STOCKPORT COUNTY 0, HULL CITY 1
Stockport County completed their friendlies with a return to action at Edgeley Park and a single-goal defeat against Championship visitors Hull.
A header from substitute Mason Burstow 15 minutes from time proved the eventual difference in a first meeting with the Tigers since the two clubs had produced a pre-season draw in SK3 18 years earlier.
The Hatters were in action for the second time in as many days and on an afternoon that featured brief glimpses of Stockport sunshine.
Their starting line-up was changed in its entirety from that which had kicked off at Salford the night before with notable replacements including recently-arrived Barnsley loanee Corey O’Keeffe, who was making his first County appearance, as well as Tayo Edun and Malik Mothersille, who, having turned out on Spanish soil at Pinatar against Bristol Rovers a fortnight previously, were now taking their EP bows.
County’s two signings from Peterborough combined to good effect to create the contest’s inaugural chance after nine minutes as an exchange on the left between Edun and Mothersille led to a shot from Jack Diamond that cleared the crossbar.
Efforts off target by Diamond again and by Mothersille followed as the Hatters continued to press before a break by the visitors just following the quarter-hour mark saw Abu Kamara connect with Ryan Giles’ cross from the left and chip narrowly over.
Edun unfortunately picked up a knock ahead of the half-hour and, despite treatment, took no further part in proceedings as Rhys Watson was brought on.
Diamond, however, continued to look lively and, with six minutes of the half remaining, embarked on a mazy run before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that was gathered up by Croatian goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.
Pandur was tested once more before the break, doing well to tip up on to the bar a well=struck effort by Callum Camps and to keep honours even.
Skipper Lewis Bate was replaced upon the resumption and Ollie Norwood took the armband as County began the new half in attacking vein with Camps seeing a shot blocked by defender Charlie Hughes and drilling wide of the right post on the rebound.
The visitors then proceeded to exert their own spell of pressure as they earned three corners in quick succession around the hour before making a quintuple substitution so beloved of friendlies.
Young County striker Arian Allen, on for Bate, caught the eye with a run down the left that culminated in a shot over the Cheadle End bar 16 minutes from time. But the action quickly switched to the other end, where Hull broke the deadlock as Burstow, from among the recent quintet of replacement Tigers, connected with a cross by Giles on the left, and headed home at close range.
Goal: Burstow (75) for Hull City.
Stockport County (4-2-4): Addai; O’Keefe, Connolly, Pye, Edun (Watson 30); Norwood, Bate (Allen 46); Diamond, Camps, Mee (Williams-Lawless 61), Mothersille. Subs (unused): Metcalfe, Wogan, Kouam, S Gardner.
Attendance: 3,829 (921 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.