Stockport put out Swansea

Although Hereford United will probably be pleased with the FA Cup draw, Stockport County shouldn't be under-estimated if yesterday's result against Swansea is anything to go by.

This edited report is from SwansMAD:

Struggling League Two side Stockport tore up the form script as they sent high-flying League One opponents Swansea crashing out of the FA Cup.

Chris Turner's side were hungry from the kick-off and, thanks to goals from Jermaine Easter and skipper Keith Briggs, deservedly booked their place in the Second Round draw.

Swansea might be a division above Stockport, beaten 6-0 by Carlisle last Saturday, but the home side had a never say die attitude which saw them make life difficult for the Swans.

As early as the third minute Briggs saw a half-volley saved by Swansea's French goalkeeper Willy Gueret, before fellow midfielder Danny Boshell, fired a right-foot shot across the face of goal and Harpal Singh just failed to tap in at the back post.

The Hatters continued to press and Ross Greenwood had a left-foot strike saved from distance, before Briggs saw a fierce shot parried by Gueret, but no one was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Right-back Alan Tate had Swansea's first clear-cut chance, but having cut inside Stockport's defence, his curling left-foot shot was well-saved by keeper James Spencer, playing his first game for a fortnight.

At the other end, Ludovic Dje came close to poking home at the back post after a goalmouth scramble, while defender Michael Raynes headed inches over from former Hereford United player Mark Robinson's free-kick.

Briggs then set up Matt Hamshaw, but the midfielder's shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Against the run of play Paul Connor found time and space to hit the target, but Spencer made an excellent point-blank save to deny him.

Hamshaw was in the thick of the action and five minutes later had another deflected shot, this time the ball nearly looping over Gueret.

Full-back Sam Ricketts fired across the face of goal as Swansea battled for the advantage, but it was Stockport who always looked the more likely to break the deadlock.

They did two minutes later. Dje cut the Swansea defence in half with a pass to Easter, but the striker was beaten to the ball by Kevin Austin.

But Austin was disposed by the powerful centre-forward and he wasted no time in calmly slotting the ball home into the left-hand corner.

Stockport should have doubled their advantage in first-half injury-time, but hero Easter, with Hamshaw and Boshell unmarked on the penalty spot, chose to shoot from a tight angle and the ball flew over the crossbar to the annoyance of his colleagues.

But it took just nine minutes of the second half for County to extend their advantage. Boshell provided a delightball ball for Briggs who, from the tightest of angles, fired into the roof of the net.

Easter nearly killed off the game on the stroke of the hour mark, but he fired agonisingly wide from close range.

---