New Stockport manager Simon Rusk has night to forget on first outing at Edgeley Park

Stockport fell to a feisty 0-2 defeat to high-flying Sutton Utd at Edgeley Park, in new manager Simon Rusk’s first home game in charge of The Hatters.

John Rooney went closest to opening the scoring in the battle of second vs third in the National League at a wet Edgeley Park, as the Hatters ’ leading marksman met Mark Kitching’s pullback inside the box and slotted inches wide of the near post.

The visitors took the lead on the half-hour in bizarre circumstances however; captain Liam Hogan fizzed a pass back to goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe, only to see the ball roll underneath the Hatters stopper and roll inside the near post.

County toiled away looking for a leveller but met solid Sutton resistance until a second half which saw the tie explode into life.

Hogan was adjudged to have brought down striker Isaac Olaofe on the Sutton counter inside the box, with the skipper then shown a straight red despite an apparent attempt on the ball.

Hinchliffe saved Harry Beautyman’s penalty, but with The Hatters down to ten, Olaofe fired low past the County stopper shortly after to double the lead.