Stockport County 2, Huddersfield Town 3

Aug 9 2004 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SUPER sub Pawel Abbott brought down the curtain in style on a victorious late fightback as Town grabbed the points with their first three-goal opening-day haul in a decade.

Trailing 2-1 with only three minutes to go, man-of-the-match Andy Booth powered in a diving header to equalise before teeing up Abbott for a coolly taken winner three minutes and 33 seconds into the four minutes of added time, his first goal since April 10.

It was the signal for Town's 3,000 travelling fans to go berserk in the blazing sun - delighted by an opening win for the first time since 2001 and proof of a pre-season promise from manager Peter Jackson.

He pledged no-one would work harder than his promotion winners in League I this season, and Town gave credence to his words with a display of real character in a scorcher at Edgeley Park.

Not since Blackpool were thumped 4-1 at Bloomfield Road in 1994 have Town netted three times in their first outing of a campaign, and how fitting that Booth - the only survivor of that line-up - should be the outstanding performer this time.

His aerial prowess tormented Sammy McIlroy's side throughout - he powered a header against the bar as early as 12 minutes - and not only did he play a part in all three goals, he was a commanding figure at both ends of the pitch: simply superb.

It was a foul on Booth in the final minute of the first half which gave Tony Carss the chance to fire in a stunning 30-yard free-kick, curling the ball with power past the outstretched left hand of keeper Neil Cutler, who was one of five debutants in a re-shaped Stockport side who lost just one of their final 12 matches last season under McIlroy.

The goal, however, inspired the home side to step up a gear and they equalised on 56 minutes when the prolific Luke Beckett, back from a serious knee injury, sprung clear of marker Efe Sodje to glide home an excellent cross from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.