Stockport County 1-4 Boston United

Scott Garner, Marc Newsham, Spencer Weir-Daley and Ricky Miller scored the crucial goals as the Pilgrims served up a superb opening day show.

Kristian Dennis had levelled things up from the penalty spot during the first half but once United, who had Charley Sanders sent off late on, regained the advantage there was only going to be one winner.

With Conor Marshall selected in a midfield holding role, United boss Dennis Greene had opted to utilise a 4-3-3 formation at Edgeley Park.

United got off to the best possible start. Ben Milnes’ ninth minute corner was forced on by Netan Sansara and GARNER applied the finishing touch from close-range.

Either side of Garner’s breakthrough, Phil Jevons and Ian Craney fired free-kicks off target with Ashley Timms remaining untroubled.

Timms was powerless to stop County levelling on 21 minutes. Sansara was penalised for handball and DENNIS sent the Boston keeper the wrong way from the spot.

United were undeterred by the setback and continued to look purposeful in attack. Miller tested Ian Ormson following Weir-Daley excellence down the left, while the Stockport keeper was soon forced to come flying out of his box to avert the danger as Marshall galloped through.

Jordan Fagbola then arrived in the nick of time to divert Newsham’s shot behind for a corner as the United man looked likely to re-assert Boston’s lead.

United were in front again 11 minutes after the break. Milnes slipped a glorious pass into the path of NEWSHAM who beat Ormson at his near post with a neat finish.

The Pilgrims extended their advantage two minutes later when Timms’ downfield punt picked out WEIR-DALEY to cleverly lob Ormson from around the penalty spot.

United’s scoring was completed on 66 minutes when Newsham turned provider for MILLER to slam the loose ball home from close-range.

Boston were rampant and right-back Peter Bore advanced to crash another drive only a fraction wide.

Stockport stepped up their pursuit of an unlikely route back into proceedings, switching to 4-4-2 in the process, and Dennis rattled the post with a 20-yard free-kick, before curling another shot over the bar.

Substitute Sanders, only on the pitch for two minutes, was red-carded after being adjudged to have caught James Tunnicliffe with a flailing arm.

Timms made a superb save in stoppage time to deny a header from Rhys Turner, but United’s memorable success was already sealed.

Stockport (3-5-2): Ian Ormson; Jordan Fagbola, James Tunnicliffe, Kieran Charnock (Rhys Turner 59); Kyle Jacobs, Jamie Hand, Ian Craney (Adriano Moke 69), Aman Verma, Stephen O'Halloran; Phil Jevons, Kristian Dennis. Subs (not used): Brandon Windsor, Lewis King (gk).

Boston (4-3-3): Ashley Timms; Peter Bore, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni, Netan Sansara; Ian Ross (Stefan Galinski 87), Conor Marshall, Ben Milnes; Ricky Miller (Ben Fairclough 75), Marc Newsham,Spencer Weir-Daley (Charley Sanders 86). Subs (not used): Gary Mills, Sam Vince (gk).

Referee: Anthony Tankard

Attendance: 3,317 (201 visitors)