Louie Barry double leads Stockport to thumping win

Louie Barry took his season’s goal tally into double figures as Stockport returned to winning ways in Sky Bet League One with a 4-1 victory over Reading at Edgeley Park.

Barry converted a first-half penalty and bagged his 10th of the campaign after 68 minutes to end the Royals’ bid for a fourth successive win.

Will Collar had not scored since November 2023 but, aided by a deflection and Tyler Onyango’s rampaging run, he set the Hatters on the way to only a second league win in 10 games after 18 minutes.

Reading have not won at Edgeley Park since 1971 and lost 5-1 when the teams last met in 1998.

But Wolves loanee Chem Campbell’s 30th-minute strike from Harvey Knibbs’ cross boosted their hopes of improving that dismal record.

Instead, Kyle Wootton headed in skipper Lewis Bate’s free-kick for his fifth goal of the season three minutes later.

And Barry’s 42nd-minute spot-kick, awarded for Andre Garcia’s foul on Jack Diamond, gave County a two-goal cushion.

Fittingly, Barry rounded off an impressive County win to end Reading’s brief stay in the play-off places.