Accrington Stanley 0 Stockport County 2

9:40am Monday 25th February 2008

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Accrington Stanley's winless run is now three games after the Reds were beaten by Stockport County for the second time in 2008.

As at Edgeley Park in January, the Hatters scored twice without reply, and as before the game could hardly have been described as a classic.

Manager John Coleman made two enforced changes to the side which lost to Brentford.

With Phil Doughty having returned to Blackpool, Sean Webb was restored to the starting XI and David Mannix deputised for the suspended Jay Harris.

Shaun Whalley continued to partner Paul Mullin up front.

Things started brightly for the Reds with Whalley firing a shot over the bar inside the first minute, and although Jason Taylor lashed high and wide at the other end, the majority of the momentum was towards John Ruddy's goal.

Andy Todd saw some early joy down the right flank and it was the on-loan Rotherham man that almost set up the opening goal.

He received the ball from Mullin down the far side and tricked past the full back, cutting back onto his left foot to cross.

Mullin met the delivery with a good header from the edge of the six-yard box, but could only guide the ball wide of the right hand post.

It would turn out to be the home side's best chance of the match.

Kenny Arthur was barely tested in the opening half an hour, with just a couple of crosses to take and a Liam Dickinson shot to comfortably collect.

But the Scot was picking the ball out of his net after 33 minutes when the same Stockport striker was brought down on the Stanley right and a free kick was awarded.

Debutant Shaleum Logan delivered and it was Dickinson who rose highest at the near post to open the scoring with a glancing header.

Before the break there was time for both sides to create an opportunity.

First, youngster Tommy Rowe diverted Michael Rose's mis-hit shot just wide of Arthur's goal before Whalley found some space at the other end, but fired his effort well over the crossbar.

After the interval Coleman urged his players forward but they had no joy in front of the Stockport goal.

In fact, it was the visitors who should have netted early on, after Dickinson missed a good early chance, rising unopposed to head a Logan corner wide and Rose failed to score from the penalty spot.

On 51 minutes, Webb tangled with Adam Proudlock on the edge of the six-yard-box and the big striker went to ground.

Referee Clive Oliver pointed to the spot, but justice was done when Arthur got down to his right to shovel Rose's kick away.

With just nine second half minutes played Stanley made their first change with Andy Mangan replacing Mannix.

And the on loan Bury man did inject some forward momentum as the Reds crafted some half chances.

Just before the hour mark, Mullin flicked on an Aswad Thomas long throw and Whalley headed it square for Craney, but the midfielder could only flash his effort wide of the right hand post.

Dickinson continued to threaten for the Hatters, and on 63 minutes his effectiveness was duly rewarded with his second goal.

The number 20 received the ball just outside the box with his back to goal and Thomas on hand, but somehow shrugged off the youngster to turn and rifle a fine shot into the right hand side of the net.

It was probably the only moment of real class in the game, but that was little consolation to Stanley, who now had a mountain to climb.

A fit-again Leighton McGivern soon entered the fray to provide some extra firepower, but the home side continued to labour in the final third and if anything County looked like extending their lead.

With 17 minutes to go, and looking suspiciously offside, Dickinson raced towards a through ball and Arthur came to meet him outside the box.

The Scot got a touch to the ball, but it ricocheted to Proudlock 20 yards out.

He lobbed the ball over the stranded keeper, who had Thomas to thank for getting back and heading the ball clear.

As the clock ticked down the game was over as a contest, though Proudlock and substitute Adam Griffin both had shots off target and at the other end Craney fired a free kick wide and headed Procter's cross over in the dying stages.

The final whistle sounded to condemn the Reds to an eighth defeat in their last 10 games, and nobody amongst the home contingent could complain.

But the spectators from Stockport, including goalkeeper Ruddy, headed home happy at taking all three points and continuing their promotion push.