Stockport Georgians hosted midtable Foley Meir on Saturday, 21 February, as they looked to come back from a disappointing loss just three days prior, away to Eccleshall.

The defeat stung Georgians, particularly with Eccleshall sitting just above them in the table, and Foley Meir weren't to be underestimated, having frustrated Stockport to a 1-1 draw at their place back in October.

Steven Macsween took the place of Paul Connor at right back, who was struggling with an ankle injury; Luke Casey came in for Harry Lynn, pushing Ollie McFadyen into the centre of the attacking trio, and Kyle Wych returned to the midfield following his absence midweek, taking the armband. Other than that, the lineup was unchanged from the previous game.

A cagey start saw the first chance of the game fall to the visitors in the 11^th minute- Luke Lewis lined up an effort from distance, but Luke Graham saw it wide in the Georgians goal. Just a minute later, the hosts had the lead, as Ollie Hitchcox met a corner ball unmarked, looping a header towards the Foley goal, where an opposition defender could only nod into the roof of the net with an attempted clearance.

Georgians doubled their advantage three minutes after opening the scoring, and Ollie Hitchcox was there again to solidify a strong start for the hosts. Left back Freddie Walker sent a high free kick into the opposition box, where Foley Meir goalkeeper Daniel Harrison made an absolute mess of it, allowing it to slip through his gloves into the path of the onrushing Hitchcox, who had little issue turning it into a wide-open goal.

A brace for Hitchcox in the opening 15, which sums up his excellent start to life in a Georgians shirt, having started every game since coming in at the end of January and impressing throughout.

A few chances came before Georgians capitalised once again, the most notable being a strong save from Harrison in the 18^th minute. Kenzie Cookson broke before playing a well-weighted ball into Kyle Wych, who was unfortunate not to extend Stockport's lead even further, as Harrison tipped his right-footed effort around the near post.

Cookson was again involved in the next move, this time forcing an own goal from a Foley defender. Kenzie did well down the right flank, driving inward before firing a low ball into the box, which was poorly dealt with by the opposition, who were only able to deflect it into their own net, giving Georgians a healthy advantage in the 26^th minute.

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Foley Meir got one back 10 minutes later, though, with midfielder Daniel Ward getting the last touch from a Harry Livingstone delivery to possibly kickstart their fight back.

Barring a booking for Freddie Walker in the 44^th minute, no other action took place in the remainder of the half, and Georgians went into the interval on the right side of a 3-1 scoreline.

Apart from some changes and cards being shown, there was little to report from the second half, obviously excluding Stockport's two goals, the first of which coming in the 70^th minute. Steven Macsween put a perfect floated ball into the centre of the Foley box, which Tom Russell matched with an excellent cushioned touch before calmly stroking the ball into the far corner with his right foot. A rare goal from the Georgians holding midfielder, but a well-taken one all the same.

The final goal of the game, Stockport's fifth in the second minute of stoppage time, came from Ollie McFadyen, who will have been desperate to get in on the goals having been in such electric form as of late. The winger was first to a parried Harry Lynn strike, getting the ball out of his first and curling an effort towards the top right, with a nick from a Foley Meir defender helping it to dip over the outstretched Harrison.

A convincing win from Stockport Georgians, who never gave the opposition a chance to get into the game. League leaders Runcorn Town are next for Georgians, with Cromley Road hosting some Cheshire Cup football on Tuesday evening.

FT: 5-1

Att: 82

MOTM: Kyle Wych

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