

But County cranked up the pressure from a series of corners at the start of the second period and Pools eventually cracked, although they will be disappointed with how it came.

Rose was a danger with his deliveries all night and found man of the match McSweeney, who applied an emphatic finish after being gifted time and space.

If that was good, Vincent’s hit was even better as he beat Arran Lee-Barrett all ends up with a venomous drive into the bottom corner.

Pools refused to give up the ghost and Stockport began to make life difficult for themselves with some stray and overhit passes at the back.

Mackay’s introduction gave them added impetus and a spell of pressure resulted in the former Consett man weighing in with a cool finish after being teed up by strike partner Porter.

The Australian striker had been denied earlier when the County keeper twice saved from his shots, once when unsighted after the ball came through a sea of bodies.

But Pools were unable to get back on level terms as play-off chasing Stockport edged victory in difficult conditions.

Match Facts

Goals: McSweeney (55mins, 1-0), Vincent (65mins, 2-0); Mackay (84mins, 2-1).
Bookings: Clark (34mins, dissent); Sweeney (51mins, foul); Humphreys (69mins, foul); Rose (71mins, foul).
Referee: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands) 5
Attendance: 4,790
Entertainment: **
STOCKPORT COUNTY (4-4-2): Fon Williams 5; Mullins 5, Rose 7, O’Grady 6, Rowe 7; Raynes 5, McNeil 5, McSweeney 8, Tansey 5 (Turnbull 89); Mainwaring 5, Vincent 7. Subs (not used): Dicker, Pilkington, Thompson, Johnson
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2): Lee-Barrett 5; Sweeney 5, Nelson 6, Collins 6, Humphreys 5; Foley 6 (Mackay 76), Liddle 6, Clark 6, Monkhouse 5; Porter 6, Parker 5. Subs (not used): Henderson, Rowell, Tait, Cook
MAN OF THE MATCH LEON McSweeney – Deserved goal and a constant threat