After the victory against Maine Road, followed by two postponed matches, Eccleshall returned to league action against league leaders Stockport Town at Pershall Park. Anthony Malbon was still unavailable due to illness, so Chris Boast continued as the central striker. Oliver Hickman returned to the squad and was on the bench.

Stockport showed their intent by taking the lead after only three minutes. Daniel McLaughlin raced through on goal and slotted the ball past Aaron Woolrich. It got worse eight minutes later as Mc Laughlin set up Scott McGowan and he snapped up the chance to put the visitors two up. Stunned by this, Aidan Blaise headed over from a corner as Eagles looked to get back and then Boast ran clear into the box, but his low cross was cleared. Town looked dangerous every time they moved forward and, on 17 minutes, they netted again. Pacy full back William Calligan laid the ball to McGowan who finished superbly, giving Woolrich no chance. Another Town attack led to Woolrich holding a McLaughlin effort at the second attempt. Eccleshall could not get going and the visitors continued to apply the pressure, scoring again after 26 minutes. It was McGowan again, this time finishing with a simple tap-in to complete his hat-trick. Eagles attempted to get back and a Jordan Flattley corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Mitch Glover’s first-time shot was wide of the post. A Glover free kick was then deflected for a corner from which Boast headed wide. Town did not let up with the pressure and Calligan fired over from the edge of the box before they almost added a fifth on 43 minutes when Michael Raynes clipped the bar with a header. It was hard to see any way back for Eagles as the visitors had totally dominated the half.

HT: Eccleshall 0 Stockport Town 4

Liam Kelly brought on Luke Lewis and Ryanjay Malbon and Eagles went close to pulling one back with an effort which hit the outside of the post. However, the Town momentum continued and on 57 minutes they scored their fifth when Woolrich pulled off a good one-handed save to tip a McGowan effort onto the post, only for Kyle Foley to knock home the rebound. Raynes then headed wide from a corner. In reply, a good Lewis run down the right was snuffed out by the Town defence. Mc Gowan and William Shawcross brought further saves from Woolrich before Calligan ran clear of the Eagles defence only to pull his shot wide of the post. Kelly used his full complement of substitutes to try and rescue something from the game and in added time, Boast netted what was little more than a consolation. Town keeper Joshua Schofield, who had been virtually untroubled, made a hash of a pass and the Eagles striker accepted the gift.
FT: Eccleshall 1 Stockport Town 5

On this performance, Stockport showed why they are the league leaders and Eccleshall were simply no match for them on the day. Eagles will have an early opportunity to get this defeat out of their system when they travel to Ashville on Tuesday evening before meeting Abbey Hey next Saturday at Pershall Park in the third round of the Edward Case Cup.

Eagles: Woolrich, Darlington, Groom (R Malbon), Pickup, Blaise (Hickman), Feeney (Lewis), Flattley (Benton), Stanton, Boast, Glover (Green-Birch), Dunn.

Referee: Mr Elliott Holman
Attendance: 66