Macauley Southam-Hales headed in a 78th-minute equaliser to earn Stockport a 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham.

Alfie May had produced a sweetly-struck curler with five minutes on the clock to put the League One leaders in front.

Willum Willumsson had sent Taylor Gardner-Hickman in on goal for a shot that Ben Hinchcliffe did well to save. The ball was then worked to May and he found the bottom corner of the goal.

But County hit back 12 minutes from time, Ryan Rydel sending a cross to the back post where Southam-Hales rose highest to nod in.

Birmingham should have doubled their lead just before half time as Willumsson pounced on a slip by Ethan Pye and led a break, neatly playing May in. This time, however, he put his shot straight at the keeper.

County had produced little in front of goal, particularly in the first half, and had looked like they would kick off the year with a home defeat, with Jack Diamond unable to capitalise on two chances shortly after the break.

However, the Hatters’ wing-backs combined for the equaliser with time running low.

Southam-Hales was inches away from a late winner for County but his first-time drive cannoned back off the post.

Kyle Wootton could also have snatched it for Stockport in stoppage time after grabbing an under-hit backpass and rounding keeper Ryan Allsop but Blues’ Christoph Klarer produced a point-saving last-ditch block.