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Stockport County 1 Brentford 0

Simon Smedley
7/ 5/2008

A GREAT second-half performance from County ensured that they ended the regular League Two campaign in encouraging fashion at Edgeley Park.

Jim Gannon made a clutch of changes as he gave a few first-team regulars a well-earned rest, and it was a young Hatters debutant - 19-year-old full-back Gianluca Havern - who bagged the winning goal in the second half.

The three points meant that County ended the season in a very pleasing fourth place in the final table, and now it’s Wycombe who lie in wait as the excitement of the play-offs gets under way on Sunday.

Of the so-called ‘fringe’ players, David Poole, Leon McSweeney, James Tunnicliffe, Havern and Paul Turnbull all started on Saturday, while last year’s ‘Search for a Star’ winner Amari Morgan-Smith came on as a sub after the break, as did James Vincent.

All did well, particularly Tunnicliffe, who scarcely put a foot wrong all day at the heart of the Hatters’ defence.

It was Andy Scott’s Bees who showed up well early in the game though, and they were only denied by the woodwork after just six minutes.

Glenn Poole picked up a loose ball before cracking a 25-yard effort against the foot of a County post.

Alan Connell was looking dangerous and he missed a couple of decent half-chances, but County soon rallied and got themselves into the game midway through the first half.

Ryan Lowe crossed for McSweeney who saw a half-volley deflected just over for a corner-kick, then the young Irishman ought to have done better when he streaked away down the left but could only fire a low shot straight at Brentford ‘keeper Ben Hamer.

In first-half stoppage time McSweeney was upended by Karleigh Osborne just outside the Bees box, and Michael Rose curled a free-kick a whisker past the angle of post and crossbar.

County grabbed their winner just three minutes after the restart. Rose’s long throw-in from the right wasn’t cleared, and the ball fell to Havern who smashed home a left-foot strike into the corner from 15 yards.

What a dream debut effort for the impressive young defender.

Brentford responded with Connell seeing a shot on the turn well saved by Conrad Logan and Poole firing wide, but County then went for a killer second goal themselves.

Morgan-Smith showed great pace a nifty turn inside before seeing a fine shot superbly saved by Hamer, then Lowe saw a powerful drive blocked bravely by Osborne.

County were looking comfortable winners, but the Bees did miss two great chances to level in time added on.

Firstly Logan did brilliantly to twice beat out efforts from Gary Smith then, with almost the last action of the game, Ricky Shakes planted a free header over the top from eight yards.