Liam Dickinson's header and a late Adam Proudlock tap-in gave Stockport a smash and grab win after Macclesfield dominated the first half without finding the net.

County had registered just one shot on goal before Dickinson headed home from David Poole's 62^nd minute corner and keeper Conrad Logan made a string of impressive saves before Proudlock sealed the win in injury time.

Both sides remained unchanged from last weekend when the Silkmen succumbed to a late Barnet equaliser and a rampant Stockport hit Wycombe for six.

The visitors were awarded the first corner of the game which was easily cleared and as Terry Dunfield led the Macc break the skipper stumbled over the ball when he had runners either side.

Danny Thomas found Levi Reid on the left and as the Hatters backline withdrew his 25 yard effort flashed wide.

Logan was called into action to punch Martin Gritton's header behind under pressure from Francis Green and seconds later Jimmy McNulty blazed over when he was found in acres of space at the far post.

Macc were looking brilliant going forward in what was comfortably their best attacking half of the season - playing some excellent football and seemingly creating chances at will.  Infuriatingly however, those chances were not finished off as on numerous occasions the ball went the wrong side of the post or was saved by a keeper in top form.

County's one chance of the half came courtesy of Paul Turnbull's skidding shot which deflected off Adam Murray and shaved the far post giving Jonny Brain a scare diving to his right.

Luke Dimech's long clearance found Green on 21 minutes and after feeding Reid, he flicked the ball on into Murray's path.  The former Derby midfielder's sliding effort was palmed away by Logan and unfortunately dropped to Raynes to hack away.

Macc were finding a lot of joy out wide with Thomas and Reid causing huge problems for the County full-backs and they continued to wreak havoc throughout the half by switching flanks to good effect.

Levi Reid - Had a great first half and was at the heart of mos Macc attacks

The impressive Reid went close when he took a loose ball perfectly in his stride and powered into the box only to drag his left footed shot wide.

Dimech looked confident to carry the ball out of defence and his angled ball played Green through but Logan raced out to palm his attempted lob away from danger and kick to safety.

Gritton's looping header dropped onto the roof of the net and Thomas saw another long range effort well blocked as Macc just couldn't turn their first half superiority into goals.

Jim Gannon obviously had strong words with his side at the interval as County came out so early that the half-time Christmas carols were still in full swing as they returned to the pitch.  They looked to be much hungrier in the second period and weren't letting Macc get to the ball first as they were during the majority of the opening 45 minutes.

A Macc free kick 30 yards out was headed back across goal by Gritton and as Green collected the ball and fired a shot towards the far corner it looked as if Macc would finally break the deadlock.  However the inspired Logan flung himself low to his left to tip the ball around the post when he looked beaten.

The ball did finally hit the net on 62 minutes, but at the other end.  Poole's corner from the left was met at the front post by Dickinson and his bullet header went in off the underside of the bar to give Stockport an undeserved lead.

After the goal the visitors came to life and Macc were left to rue all their earlier misses.  Another dangerous corner wasn't dealt with at the near post and blocked by Dunfield in the box before Gritton finally cleared to safety.

Terry Dunfield - Covered every blade of grass and never gave the County midfield any time on the ball

Green was booked for a late challenge on the halfway line in the 69^th minute - still frustrated from not getting a decision his way a few minutes before.

With 20 minutes to go Simon Wiles came on for Reid, who despite a sensational first half had struggled to make an impact after the break.

A long free kick into the Macc area was caught and then dropped by Brain under Dickinson's challenge and as the home side protested for a foul that was never given Proudlock drilled wide with the keeper still out of position.

Stockport won a string of corners which were put the Macc defence under pressure every time and from one of the flag-kicks Proudlock's glancing header at the near post whistled inches over the bar.

Kevin McIntyre came on for Thomas and Gareth Evans was introduced for Green on 80 minutes as Macc pushed for an equaliser in a game they should have had sewn up at half-time.

Wiles' one moment of magic came when he skinned his opponent and whipped in a fantastic front post cross.  As Evans flew in but failed to make any contact Logan punched clear and when McIntyre threw himself at the ball for a diving header he went down under a strong challenge in the process, but referee Andy Marriner waved the claims away.

With the clock running down Dickinson was given far too much room to cut inside from the right and Proudlock should have wrapped up the win when the ball was slid across to him, but he blazed over from ten yards.

The second goal came in the first minute of stoppage time as a corner was put back into the box after it was half cleared.  Dickinson somehow broke the offside trap to bring the ball down in front of goal without anyone near him, and with an age to pick his spot his low effort was well parried by Brain but only into the path of the onrushing Proudlock who couldn't miss from close range.

The Silkmen faithful began to flood to the exits after the goal which brought a disappointing end to a derby which had began so well for Macc.  Some brilliant first half football wasn't finished off and in the end the Silkmen paid the price.

Andy Brinkhurst