Stockport County were cruelly denied their first win in 14 games last night by a 90th minute equaliser from Brighton skipper Andrew Crofts.
Gary Ablett’s side had led through Danny Pilkington’s stunning long range strike and looked like holding out for victory until Crofts’ low drive bobbled up over Owain Fon Williams to earn the Seagulls a point.
Crofts: Late equaliser
Looking to build on their confidence boosting point picked up against Carlisle, County, as they have done the past couple of games started strongly and made all the early running without really creating too many chances.
Danny Pilkington came closest early on when he cut in from the left and hit a low drive that Michel Kuipers did well to turn round the post.
A mistake from Pilkington towards the end of the half though almost led to Brighton taking the lead. Elliot Bennett robbed the ball off the young winger and played in veteran striker Nicky Forster, who in turn played in the overlapping Glenn Murray to put him one-on-one with Owain Fon Williams but his effort was weak and Fon Williams was able to gather the ball.
Shortly before the break the Hatters went agonisingly close again, this time through Richie Partridge. A neat passing move led to Partridge being teed up on the right hand side of the penalty area but his effort zipped narrowly wide of the post with Kuipers beaten.
Gary Ablett was forced to make a change at half-time with Johnny Mullins picking up a knee injury. Greg Tansey took his place and almost made an immediate impact with a powerful effort from the edge of the area that Kuipers did well to keep out.
County finally made the breakthrough just before the hour mark in spectacular fashion. Danny Pilkington was allowed to run with the ball before hitting a stunning effort into the top corner from 25-yards.
The away side began to pile on the pressure after the goal as the Hatters battled to hold onto all three points. Andrew Crofts had a glorious chance to equalise when the ball dropped to him inside the area from a corner but he somehow blazed over the bar from a matter of yards.
The introduction of Adam Griffin on the left for County temporarily lifted the pressure and he had two good opportunities to seal victory. His first effort was blocked while his second lacked power and was easy for Michel Kuipers to gather.
The Seagulls continued to create chances as time ticked away. Nicky Forster tested Owain Fon Williams with a long range effort while Alan Navarro thought he’d scored with a header but the referee ruled the ball had not crossed the line.
Just as the game entered stoppage time Brighton got their equaliser. Crofts hit a fairly tame effort from the edge of the area that Fon Williams looked to have covered but the ball took a huge bobble, taking it over the Welshman and into the back of the net.
It was a cruel blow for County who deserved the three points but they were lucky to get one in the end as Nicky Forster almost got a winner for Gus Poyet’s side at the death. The striker lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper but fortunately James Vincent was on hand to clear the ball off the line and earn the Hatters their second point in a row.
Stockport: Fon Williams, Mullins (Tansey 46), Raynes, Swailes, Rose, Turnbull, Perkins, Vincent, Pilkington, Johnson (Griffin 80), Partridge (Rowe 88).
Subs not used: Gerrard, Halls, Edwards, Barnes.
Brighton: Kuipers; Calderon (Carole 74), Virgo, Elphick, Painter; Bennett, Crofts, Navarro, Dicker (Dickinson 64); Forster, Murray.
Subs not used: Brezovan, McNulty, Cox, Tunnicliffe, Hoyte.
Ref: Peter Quinn
Att: 3,636
