Stockport County boss Jim Gannon says officials will 'probably cringe' at some of decisions in win against Chesterfield

Alex Reid came off the bench to score the winner with five minutes to go during a crazy few seconds as Stockport struck the post struck twice and had at least two shots cleared off the line.

The teams had been level at the break after Jordan Cropper cancelled out Mark Kitching’s opener.

The match had a number of flash points including a handball on the line by Spireites captain Will Evans which should have resulted in a penalty for County and the opportunity to double their lead.

Gannon was also unhappy with a couple of aerial challenges on his players.

“There were a couple of big, key moments - I am sure it was great for the cameras,” he said.

“We’ve had an elbow in the face at Torquay - no action. We’ve had Jamie Stott’s nose broken in a game - no action, and we have seen that again today with another two blood injuries.

“Unfortunately the spotlight of BT Sport will show up perhaps the standard of refereeing, but the on the flip side they are only back in business for a couple of weeks, it is such a furious game and sometimes if they are not sure they (might not) be brave enough to make those decisions so I will cut them a bit of slack on that.”

He added: “They will probably look at the BT Sport highlights and probably cringe a little bit but hopefully they learn from that.”

It was another hard-working performance from Town who had two Tom Denton goals ruled out for offside in the first half.

County could have added another late on but Jordan Cropper cleared off the line.

On the game itself, Gannon said it was ‘really tough’ and backed Chesterfield to cause a lot of teams problems because they don’t ‘quit’.

Gannon said: “I think when they (Chesterfield) actually played today, they looked like they would craft better entries to the final third and better situations for crosses where Denton and Tyson can see the goal and the cross.

“I just felt we mixed it up better today and we asked a few more questions with movement and playing through the lines, but they have got an experienced side and they have got a real strength and they play to it and it has been getting them some results and a foothold in a game.

"They will be a difficult team to play because they are really strong for a full game and there’s no quitters and they work extremely hard. You have to play at a really high level and keep going to get anything off them.”

Stockport’s corner count reached 12 and unfortunately it was the final one that ultimately led to the Blues going behind.

“If they hadn’t got (Tom) Denton in there I think they would have struggled to keep us out (from corners) and the keeper had made himself huge for one of them, it is a certain goal, it is a miraculous save.”