After an unbeaten three game spell without conceding, City were on the wrong end of a heavy scoreline after succumbing to a 4-0 defeat at Edgeley Park.

Stockport dominated the first half and found themselves three goals up before half time thanks to goals from Kyle Jacobs, Phil Jeavons and Rhys Turner, before Jeavons netted again in the second half to complete the rout.

Danny Glover missed a late penalty that would have grabbed a consolation goal for City. The result means that Stockport leapfrog City in the table, with City dropping to 19th in the Skrill Conference North.

County nearly took the lead within the first five minutes as Richard Munday slipped in the area, gifting the ball to Iain Howard, with Jose Veiga out quickly to deny the winger’s effort at goal.

But Kyle Jacobs hammered the home side into the lead just before the ten minute mark. Iain Howard’s quick throw found the right back on the edge of the area, and he lashed the ball over Jose Veiga and into the top corner on the half volley to give County the lead.

The Hatters doubled their lead just before the half hour mark. Robert Lofthouse’s pinpoint diagonal through ball found Rhys Turner, who controlled the ball before prodding it past an advancing Veiga, and City found themselves in deep trouble.

City threatened very little in the first half, and came closest when Exodus Geohagon’s long throw found Phil Trainer in the area. But he fired his half volley on the turn high over the bar.

Things went from bad to worse for City as the Hatters trebled their lead just before half time. A cleared corner rolled tantalisingly to Iain Howard, who drove a low effort at goal through a crowded box, with Phil Jeavons nonchalantly flicking the ball past a wrong-footed Veiga. Despite suspicions of offside, City went into the break three goals behind.

Half time saw a double substitution. Ebby Nelson-Addy replaced Richard Taundry in central midfield, and Aaron Williams replaced winger Niall Thompson.

And the changes seemed to work for a brief spell as City began to put pressure on the Hatters in the second half. Nelson-Addy hounded the County back four, dispossessing them before setting Thorley who fired straight into the keeper midriff.
Any hopes that the 82 travelling City fans had of a comeback were dashed as County bagged a fourth goal on the hour mark. Phil Jeavons fortuitously re-connected with his failed flick pass and hammered home a stunning left footed drive into the top corner of the net from the edge of the area.

City had the chance to grab a consolation goal denied late on, as the lively Nelson-Addy cut the ball back to Aaron Williams, whose shot was cleared off the line.
City were then gifted a penalty in the 86th minute for handball in the area. Danny Glover stepped up to take the kick, but struck his penalty wide of the post. It just wasn’t City’s day.

Manager Carl Heeley admitted after the game that his team deserved to be beaten.
“From what I’ve seen today Stockport were the best team we’ve played. It was certainly the best performance against us. Looking at their league position I think clearly it’s their best performance of the season by some distance I would think”, he said.
He added, “And that coincided with us. For the first time in a dozen games, we haven’t really turned up and we’ve been way off it today and thoroughly deserved what we got.
City will hope to bounce back by again beaten lower league opposition in Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Rugby Town at Aggborough in the hopes to claim a place in the fourth qualifying round of the competition.

Highlights from this Match are available via WCFC TV

Attendance 2332

Report by Alex Harris, City Match Reporter