Sign up to FREE email alerts from Manchester Evening News - daily Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Stockport County's travel sickness reared its ugly head again at Northolme with a controversial away day defeat in Vanarama Conference North.

Ciaran Toner and Jonathon Margetts found the net against a Hatters side reduced to nine men following red cards for Jordan Fagbola and Greg Wilkinson.

Referee Paul Marsden incensed County's players, coaching staff and fans with both decisions in a five-minute spell either side of half-time.

Hatters' boss Alan Lord had made five changes from the side hammered at Wrexham in the midweek FA Trophy replay.

Danny Hurst was the only enforced absentee with a broken finger, meaning a recall for Ian Ormson.

Kyle Jacobs, Wilkinson, Danny Glover and Charlie Russell were also handed starting spots as Lord fulfilled his promise to make changes.

County began well with Wilkinson forcing Trinity keeper Jan Budtz into three saves inside the opening 20 minutes.

The home side rallied though, albeit without seriously testing Ormson, as Toner's corner struck the bar and Paul Beesley fired straight at the keeper.

Then, with half-time approaching and the Hatters good value for a goalless opening period, came the first moment of controversy with Mr Marsden doing little for his popularity.

Fagbola seemed too strong for Margetts as the two chased a ball into the area, only for the referee to indicate a penalty and dismiss the defender for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Amid the mayhem, Toner kept his nerve to send Ormson the wrong way from 12 yards.

If that decision was contentious, the one to dismiss Wilkinson early in the second half for a challenge on Dominic Roma was a more straightforward verdict, even if the Hatters' coaching staff felt Roma made too much of any contact.

Despite having the two-man advantage, Trinity struggled to make their numerical advantage count for much of the second period.

Instead, it seemed to galvanise County with Budtz thwarting Glover, Kristian Dennis and Jack Ryan, who also headed into the side netting.

However, the coup de grace was applied with 12 minutes remaining as Margetts clinically fired home to secure victory.