Coca Cola League 2
JIM Gannon was after a response following the midweek humbling at home to Shrewsbury, and boy did he get one on Saturday.
The fantastic Hatters swept Wrexham aside with a free-flowing, attacking performance that was a joy to watch from start to finish.
And in young Offerton-based Adam Le Fondre, they now have a striker who will be pumped full of confidence after the teenage hit-man netted a quite exemplary four-goal haul.
It was a great afternoon for everyone at Stockport County, and guest of honour Brett Angell - a true club legend - will have been made up that this was to be the day he was invited back to Edgeley Park.
New loan pair John Ruddy and David Poole were both handed immediate starts just days after signing, and club skipper Tony Dinning was dropped. Gareth Owen returned after missing the Shrewsbury defeat.
There was a brisk start as both sides chased much-needed wins. Mark Jones fired a low shot inches wide for the visitors, but County hit back when Michael Malcolm hooked a near-post shot off target.
On 12 minutes, Hattersé leading scorer Glenn Murray was unlucky when his looping header, from a pinpoint Poole cross, bounced back out off the post.
The home side were on top as the opening half went on, and they finally grabbed a deserved goal on 23 minutes.
Le Fondre was upended in the box by Gareth Evans, and up stepped Mark Robinson to fire the spot-kick high and handsome into the net.
Barely a minute later County went two up when little demon Le Fondre nipped in following a poor Ryan Valentine back-pass, rounded goalkeeper Jones, then gleefully rammed the ball into an empty net.
County had their tails up, but they then didnét come close again until seven minutes before the break when Malcolm stooped to head over from close range.
Skipper-for-the-day Keith Briggs then blasted a shot narrowly over from all of 30 yards.
Wrexham had the final word of the first half, however, as Danny Williams reduced the arrears when his effort from 30 yards flew into the top corner.
After the break it didnét take long for County to restore their two-goal advantage. Defender Gareth Owen headed across goal and there was Le Fondre who hooked the ball home from five yards.
However, Wrexham soon hit back again when Danny Williams doubled his tally with a neat finish following a near-post flick-on.
There were one or two anxious moments in the home defence as Wrexham chased an undeserved equaliser, but County really hit the gas during the last 10 minutes.
Robinson and Briggs went close, before Le Fondre eventually cleaned up for a hat-trick with a neat finish following a great run from Tes Bramble.
The joy on the terraces and the adrenalin flowed still further two minutes from time when Le Fondre amazingly grabbed his fourth goal following more unselfish work from strike partner Bramble.
What a game, and what a memorable performance it was for Le Fondre.
He unsurprisingly lapped up the adulation as he carried off the match ball at full-time.
- COUNTY: Ruddy, Williams, Robinson, Owen, Raynes, Briggs, Taylor, Poole (Griffin, 67), Malcolm (Proudlock, 80), Le Fondre, Murray (Bramble, 69). Subs not used: Deasy, Dinning. Booked: Raynes. Star Man: Adam Le Fondre.
- WREXHAM: Mike Jones, Evans S, Valentine (Spender, 38), Mark Jones, Williams D, Ferguson, Mike Williams, Marc Williams (Crowell, 30), Evans G, Newby (Reed, 61), Llewellyn. Subs not used: Whelan, Johnson. Booked: Williams D, Ferguson.
Attendance: 4,884.
Referee: Mr RJ Olivier.
