Stockport County 3 Spennymoor Town 2.

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said that his team was very unlucky to lose after they were beaten by a Jason Oswell hat trick at Edgeley Park on Saturday.

Moors produced some excellent football, but Oswell took his chances when they mattered most and Stockport managed to hold on despite a late rally from Moors.

“I was really disappointed for the lads, because we have played a lot worse than that this season and won,” said Ainsley. “It just goes to show what a strange game it can be at times.

“There was nothing in the game throughout, and in the end Stockport were hanging on against all our pressure.

“We were unhappy about the penalty that they were awarded that made the score 1-1. I think they got it because they moaned a lot about our penalty to the referee.

“Overall, I was very pleased with our performance, the only thing that was lacking was a point.”

Ainsley also reckoned that his team’s performance added to the occasion.

“A few of us who were in the Northern League were saying in the dressing room before the game about how far we have come in just a few years. To step on to the pitch at Edgeley Park in front of a crowd of 3,500, was something else. There was a real atmosphere about the place, and it was great to sample it.

“And like I’ve said before, it’s remarkable that just a few years ago Stockport were in the Football League and we were in the Northern League, and on Saturday we were playing them on equal terms.”

Glen Taylor, back from injury, was unlucky with two efforts in the first ten minutes, but it was third time lucky for him on 20 minutes when he was brought down in the area by Stephen O’Halloran, and he tucked away the spot kick for his 11th league goal of the season.

David Foley couldn’t quite get around the keeper to score a second, before Moors were furious about a second penalty award at the other end on 32 minutes.

James Curtis seemed to win the ball cleanly when he challenged Darren Stephenson, but the referee ruled that he fouled him, and awarded a spot kick despite strong protests from Moors. Oswell in turn scored the first of his hat trick.

County had hardly been in the game until then, and they took the lead on 58 minutes, when Oswell turned quickly and fired past Shane Bland off the inside of the post.

But three minutes later Moors deservedly levelled when Rob Ramshaw headed home from a Chris Mason cross from the right.

However, Oswell again found some space to complete his hat trick, with a header from a right wing cross. He nearly scored a fourth, but he was stopped by Bland.

Moors dominated the closing stages. Sub Andy Johnson hit the bar, and Ryan Hall agonisingly fired over in stoppage time.

Moors: Bland, Griffiths, Mason, Curtis, Chantler (sub Tait 59), Dixon (sub Anderson 77),, Chandler, Hall, Ramshaw, Foley (sub Johnson 68), Taylor.

Subs: Porter, Fewster.