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A Joe Garvin stunner gave Neil Young a winning start to life at Stockport County over Boston United.

Glenn Rule and Garvin struck either side of a Dayle Southwell leveller for the Pilgrims to give Young a perfect start to life at Edgeley Park.

In a first-half in which chances were at a premium, midfielder Rule stooped to head home Kayode Odejayi’s low cross to give the Hatters a well-earned 1-0 lead.

IN PICTURES: Stockport County v Boston United

Boston had earlier wasted two glorious opportunities, with last-minute starter Jack Friend – replacing Zak Mills in the warm-up – firing over Danny Hurst’s goal from close distance.

Friend would strike the post with a stinging effort just after Rule’s opener, but Young’s new-look side went in with a one goal advantage.

The visitors piled on the pressure soon after the break, and were level just before the hour mark when Hurst could only parry Mark Jones’ strike to Southwell, who blasted into the empty net.

A period of sustained dominance followed for The Pilgrims, with former County defender Carl Piergianni twice being left unmarked to head over.

The hosts broke the away side’s pressure emphatically just ten minutes later, with Garvin powering a low strike home from all of 35 yards via the post.

New manager Young gave ten league debuts to County’s new boys, with only ‘keeper Hurst remaining from the squad which faced Harrogate in the last game of the 2014/15 campaign.

County survived a late scare by substitute Rollins, who fired over from twelve yards, and claimed a vital three points on the opening day.

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