Peterborough 1 Stockport 2

Last updated : 30 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Bargain buy Rob Jones put the icing on Stockport County's cake, grabbing his second league goal to clinch an opening Division Two success for Carlton Palmer's lowly side.

The former PE teacher, tempted into full time soccer and costing just £5,000 from non-leaguers Gateshead, forsook his defensive duties to go forward and pounce for a close-range header that gave County an unassailable lead on 58 minutes.

Luke Beckett opened the score providing the high-spot of an untidy first half backing off Mark Arber to create enough space six minutes before the break to reach an Ali Gibb cross, following a quickly taken free-kick, and leave Posh's Mark Tyler helpless with a glancing downward header.

Delighted County boss Palmer refused to be carried away, commenting: "After a point against Tranmere on Monday this win completed a good week but we now have to keep the momentum going." Posh had early openings with Leon McKenzie firing against goalkeeper Nick Colgan when released by Andy Clarke, while the Posh top scorer Clarke himself needed too long and lost a great opportunity. Winger David Farrell, making his first start of the campaign, was also squeezed out.

The story of the lost opportunities continued in the second half before Barry Fry's side were found wanting in defence again as County doubled their advantage from another set piece.

This time Kevin Ellison swept the ball over from the left and Jones made no mistake from six yards with Tyler rooted to his line.

McKenzie finally grabbed his first goal of the season in injury time but for boss Fry it was too little too late.

"You can't blame the crowd for having a go at us," he said. "We were dreadful giving the ball away in defence and with no spark going forward whatsoever."