Stockport 1-1 QPR

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Stockport and QPR ground out a gritty draw at Edgeley Park in a match that was fraught with controversy.

Rangers had four men booked, Stockport assistant manager Kevin Richardson was sent from the dugout for dissent and a controversial penalty gave the visitors a share of the spoils.

A goal from Luke Beckett on 55 minutes gave Stockport the early advantage, but Karl Connolly hit back from the penalty spot for Rangers on 70 minutes as both sides had to settle for a point.

The contest had got off to a slow start, but it was Stockport who created the first clear-cut opportunity of the match with seven minutes gone.

Some good build-up play resulted in a teasing cross from the right from Martin Pemberton but summer signing Ben Burgess, who joined the Hatters from Blackburn Rovers in July, headed agonisingly over.

County continued to press, but constant Rangers pressure saw a clever Paul Furlong flick-on expose the home side's defence with 23 minutes gone.

Sucker punch

Kevin Gallen burst through to force an athletic point-blank save from Lee Jones and then the rebound fell invitingly for Connolly, but his effort went crashing wide.

Rangers continued to dominate the play, but their hard work failed to be rewarded because of some poor finishing in front of goal.

Jones pulled-off another good save on 51 minutes as Rangers pushed for the advantage.

But it was County who hit the visitors with a sucker-punch when captain Fraser McLachlan's shot hit the bar and fell invitingly for Beckett, who made no mistake in heading home from inside the six-yard box.

However, County's lead was short-lived as Rangers hit back just a quarter of an hour later from the penalty spot.

Connolly levelled terms for the visitors with a powerful shot which careered off inside of the left post.

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Stockport: Jones, Briggs, Gibb, Challinor, Clark, Pemberton, Clare, McLachlan, Palmer, Beckett, Burgess. Subs: Spencer, Goodwin, Daly, Lescott, Ellison.

QPR: Culkin, Forbes, Palmer, Shittu, Rose, Bircham, Langley, Williams, Furlong, Gallen, Connolly. Subs: Doudou, Lovell, Murphy, Bean, Digby.

Referee: F Stretton (Nottinghamshire).