TWO goals from Glenn Murray earned County their first win of the season and left boss Jim Gannon beaming.
Murray celebrated signing another month-long loan deal from Carlisle United by scoring in either half as Stockport lifted themselves out of the bottom two in style.
Gannon said: "The result is everything but the lads also acquitted themselves very well. We started nervously, but we got into the flow and scored two good goals.
"The last five games have gone now and I always thought we had more about us than those results have shown
"After this result maybe people will have more confidence in what we're trying to achieve here."
Zipped
Keith Briggs was the first to indicate County would come out on top when he unleashed a 20-yard shot that zipped off the wet surface and inches wide of the Rovers' post. In the 39th minute a hopeful ball forward by Michael Rose deflected off James Hunt and Murray, who had scored in County's previous home league game against Accrington, found himself in yards of space. The loan striker kept his nerve and drilled the ball low past keeper Stephen Phillips.
But after getting the upper hand County almost threw it away two minutes before the break when keeper James Spencer mis-kicked with his weaker left foot a back-pass from Ashley Williams straight to Richard Walker, but the Bristol striker smashed his shot over the crossbar with the goal gaping before him.
Walker was unlucky with a 52nd-minute volley that hit the foot of Spencer's right post.
But in the very next move Murray raced onto Bryan Anthony's underhit backpass and even though Phillips raced out of his area, the keeper's attempted clearance struck Murray, who was only inches away, and flew into the empty net.
Former County player Rickie Lambert, who moved from Rochdale last week, would have brought Rovers back into the game earlier but for a great smothering save by Spencer.
But Spencer was denied his first clean sheet of the season seven minutes from time when Lambert's deflected shot was directed in off the post by Walker.
What is your verdict on the game? Have your say.
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Not a good performance but better than of late. Ashley Williams dropped his usual couple of clangers per match, the full backs continue to fail to prevent crosses coming into the box and its plain to me that the defence is not good enough. Spencer is a great shot stopper but I'm not convinced he commands his area adequately. What saved the back four yesterday was the outstanding performance of Michael Raynes playing just in front of them. Yes, his distribution was poor but time after time he broke up Bristol Rovers attacks and got his head to crosses and through balls. Elsewhere, the midfield played in patches but sit too deep when the going gets tough. Glen Murray was outstanding and he was ably assisted by Tes Bramble up front although I wish that Tes would take the lead out of his boots to enable him to at least jump a few inches off the deck. Unfortunately, Liam Dickinson continues to look a pale shadow of the player who first joined the club early this year. Better then, but still an awful long way to go.
I'm glad the lads have got the first win. I am concerned that the only player scoring is only on loan. anyone know if there's any chance of signing him?
Great result, but again County do their best to draw a game! I'm pleased that the lads came out for the second half this time, but the concentration still isn't their. Dinning really needs to step his game up for me too. And why is it taing a player on loan to lead the way?
Come on boys, let's get at the opposition from the off and up to the final whistle!!!
Full credit to the chief steward at Stockport who allowed the large contingent of travelling "Gasheads" to move to the covered stand when the rain started lashing down. It was a common sense decision and demonstrated that Stockport value the revenue gained from away support.
Good luck for the rest of the season, except when you visit Bristol !
Michael Raynes distribution was excellent he controlled the game for 20 mins in the first half.
Great result and well done JG. From reports it looks like the team were hanging on at the end but lets hope County can now move forward after this win which hopefully should settle some nerves.
If I remember rightly it took Danny Bergara about three seasons to gain promotion and he started from similar situation with the club close to bottom of Div 4. Appeciate its still early days for this season but its looking better than 2 weeks ago!!!!
I hope we can get Murray too. The only info' I have is that my Carlisle mate says they don't need him back as they're scoring Ok at the moment. Competition for up-front places at Brunton Park is likely stiffer than at EP.
Well done Jim and Glenn! On another matter, as a loyal County fan (my father, my grandfather etc....) has anyone noticed the new sign at the car park is mostly devoted to Sale Sharks? We've neen booted out of our club shop too, to a shed at the side.