Ryan Watson, recently booked, is withdrawn to be replaced by 37-year-old Adrian Mariappa who is making his 500th senior appearance in English football.

Junior Luamba picks up a loose ball in midfield and jinks past his man before darting towards the box, Fraser Horsfall is in close attendance and Luamba goes down in a heap as he stands his ground but there is very little contact for me.

He's on a yellow too. Could easily have been another for simulation.

Salford's Ryan Watson goes into the book after a lunge into Rico Richards in midfield. More pressure on the hosts from a set-piece to come.

Steve O'Halloran
Former Stockport defender on BBC Radio Manchester

Does Olaofe have the composure? Does he have the quality to score that goal? Yes, he does.

Look at that quality. He's had a very good season and you can see why he's scored so many goals.

It's game on.

Kyle Wootton plays a delightful disguised slide-rule pass into the path of Rico Richards blasting down his right, think Pele and Carlos Alberto in 1970.

Instead of leathering it with his right, Richards tries to wrap his left around it and the ball balloons off a defender and over the bar from an angle. A good chance goes begging.

An hour gone and this one is coming to the boil nicely.

Ibou Touray's long throw is flicked on by Paddy Madden to Rico Richards but he can only nod straight at Alex Cairns.

Steve Eyre
Former Salford player on BBC Radio Lancashire

It's become more of a football match because Stockport have turned it that way. They have a better serving full-back in Todd Kane, with his experience, and it allows Isaac Olaofe to have more of a fight for the ball.

All the play, all the momentum is with Stockport. I don't know what the plan is for Salford City other than survival.

Sub Rico Richards works some space and floats an inviting cross in from the right flank towards the back stick and it seems to glance off Ryan Watson's arm on its way behind but Stockport are crestfallen to receive neither a generous penalty, or the corner they probably deserved.

Paddy Madden comes oh so close to a leveller, a deep corner flicks off Matt Smith at the far post and bounces straight off the Stockport forward's shaven head, only to slide past the angle of post and bar.

It is all Stockport.

Steve O'Halloran
Former Stockport defender on BBC Radio Manchester

The goal has lifted Stockport as a team and maybe the fan base as well. You can hear them in the background, they are on their feet and they are starting to believe their team can turn this around.

Fraser Horsfall goes into the book for an arm in the face of Matt Smith as they jockey for a high ball. Two big gladiators battling for position all evening long. Smith gets up after a moment on the turf and is ok to continue. Made of strong stuff.

Paddy Madden tries his luck, and it needed a lot of it, with an angled strike which flies into Alex Cairns' side netting from the right of the area. I think he was under so much pressure from the defence that he knew a cross from there was a physical impossibility.

Stockport straight on the attack with Todd Kane seeking out Paddy Madden but they have to settle for a corner, which is cleared with a booming header by... Matt Smith. His forehead is a magnet for footballs.

Big 45 for both teams starts here...

Todd Kane is on for his Hatters debut as Dave Challinor makes a double switch.

Odin Bailey and Lewis Cass are off with Rico Richards the other new arrival.

Man City, Leicester, Portsmouth... Stockport?

The Hatters are looking to haul themselves level on points at the top of League Two and set up the intriguing possibility of a national shortage of blue ribbons in May.

They need a big second half, that's for sure...

It's not just Stockport who are looking to the future, Salford have come a long way in a short time, but they are not planning on stopping any time soon.

The club is part-owned by legendary Man United players David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville but are on the lookout for additional investment with a view to firing them to the Championship.

CEO Butt says the club have already received "some interest" in taking an equity investment.

It was confirmed this week that former Wales boss Giggs is working as the director of football.

Image source, MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Big week for Stockport, this. Off the field as much as on it this evening.

County have outlined proposals to boost capacity at Edgeley Park by about 7,000 seats to host 18,000 fans.

The club have asked supporters for feedback on the plan to renovate the stadium, built in 1891.