Stockport County 5 Wrexham 2

Last updated : 16 September 2006 By Footymad Previewer
A classic four-goal salvo from young striker Adam Le Fondre inspired Stockport to a much-needed second win of the season at the hands of shell-shocked Wrexham.

Two late strikes completed a memorable afternoon for the locally-born teenager.

There were a couple of talking points ahead of kick-off at Edgeley Park.

For Stockport, new loan pair John Ruddy and David Poole were both handed immediate starts just days after signing, and club skipper Tony Dinning was dropped.

Goalkeeper Ruddy - who arrived from Everton on Thursday - replaced previous number one James Spencer, who didn't even feature on the bench. Winger Poole, who signed for a month from Yeovil Town on Friday, came in and played on the right.

Meanwhile, Wrexham number one Michael Ingham was taken ill during the pre-match warm-up and Mike Jones was forced to step in half-an-hour before kick-off.

There was a brisk start as both sides chased much-needed wins. Mark Jones fired a low shot inches wide for the visitors, but Stockport hit back when Michael Malcolm hooked a near-post shot off target.

Twelve minutes had elapsed when Stockport's 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. Striker 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 Le Fondre nipped in following a poor Ryan Valentine back-pass, rounded goalkeeper Jones, then gleefully rammed the ball into an empty net.

Stockport had their tails up, but they then didn't 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 didn't take long for Stockport 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.

It was Le Fondre who was to walk away with all the plaudits though, thanks to his two late strikes which capped an amazing individual performance.