Leamington 2 Stockport 1: Memorable scalp for Brakes as Newton brace follows inspired double change

Stockport had looked firm favourites to go on and claim victory after Iain Howard’s 66th-minute opener, but an inspired double substitution from Paul Holleran less than a minute before Newton’s equaliser helped swing the momentum Brakes’ way.

Backed by a 300-strong following, the Hatters were the first to settle.

Rhys Oates dragged a shot across goal and then took advantage of a mistake from Josh Hawker to set up former Everton striker Phil Jevons, who with time to pick his spot from the edge of the area, lent back and ballooned his sidefoot effort over the bar.

Visiting keeper Ian Ormson looked to release his forwards at the earliest opportunity and one punt downfield was seized on by Mark Battersby who was unable to get his shot on the stretch past the advancing Tony Breeden.

Peter Till showed good pace to work Brakes’ first shooting chance, outpacing Scott Duxbury from the half-way line and then showing good composure to outwit the cover defence, only to see his shot slide agonisingly wide of the far post with Ormson beaten.

Lee Chilton was then left crumpled on the turf after landing awkwardly from an aerial challenge and, following a lengthy delay, he was replaced by Joe Magunda.

Hawker was unlucky to see his goalbound header deflected wide, with defender Nicky Platt knowing little about his vital intervention, but few would have argued that parity was not a fair reflection of the first-half fayre.

Attacking the Harbury Lane End, the visitors stepped up their efforts after the break, forcing Breeden into his first real save. Howard’s drive was pushed away by Breeden and Chris Churchman was favourite to turn in the loose ball only to be denied by a superb last-ditch challenge by Stephan Morley, with Howard then putting the loose ball over the bar.

Breeden was forced into a couple of more routine saves to deny Oates and Battersby, but he was left hopelessly out of position for Stockport’s opener, with Oates outpacing Daly down the right before hooking the ball to the far post, where Howard was able to guide his header into the unguarded net.

Holleran rang the changes, with Ricky Johnson and debutant Aron Wint coming on for Matt Dodd and Hawker and their impact was almost instantaneous.

Stockport struggled to deal with a long throw into the box as Brakes committed more men forward and the loose ball was taken down adroitly by Newton, who turned and drove his shot through a mass of bodies and into the corner of the net with the aid of a slight deflection.

With more than one striker to deal with, the Stockport defence looked vulnerable, but there was a warning at the other end as Oates’ dipping volley forced Breeden into an awkward save just below his crossbar.

However, Brakes sensed the momentum was with them and their revival was complete in the 84th minute.

Daly drove in a diagonal free-kick from the right touchline and Newton rose highest to get his head on the ball. There seemed little venom in his connection, but Ormson was slow to get across and the ball crossed the line almost apologetically to spark wild scenes behind the goal.

There was still time for Stockport to get back on level terms, but Brakes successfully took the sting out of the game and it was they who had the best chance of the closing stages, with Newton failing to get decent purchase on his shot after racing clear in a search of a deserved hat-trick.

brakes: Tony Breeden, Ryan Higgins, Stephan Morley, Craig Owen, Liam Daly, James Mace, Matt Dodd (Aron Wint, 71), Josh Hawker (Ricky Johnson, 71), Danny Newton, Lee Chilton (Joe Magunda, 30), Peter Till. Subs not used: Lee Moore, Josh Green.

Stockport County: Ian Ormson, Nicky Platt, Scott Duxbury, Tunji Moses, Adam Cowen, Mark Lees, Mark Battersby, Chris Churchman, Rhys Oates, Phil Jevons, Iain Howard. Subs not used: Robert Lofthouse, Kieron Charnock, Stephen O’Halloran, Adriano Moke, Shane Lewis.