Stockport take narrow victory at Boundary Park
Stockport County edged Oldham Athletic 1-0 in a pre-season friendly at Boundary Park on Tuesday as a second-half strike from Malik Mothersille and a late red card for the home side proved decisive. The outcome offered encouragement for the visitors, who opened their account in a contest that was interrupted by an injury concern for Oldham.
After a largely cautious first half in which possession fluctuated but clear openings were scarce, Stockport began to assert themselves following the interval. The visitors' opener arrived around the hour-mark when Mothersille capitalised at the back post to tap home from close range after a well-worked move.
Oldham looked for a response and had early second-half pressure, forcing a series of corners and posing occasional threats from distance. A trialist for the home side tested the Stockport goalkeeper with a long-range effort, while Stockport also came close when Ryan Rydel fizzed a low shot narrowly past the far post. The balance shifted in Stockport's favour as the second half progressed.
- Score: Oldham Athletic 0–1 Stockport County
- Goal: Malik Mothersille (Stockport), approx. 60 minutes
- Red card: Mike Fondop (Oldham) — late challenge on Stockport keeper
- Injury: Jack Stevens (Oldham) stretchered off in the first half with a knee problem
The tie took a decisive turn when Oldham striker Mike Fondop was sent off for a late challenge on the Stockport goalkeeper. Reduced to ten men, the home side struggled to escape their own half as Stockport pressed for a second goal, although Oldham defended stoutly to keep the scoreline to a single strike.
The match also carried a worrying moment for Latics supporters when forward Jack Stevens required a stretcher in the first half following what appeared to be a serious knee injury. Medical staff attended to Stevens on the pitch before he was removed, and his departure added to Oldham's frustration on the night.
Course of the game and key moments
Stockport controlled large spells of possession in the opening 45 minutes but neither goalkeeper was seriously called upon early on. It was the visitors who fashioned the clearest first-half chance when a close-range effort forced a strong save from Oldham keeper Mathew Hudson, yet the interval arrived with the sides level.
The second half saw Oldham begin positively, pressing for openings from set pieces, but Stockport regained ascendancy as the half wore on. Mothersille's composed finish at the back post proved the match-winner, and the dismissal of Fondop effectively ended Oldham's hopes of a comeback.
| Oldham Athletic (starting XI) | Stockport County (starting XI) |
|---|---|
| Hudson, Scott-Morris, Robson, Daniels, Monthe, Appiah-Forson, Norburn, Kavanagh, Stevens, Nevitt, Hammond | Whatmuff, Bate, Pye, O'Connell, Diamond, Norwood, Edun, Glover, Wood, Wooton, Gordon |
Substitute activity and the precise minutes of changes were not detailed in the report, though Mothersille, who came off the bench to score, was a decisive presence for County.
For Oldham, the result represented another pre-season disappointment following recent defeats to higher-league opponents Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town. Manager Micky Mellon had made five changes from the side that lost to Bolton, and the squad included newly arrived loanee Zain Tahir on the bench — the 19-year-old defender from Sheffield United was in line for his first appearance from the substitutes' bench.
The friendly will give both teams moments to examine as they prepare for the new campaign: Stockport can take confidence from converting a strong second-half spell into a goal and seeing convincing control at stages, while Oldham must contend with the loss of Fondop for disciplinary reasons and the injury to Stevens at a time when match sharpness is being built.
Supporters of both clubs will now turn attention to remaining pre-season fixtures and final preparations before competitive action begins, with fitness, discipline and squad depth likely to be areas under scrutiny.
