Match Report
On the table this was a mismatch: Stockport County (4th, 79 pts) held a 36-point advantage over Hartlepool United (23rd, 43 pts). Hartlepool United's recent output outran their position: 19th on form over five rounds, 23rd in the table. Per game in the league, Stockport County were scoring 1.41 and conceding 0.8, Hartlepool United 1.13 and 1.7, against a competition average of 1.17 goals per team per game.
Defeat had not touched Stockport County in 12 games, having scored in 10 consecutive games. The five-game form split read 11/15 points for Stockport County against 4/15 for Hartlepool United.
Edgeley Park in Stockport staged the fixture, a ground that holds 10,841. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Stockport County led 1-0 at the break, before 1 more goal closed it at 1-1.