IN-FORM Harriers picked up an excellent 2-1 win at Stockport County thanks to Joe Ironside’s second-half double.

Almost as regular as clockwork, Harriers were left reeling from another injury blow as the team news was confirmed at Edgeley Park.

The influential Dan Bradley had looked set for a start against the Hatters but missed out altogether thanks to an injury sustained in training during the week.

That was added to the fact that experienced campaigner Jimmy O’Connor was also unavailable as he served his one-match suspension for his red card against Spennymoor Town.

Into the starting eleven for Harriers came Sam Austin, while U23 starlets Cameron Howkins and Gabby Danko were added to the bench.

A youthful back four and those in front of them struggled to get a foothold in the game early on and spent much of the opening period inside their own half.

Only a fantastic goal-line block stopped the team going behind as Duxbury’s effort was hooked off the line – that after Harriers had actually had the first real chance of the day with McQuilkin nodding a ball over the bar.

Elton Ngwatala and Joel Taylor spurned other first-half openings for Harriers, while County were rueful when Duxbury and Ball went close – though the lead would be theirs in the dying stages of the half as Hall needlessly rushed from his area to meet a long ball up-field, Warburton alive to that as he nipped in and tucked the ball past him and into the empty net.

Harriers made quick-fire substitutions after the break and they soon started to find their feet. The signs of the turnround started to emerge, and Croasdale almost had Harriers level when his driven effort, on the angle, cannoned off the upright with Ormson well beaten.

Just seven minutes had gone in the half when Ironside struck to make it 1-1, beating Ormson to the punch with a ball up in the air, a coolly-taken header looping past the custodian and into the net.

Andre Brown then had two chances to put his team in front; being crowded out inside the area three after the hour and, soon after, seeing a great shot on the turn just brush the upright.

Harriers did not have it all their own way – Stockport could and perhaps should have gone 2-1 up with some gilt-edged chances of their own – but McKenna was chief offender as he fired over the bar with just Hall to beat.

Just six minutes later, he and County were made to pay as Harriers surged forward, Sonupe the provider with a sweeping, low cross that Ironside turned in at the far post for his eighth of the campaign.

HARRIERS: Hall, Austin, Williams, Horsfall, Taylor, Croasdale, McQuilkin, Ngwatala (Weeks 52), Ironside, Sonupe (Finch 90), Wright (Brown 57).

Subs not used: Danko, Howkins Attendance: 3,015 Referee: Ricky Wootton