Relentless Stockport battled to a 0-1 win at play-off hopefuls Halifax Town on Saturday afternoon, as Paddy Madden’s cracking finish on the stroke of half-time moved The Hatters into the top three of the National League.
County started brightly in what was - prior to kick-off - the clash of fourth vs fifth, with Liam Hogan’s superb cross from the right mere inches over the head of the lurking Paddy Madden inside the six-yard box early on.
With five minutes until the break, the marauding Hogan’s cross was headed narrowly over the bar by Madden as the search for the opening goal continued – before County’s prolific Irishman did then make the breakthrough before-half time.
A long ball forward was looped up into the air by ‘Fax defender Niall Maher, with Harry Cardwell seizing the opportunity to nod into the path of the waiting Madden, who lashed an unstoppable half-volley superbly into the roof of the net from the edge of the area – with County taking that hard-earned lead into the interval moments later.
The hosts saw a big chance to level come and go into the final twenty minutes of the second half, when Kieran Green turned nicely and played one in behind for the lively Jamie Allen to race through on goal – only for Ben Hinchliffe to block superbly and put behind for the corner.
Four minutes of additional time were signalled, with the first of those four seen out successfully following a crucial Ash Palmer block as Jake Hyde shaped to shoot on the edge of the area.
And the remaining three minutes followed suit, with a resolute County rear-guard action producing a magnificent eighth clean sheet amidst a thirteen-game unbeaten run, with nine wins and just four draws in that period.
