Stockport County fell to Mansfield Town by a close score of 2-1 during their Sky Bet League One clash at Edgeley Park on January 4, 2025. The match witnessed an attendance of 10,012 fans, all hoping for the Hatters to secure points against their playoff rivals.
The game began with Mansfield finding the net first. Lee Gregory, taking advantage of Stockport's defensive lapse, opened the scoring with his strike just 12 minutes in. A long throw-in from Elliott Hewitt set off the opportunity, leading to Gregory's shot which landed firmly in the bottom corner of the net.
Despite this early setback, Stockport managed to respond quickly. Just eight minutes later, they equalized with some notable teamwork. A cleverly executed move involving Odin Bailey and Kyle Wootton allowed Will Collar to finish from close range.
Then, shortly after collar's goal, Mansfield had the chance to regain the lead when they won a penalty after Callum Camps fouled Aaron Lewis inside the box. Gregory stepped up to take the penalty, but County goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe made the save, dashing Mansfield's hopes of taking the lead just before halftime.
But Mansfield was undeterred and managed to score again just before the break. Will Evans latched onto a well-placed through ball to slide the ball past Hinchliffe, restoring their lead at 2-1. This goal sent Mansfield off with momentum as they headed to the halftime break.
After the restart, Stockport made two substitutions, bringing on Jack Diamond and Macauley Southam-Hales, aiming to revitalize their attacking option. The pair quickly made their presence known, as Southam-Hales pushed forward, and Diamond's effort tested the Mansfield goalkeeper, Christy Pym, forcing him to make several key saves.
Despite dominating possession for certain stretches, Stockport couldn’t find the equalizer. The second half was marked by their persistent attempts, including notable chances from Ethan Pye and Jack Diamond, but Mansfield's solid defense and Pym's goalkeeping held firm.
Fans left Edgeley Park disappointed, having seen their team suffer its first home league defeat in two months. The loss was particularly frustrating for Stockport supporters, as this marked the tenth consecutive match without victory against Mansfield, indicating the Stags' dominance over their rivals.
The result not only affected the mood at Stockport’s home ground but also had significant ramifications for the league table. Mansfield secured three valuable points, moving closer to the playoff positions, just one point behind Stockport County.
Man of the Match was awarded to Will Collar, who delivered an impressive performance, scoring the only goal for his side and showcasing his ability to create chances.