Sunderland's dominance of Division One continued at Edgeley Park courtesy of a
quality strike from England new-boy Kevin Phillips.
His turn and strike in the 56th minute saw the Wearsiders equal Swindon's
record points tally of 102 and sent the travelling away army into delirium.
All eyes were on Phillips after his midweek debut against Hungary, but aside
from his clinical finish which won the game he missed many more chances which he
would be expected to snap up at Premiership, not to mention international,
level.
He might have scored as early as the sixth minute when Nicky Summerbee picked
him out at the near post, but he fell over the ball and saw it rebound off the
foot of the post.
In the 39th minute he might have opened his account again only to be denied by
a super save from Stockport's Ian Gray who palmed his low drive from 20 yards
round the post.
He finally got on the scoresheet in the 66th minute when with a neat shimmy of
his hips he turned Mike Flynn and then hammered the ball in off the post from 20
yards.
More chances were to follow. And in the 74th minute he really should have made
it two when put in the clear by strike partner Niall Quinn only for Gray to
smother his attempt from six yards out.
In the 83rd he was again in the clear with only the keeper to beat but a fatal
hesitation saw Colin Woodthorpe make a telling late tackle.
With only one goal in the kitty, Stockport always had a chance to spoil their
championship party and in the first half Sean Connolly went closest with a
thumping low drive that slid inches past the far post.
In the second half Brett Angell missed their best chance when he put a free
header over the bar from only six yards out. Then in the 68th minute an impudent
piece of skill from Woodthorpe nearly brought about a dramatic equaliser as his
curling drive sailed inches wide from 25 yards.
Teams:
Stockport: Gray, Gannon, Dinning (Moore 71), Smith, Flynn,
McIntosh, Cooper, Connelly, Angell, Ellis, Woodthorpe.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Wilbraham.
Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Gray, McCann, Melville, Butler,
Summerbee, Clark, Quinn, Phillips, Johnston.
Subs Not Used: Ball, Smith, Craddock.
Goals: Phillips 56.
Att: 10,548
Ref: K Leach (Codsall).
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