The perennial first game curse continues for Stockport County, as they lose 0-1 to Gillingham at Edgeley Park. 

The match divided opinion, with some fans arguing that County played well and showed promise - merely falling foul of luck - whilst others suggested there were flaws in the squad which still need to be addressed. 

There were chances at either end of the pitch, with Hinchliffe forced to make some impressive saves. County also came close with a strike from Callum Camps, followed immediately by an attempt from Macauley Southam Hales, taking a deflection and a save respectively. 

Gillingham's goal came in the 86th minute, after a free-kick was crossed into the box and converted by Robbie McKenzie. 

But what did the fans think?

Des Junior of fan news site The Scarf my Father Wore wrote: "Looking at County's recent record on the opening day, I vote we play our Under-9s on day one next season, and rest the players for the other 45 games instead. That's six defeats on day one in seven years now."

Meanwhile, County pundit Isaac Stronge of The Stopfordian Sport said: "I think it was a well-fought battle between two sides that should be in amongst the battle at the top of the table come the end of the season. 

"It would have been nice to hit the ground running with a win but it could have gone either way on the day and we were just unfortunate, hitting the bar and falling the wrong side of a tight offside call. I think plenty of teams will struggle against the Gills this season."

Speaking of how the game bodes for the rest of the season, Isaac added: "I don't think there's too much to be worried about there. We played a very even game against a team that are expected to be up at the top of the table come the end of the season. 

"They got the better of us in the first half and we were the better side in the second half, so a draw probably would have been fair but we were just unfortunate on the day. Just need to get more clinical in front of goal, which I think will come. 

"Nothing to worry about just yet, but we need to bounce back quickly to stop any rot setting in like it did at the start of last season."

County blogger Ian Brown (known as hedgegrower), however, was less optimistic, describing the Hatters' performance as 'frustratingly uninspiring' on fan site All Things Stockport County. 

"Gillingham were no more than obdurate", he said. 

"They defended well, but had little to offer at the other end of the park and should have been fair game for a County side near the top of their game.

"But sadly, [County] were nowhere near that level today, their disjointed display lacking moves of sufficient quality to unravel the Kentish maze before them."

Read more from The Scarf my Father Wore HERE.

Read more from All Things Stockport County HERE.

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