Fourth place in the Vanarama National League was confirmed as Town fell to a 2-0 defeat at Edgeley Park.
Town were looking to delay Stockport County’s promotion party and get back to winning ways after a draw at home to Aldershot last week.
Paddy Madden and Will Collar’s goals for Stockport County secured them the league title and all three points this afternoon.
Pete Wild made three changes from that side as he adopted a tactical change this afternoon. Jack Senior, Martin Woods, and Niall Maher all came into the side in the place of Javid Swaby-Neavin, Kieran Green, and Harvey Gilmour.
Stockport applied the pressure from early in the game, forcing two corners within the first ten minutes. However, the corners were dealt with well by the Town defence to keep the game level.
The home side capitalised on the early pressure to take the lead on the 11th minute. Madden’s shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner of Sam Johnson’s goal.
County had a chance to double their lead just inside 20 minutes as Kian Spence’s foul on Collar earnt them a free kick just outside the box. Madden’s subsequent shot on goal was blocked by Jordan Slew.
The woodwork was rattled by County in the 24th minute. Elliot Newby’s corner was punched away by Johnson. The ball fell to Madden’s feet, he thought he was on for his second goal of the game but he was denied by the woodwork and Town managed to clear the ball away.
Town had their first chance on the 30th minute as Billy Waters capitalised on a Stockport County mistake. Jordan Keane’s misjudged the position of the ball and Billy Waters managed to get in behind the County defence, but his shot is just wide of the target.
An injury forced off Woods in the 35th minute to make way for ex-Stockport County man Gilmour.
Spence was the first player of the afternoon to find themselves in the referee’s book after his foul on Collar.
The Shaymen head into the break frustrated after struggling to find their feet within the game.
The second half started as a fiery affair. Pierce Bird entered the book with a yellow card after a challenge of Antoni Sarcevic.
The hosts double their lead in the 53rd minute-which is enough to secure them the Vanarama National League title. The original County effort is palmed away by Johnson. However, the ball fell to Collar who was there to score the second goal for the home side.
Shortly after, Stockport County made their first change of the game. Keane came off the field to allow Ryan Johnson onto the pitch.
Pete Wild went for a change of formation with his second change of the afternoon. Bird made way for Matty Stenson.
Town started to find their way into the game in the final 20 minutes. Spence went on a bursting run forwards before firing a shot from range. His effort goes just wide of the bar.
Almost immediately, County made their second change. Andy Cannon, who was on a yellow for throwing Waters to the ground just five minutes earlier, made way for Ollie Crankshaw.
An injury forced County’s third and final change. Zaine Francis-Angol came off for Ben Whitfield.
Jamie Thomas came on in the place of Spence for Town’s third change.
The fourth official indicated three added minutes, but it wasn’t enough for Town to change the fate of the afternoon.
As the referee blew the whistle for full time, it was fourth place confirmed for The Shaymen as Town will take on Chesterfield at The Shay on Tuesday 24th May at 7:45pm.
Match Stats:
Stockport
1 Ben Hinchliffe, 5 Ashley Palmer, 8 Andy Cannon (27 Oliver Crankshaw 80), 9 Paddy Madden ©, 14 Will Collar, 16 Jordan Keane (15 Ryan Johnson 60), 18 Ryan Croasdale, 20 Elliot Newby, 21 Myles Hipployte, 23 Antoni Sarcevic, 34 Zaine Francis-Angol (10 Ben Whitfield 84)
Subs: 25 Luca Ashby-Hammond, 10 Ben Whitfield, 11 Connor Jennings, 15 Ryan Johnson 27 Oliver Crankshaw
FC Halifax Town:
1 Sam Johnson, 3 Jack Senior, 5 Jesse Debrah, 10 Matt Warburton, 11 Billy Waters, 17 Kian Spence (16 Jamie Thomas 86) 21 Tyrell Warren, 25 Jordan Slew, 26 Martin Woods (20 Harvey Gilmour 36), 28 Pierce Bird (28 Pierce Bird 69), 31 Niall Maher ©
Subs: 2 Jay Benn, 18 Javid Swaby-Neavin
Goals: Madden 10, Collar 54
Yellow Cards: Spence 40, Bird 52, Cannon 75
Attendance: 10339 (991 away)
Stockport County 2 FC Halifax Town 0
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