Stockport County 1-0 Torquay United: National League leaders a point from promotion
- Published
Paddy Madden's winner against Torquay means Stockport need only a point at home to FC Halifax Town on Sunday to win promotion back to the English Football League
Paddy Madden's 24th goal of the season put Stockport within touching distance of the English Football League as they climbed back to the National League summit with just a game to play.
A 1-0 home win over stubborn Torquay means a point at home to FC Halifax Town on Sunday will clinch the title and end their 11-year exile.
Danny Wright glanced an early header just wide for the visitors, but Gulls keeper Shaun MacDonald made a vital intervention to send Myles Hippolyte's 12th-minute shot over the bar.
Antoni Sarcevic and Hippolyte both went close for the home side before the break, but Torquay stood firm to head for the dressing rooms still level.
The injured MacDonald was replaced by Mark Halstead at the break, and the newcomer was quickly into the action, saving two Will Collar headers as County threatened.
However, there was nothing he could do to deny Madden when he struck from close range to win it with 26 minutes remaining.
Match report supplied by PA Media.