Paul Lambert's first game in charge of the U's ended in success as David Perkins and Clive Platt scored in a 2-1 win at Stockport County

Paul Lambert started of his U's managerial career with a win as his side came out on top by the odd goal in three at Stockport County this afternoon. David Perkins put the U's ahead after 20 minutes before McNeill brought the home side level just before the break. It was left to Clive Platt to score his 2nd goal of the season with three minutes of the ninety remaining to give the U's their 6th away win this season.
Lambert made two changes to the side that had lost at Cheltenham last weekend with Gary Borrowdale dropping out of the squad altogether and Matt Heath having to make do with a place on the bench. Stephen Gillespie came in up front while there was a welcome return to the heart of the U's defence for Pat Baldwin for the first time since the game at West Brom in the spring.
United should perhaps have opened the scoring within the first ten seconds of the game. Gillespie dispossed Fojut but from just outside the box and with the keeper to beat he screwed his effort wide.
However, on 20 minutes and just after he'd missed an earlier chance, United took the lead thanks to David Perkins. The former Rochdale midfielder rounded off a sweeping U's move which involved John white and Mark Yeates by side-footing home Clive Platt's intelligent lay-off to deservedly give the U's the lead.
After an early Stockport substitution for an injury to Raynes, the home side restored parity three minutes before the break. McNeill rose highest at the far post to to head a deep cross back across Gerken and despite Reid's best efforts, the former Macclesfield man registered his first goal of the season.
With the rain lashing dowm, United fans thought that they had opened the scoring within seconds of the resumption of play after the interval but Forster prevented the ball from crossing the line despite the celebrations from Clive Platt. Play was then held up for around 6 minutes after a worrying injury to McNeil which saw the County goalscorer stretchered off and replaced by Pilkington with Paul Reid booked for the challenge.
After an entertaining first half, the second failed to match up with Stockport having numerous chances to put pressure on the U's defence from set pieces. County came closest from McSweeney's shot which Gerken did well to tip over the bar at full stretch to give the home side their 10th corner of the day so far. United saw Yeates fire over whle Lambert brought on Izet and Wasiu in place of Wordsworth and the returning Gillespie.
With three minutes of the game remaining, United found the winner. Perkins picked out Mark Yeates who flicked the ball towards Platt. The big U's striker still had a lot to do at full stretch but managed to hoock the ball beyond Forster for his second goal of the season.
Despite the 6 minutes of injury time played, it was the U's who came closest to adding to the scoreline as a Mark Yeates freekick only just failed to dip enough to cause Forster any problems. However, the win sets the U's, and new manager Paul Lambert, up for the two home games to come as United look desperately to gain their first home win at The WHCS.

U's: Gerken, White, Reid, Baldwin, Jackson, Yeates, Hammond, Perkins, Wordsworth (Izzet 66), Platt, Gillespie (Wasiu 73)
Subs not used: Cousins, Heath and Vernon
Stockport: Forster, McSweeney, McNulty, Fojut, Rowe, Baker, Dicker (Johnson 90), Raynes (Turnbull 29), Gleeson, Thompson, McNeill (Pilkington 49)
Subs not used: Williams, and Kane

Photo: Action Images

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