Surprisingly the Mariners dropped Paul Bolland to the bench with Ricky Ravenhill coming in for the midfielder.

Gary Jones was again missing through suspension. Nick Hegarty returned to the Town left.

It was to be a day to forget in the rain and mud at Edgeley Park.

With just 7 minutes on the clock, the Mariners were behind - again Town being undone by a corner.

Rose's in swinging corner from the right was met by Barnes' hand but still found its way through the keeper into the net.

The home side were awarded a penalty on 25 minutes for an alleged hand ball by Nick Fenton. The ball seemed to hit his hand as he slid in for a tackle but it was never intentional.

The Town players were furious when the referee brandished a red card to the Town centre back.

Dickinson stepped up and fired his kick against Barnes' right hand post.

But Dickinson was to make amends minutes later.

With the Mariners still readjusting to the sending off, Hegarty missed a challenge, the ball was played out to the right hand side and the ensuing cross was met on the volley by Dickinson to double the Hatter's lead.

Good work by Rankin saw the former Brentford striker's shot well blocked.

Half Time: Stockport 2 Town 0

Paul Bolland replaced Gary Croft at the start of the second half.

The ten men Mariners changed to a 3-3-3 system.

Seconds later Clare had the easiest of chances to make it three but managed to hit the post.

Michael Reddy replaced Ricky Ravenhill on 58 minutes. The Irishman broke clear on 68 minutes only to be pulled back by a late linesman's flag for offside.

On 77 minutes Stockport made it even more miserable for Town. Bolland's loose pass was controlled well by Malcolm, he took a side step before firing the ball into the corner past Barnes..

Minutes later Barnes pulled off a good save from Malcolm header.

Two minutes of stoppage time was added by the referee.