Stockport Georgians faced another long away trip last Saturday as they travelled to fellow play-off challengers Stafford Town.

The previous contest between the two ended in a 1-1 draw at Cromley Road.

Georgians opted for a slightly altered starting side from their previous game against Haughmond in the week; young defender Tom O'Brien took the place of Harry Lambert, Harry Lynn returned to the number nine, and first team goalkeeper Morgan Piper got his first start since suffering a nasty injury against Maghull in the Edward Case Cup.

Both Ollie McFadyen and Kyle Wych remained in the XI, having each been in electric form and later causing the opposition plenty of issues on a cold afternoon in Staffordshire.

Despite an early chance for Lynn that should have been the opener, the hosts were first on the scoresheet as Callum Parker cut it from the left-hand side before sending a looping effort over the head of the helpless Piper in the Georgians goal.

A disastrous start for the side from Woodsmoor, which only worsened six minutes later as Tom O'Brien was forced off due to discomfort in his knee, with Harry Lambert refilling his role in the centre of the Georgians back line.

After a booking for Georgian midfielder Aiden Dwyer in the 23^rd minute, Stockport's injury woes came again, with Louie Dsouza succumbing to an ankle injury which originated in the warm up. This time, Freddie Walker took his place, and, with 28 minutes played, Georgians had already been forced into two first half substitutions.

But the visitors were back in the game shortly after their second change. Former Georgian Sam Lynch tripped inform winger Ollie McFadyen as he progressed into the box, and, despite Ollie Hitchox picking up the loose ball and levelling the game, the referee blew for a penalty, meaning Georgians had to convert twice to remove the deficit. Luckily, Stockport's second effort, McFadyen's penalty, was successful, and the game was equal again with 36 played.

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With momentum behind them, Stockport took the lead just seven minutes later. Josh Winthrop cut in from the right side, swinging a dangerous left-footed ball into the Stafford penalty box. Their defender could only flick the cross onto the onrushing McFadyen, who grabbed his second of the game shortly after his first.

Little action followed, and the referee eventually blew for the break in the fifth minute of stoppage time. A competitive half of North West Counties First Division South football.

Stafford weren't willing to let this game move beyond them, though, and they equalised one minute into the second half. A cross deflected off defender Harry Lambert, and, unfortunately for the visitors, ended up in the Georgians goal. The leveller was the only evidence of a strong opening 10 minutes by Stafford, but Georgians retook the lead to halt the hosts' momentum in the 54^th minute.

Newcomer Hitchcox broke excellently from centre half, driving towards the Stafford Town goal before clipping it to the back post, where Kyle Wych calmly controlled the ball before firing a crisp half volley into the far bottom corner.

A good chance came for Stafford attacker Jayden Hunter in the 56^th minute, but heroics from Piper meant he was able to dive low and tip the oncoming headed effort around the post. Hunter didn't rue his missed chance for long, though, as he put the hosts level again with an hour played, slotting into the far corner with a great finish. 3-3 at this point, and still with half an hour left to play.

McFadyen, chasing his hat-trick, was again the protagonist in the next Georgians goal, with easily the finish of the afternoon. He picked up the ball on the left, dropping his shoulder to beat his marker Dylan Baily before rocketing a dipping effort into the far-right corner. A superb finish to give Georgians the lead for the third time in the game, but they held it for just three minutes before Stafford levelled for the final time. Substitute Dimitri Dunkley was sent through on the left flank, and gave Piper little chance, firing home with 13 minutes of normal time remaining.

With a draw quickly approaching, Stockport took the lead again through, unsurprisingly, Ollie McFadyen, who secured his fourth of the afternoon after poor goalkeeping gave him an empty net to head into following a Josh Winthrop cross.

Then, two minutes into stoppage time, Wych put a confirmation on the result with a tricky free kick. On the edge of the box, he fired a curling right-footed ball towards the far post; it bounced awkwardly for goalkeeper Adam Jenkins before its arrival, and he could only push it into the side netting as Georgians grabbed their sixth of the match.

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With a two-goal advantage firmly in place, the travelling side saw out the remaining minutes of the game to pick up an excellent three points against similarly positioned Stafford Town. A huge result which sees Georgians sit safely in the play-off spots with 11 games to go.

• FT: 6-4 (Ollie McFadyen x4, Kyle Wych x2)
• MOM: Ollie McFadyen
• Att: 102