West Brom's 19-year-old stand-in keeper Chris Adamson hung his head after helping Stockport to victory.

Adamson, who got his big chance when Alan Miller pulled out with a back injury, let Chris Burns' stinging 25-yard shot slip through his hands to give Stockport the winner on 66 minutes.

The Baggies had been marginally the better side until that point, the impressive Matt Carbon snuffing out the aerial threat of Brett Angell, and ex-Kidderminster marksman Lee Hughes causing havoc.

It was no surprise when Hughes gave the visitors a deserved lead on 20 minutes. Put through by strike partner Andy Hunt, Hughes did well to round County keeper Eric Nixon and lash a right-footed shot into the far corner from a tight angle.

County's main threat throughout the afternoon was 18-year-old centre forward Aaron Wilbraham, and it was his skill which led to County's equaliser on 29 minutes - turning on the edge of the box to release Kevin Burn, who in turn flicked on only for the hand of Paul Beesley to intercept.

From the resulting penalty Kevin Cooper sent Baggies keeper Chris Adamson the wrong way to equalise.

Wilbraham is clearly set to become a crowd favourite at Edgeley judging by the warm applause he drew when substituted on 81 minutes.

In the latter stages Richard Sneekes was introduced to add fire to the Baggies midfield, and he might have got a second for Albion but for a point-blank save by Nixon.

County might have had a third but Chris Burns' effort was disallowed on 85 minutes after Angell had fouled the keeper.

County manager Gary Megson was happy with his side's performance.

"It was a good result for us, especially because we played a different style than usual. I used a different system - 4-4-2 - and played players out of position, I am still looking for an improvement though, despite the experiments.''

Teams

Stockport: Nixon, Connelly, Woodthorpe, Byrne, Flynn, McIntosh, Cook, Wallwork, Angell, Wilbraham (Grant 81), Cooper.

Subs Not Used: Searle, Travis.

Booked: Flynn.

Goals: Cooper 29 pen, Byrne 66.

West Brom: Adamson, McDermott, Van Blerk, Flynn, Beesley, Carbon, Quinn, Nicol, Hunt (Sneekes 71), Hughes, Kilbane.

Subs Not Used: Coldicott, Murphy.

Booked: Flynn, Beesley.

Goals: Hughes 20.

Att: 7,943

Ref: A Bates (Stoke-on-Trent).