A quality second-half showing helped Stockton Town to three points at home to Prescot Cables.
The Anchors found themselves behind at the break after Jack Goodwin’s goal, but second-half strikes from Josh Scott, Kevin Hayes and Stephen Thompson sealed the victory.
Michael Dunwell was forced into a couple of changes, with Arjun Purewal and Stephen Thompson replacing the unavailable Amar Purewal and Tom Coulthard.
Kevin Hayes had the games first shot, with an effort that flew past the face of goal.
But it was the visitors who struck first, with a cross from the right-wing bundled in by forward Jack Goodwin after 15 minutes.
Stockton pushed hard following the setback, with Jake Petitjean having a great look at goal on a rebound, but veteran defender Peter Clarke through himself in-front of the shot to send it away.
Goodwin very nearly had his second of the game, after forcing a way through the backline, but he was met by the body of Nathan Harker who made himself as big as possible.
Just before the break, Stockton were awarded a penalty when Josh Scott was bundled over in the midst of a corner, but Kevin Hayes’ spot-kick was kept out by Connor Edwards.
Half-time: Stockton Town 0-1 Prescot Cables
After a bright opening to the half, Stockton did find an equaliser when Stephen Thompson’s drilled effort was spilled by Edwards into the path of Josh Scott who fired into the net to provide an early equaliser.
Just five minutes later, a moment of magic put Stockton ahead when Kevin Hayes cut inside from the right-wing, and lofted an unstoppable long-ranged effort over the goalkeeper.
And in the 63rd minute, it was three for Stockton as Jake Petitjean placed a corner perfectly onto the head of Stephen Thompson who powered his header past Edwards.
From then on, Stockton took control of the game, and came close on a couple of occasions to adding a fourth, the biggest chance of which came when Michael Sweet’s cross-goal-shot was deflected into the path of Josh Scott, who didn’t have the time to react to the pace on the ball and he flicked wide.
Another positive arrived in added time, when young Max Naylor came on for his Stockton Town senior debut, marking another debutant from Stockton’s incredible youth programme, and he helped seal all three points for Stockton.
Full-time: Stockton Town 3-1 Prescot Cables
There’s no game for Stockton on Saturday, but there’s a huge home game in the waiting next Tuesday, when Horden CW come to visit in the semi-final of the Durham Challenge Cup.
