STOCKPORT COUNTY 1

Palmer 14

WEYMOUTH 2

Brooks 52, Whelan 85

WEYMOUTH’s Tom Whelan scored a late winner as the Terras claimed a stunning 2-1 victory at Vanarama National League favourites Stockport County.

Few had given the Terras any chance going to Edgeley Park and it seemed a difficult afternoon was in store when Ash Palmer headed home in the 14th minute.

But Brian Stock’s men improved after the break as Calvin Brooks fired home in the 52nd minute before an ecstatic Whelan tapped in with five minutes to go.

This was Weymouth’s second league win of the campaign after the 2-1 triumph over King’s Lynn and first points on the road.

Stock made just one change from Tuesday's 3-2 loss at Bromley for the Terras, as Ollie Harfield comes in for Josh Leslie-Smith, who drops to the bench.

Ben Thomson was fit enough to take his place on the bench at the expense of Jack Hoey after a bout of sickness ruled the former out in transit to Bromley.

Having travelled on Friday by coach and stayed overnight, the Terras gave themselves the best chance in this game, although County began strongly.

Target man Richie Bennett almost connected with a throw-in before he flicked on Sam Minihan’s cross without finding a teammate.

Weymouth explored County’s half with real interest in the 10th minute, but Brooks’ header from a Sean Shields free-kick went off target.

Four minutes later, though, Stockport were ahead through a corner.

John Rooney swung the ball in and Palmer, making his 100th appearance for Stockport, nodded home past Jack Bycroft.

Bennett was involved again as Stockport threatened a second, but his lay-off to Rooney saw the latter’s shot blocked.

Weymouth’s Andy Robinson experienced the same fate, as Liam Hogan smothered his shot, before a double injury blow for the Terras.

Firstly, striker Cody Cooke came off injured for Thomson and star defender Brennan Camp trudged off with a head injury, Josh Leslie-Smith his replacement.

Stockport had joy from corners and should have scored a second when Mark Kitching’s delivery was nodded wide by the unmarked Hogan.

Kitching again worried Weymouth when he wriggled into the area before shooting tamely at Bycroft.

The excellent Palmer destroyed a Weymouth attack with two hungry pieces of defending, first denying Thomson and then robbing Harfield.

After the break, Weymouth improved and forced County into a good interception to snuff out Shields’ ball to Josh Wakefield.

Yet all County’s effective defending was rendered irrelevant in the 52nd minute as Weymouth equalised.

Thomson’s shot was too hot for home keeper Ben Hinchcliffe to handle and Brooks followed up with a sweet strike into the net for 1-1.

Weymouth had their tails up now and almost had a second when Brooks looked set to score, only for Hogan to fly in with a superb last-gasp tackle to dampen the danger.

Kitching’s deliveries caused Weymouth problems all afternoon and the defender whipped in two more crosses that led to chances.

He found Palmer from a corner only for the home goalscorer to scuff behind, prior to Alex Reid squandering a good chance, firing over after Bennett’s dummy.

Bennett, a difficult customer, then raided down the wing and was cynically brought down by Leslie-Smith who earned yellow for the tackle.

Stockport’s new signing Louis Britton earned a debut at the expense of Reid but both teams became cagey as the half wore on.

After the cautious lull in play, Weymouth ended the half far stronger as Harfield’s ball just evaded Thomson.

Whelan nearly added a second for Weymouth when he jinked into the area and bent an effort just wide of Hinchcliffe’s upright.

And with five minutes remaining, Weymouth took an arguably deserved winner when Whelan finished after Hinchcliffe parried a firm Shields effort.

Jake McCarthy was introduced as the Terras lost a third player to injury in Wakefield, the visitors clinging to the scoreline.

County flung everything forward in an effort to find a leveller, but sub Connor Jennings fired disappointingly wide before stoppage-time.

And fellow sub Adam Thomas sent a late cross out of play as Weymouth held on amid joyous scenes for a marvellous win.

Stockport: Hinchcliffe, Minihan, Hogan, Palmer, Maynard, Rooney, Bennett (C Jennings 76), Kitching, Stott (Thomas 76), Croasdale, Reid (Britton 67). Subs not used: Barnes, Keane.

Terras: Bycroft, Camp (Leslie-Smith 30), Jordan, Wakefield (McCarthy 88), McQuoid, Robinson, Brooks, Cooke (Thomson 26), Whelan, Harfield, Shields. Subs not used: Benfield, Murray.