Coca Cola League 2

STOCKPORT County produced a memorable and richly deserved victory over League Two promotion hopefuls Lincoln City at Edgeley Park on Saturday.

The Hatters were just phenomenal, especially in the second half, as they turned in what many after the game were describing as their best performance since the turn of the century.

Across the park County players - including impressive debutant right-back Tony Kane - were head and shoulders above their illustrious visitors, and afterwards all the talk was of play-offs or promotion and the chances of a good FA Cup run.

A chance count of 22 to nine, and a corner count of 15 to eight, both in favour of the Hatters, gives you some idea of what kind of game this was - it was a cracker.

Both sides gave everything in the opening half, but somehow the game remained goalless as the players went in for a breather.

Jim Gannonés side immediately went on the offensive, and with less than a minute on the clock striker Liam Dickinson blasted a half-volley narrowly wide from just outside the box.

Visting striker Mark Stallard was unlucky after just seven minutes when his shot on the turn bounced out off the crossbar, but the Hatters hit back when David Poole went agonisingly close.

Loan man Poole wriggled through before screwing an angled drive wide of the Red Impsé far post, but both sides were clearly high on confidence thanks to recent good runs.

The game was then held up for a spell when Cityés stand-in skipper Adrian Moses clumsily barged into Poole, only for Michael Rose to curl the free-kick over the bar from inches outside the box.

Lee Frecklington shot inches wide for Lincoln, but Countyés Michael Malcolm should have done better when he planted a free header wide from eight yards.

An end-to-end half concluded with front-man Dickinson glancing a powerful header a whisker over the crossbar.

Dickinson was soon into the action again after the restart when he headed over from close range, then Jason Taylor saw a rasping drive blocked by Scott Kerr.

County had their tails up, and on 56 minutes they went in front with a soft goal when Roseés inswinging free-kick from out on the right missed everyone in the box and the ball crept in at the far post.

It was a deserved goal, but three minutes later it was almost two when Tes Brambleés drive was hacked off the line by Adrian Moses.

The superb Hatters went on to dominate the final half-hour, but didnét score again until stoppage time.

I havenét got room to mention all the chances, but Bramble headed wide and then volleyed just over, Malcolm saw a shot bravely blocked, and Tony Dinning also went close.

The sweet, sweet victory was completed late on thanks to a comical goal. Red Impsé ékeeper Alan Marriott booted a poor clearance straight into the grateful feet of Malcolm, and although he was some 40 yards out, the goal was gaping and all he needed to do was get his shot on target. What a brilliant afternoon, and what an atmosphere at the final whistle!

• COUNTY: Ruddy, Kane, Rose, Clare, Williams, Briggs (Dinning, 45), Poole, Taylor, Malcolm, Bramble, Dickinson (Le Fondre, 72). Subs not used: Spencer, Gleeson, Robinson. Star Man: Jason Taylor.

• LINCOLN CITY: Marriott, Beevers (Morgan, 81), Mayo, Moses, Brown, Amoo, Hughes, Frecklington, Kerr, Stallard, Forrester. Subs not used: Rayner, Cryan, Warlow, Mettam. Booked: Moses, Brown.

Attendance: 5,497.

Referee: Mr CW Oliver.

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