A Josh Stokes double ensured Neil Harris made a winning return to Cambridge as the Us beat Stockport 2-0.

Harris was reappointed Cambridge head coach on Wednesday, with Mark Bonner also returning in a new role as director of football, and saw his second spell in the hotseat get off to the perfect start when Stokes headed home Liam Bennett’s cross after nine minutes.

Stockport could have equalised three minutes later through Kyle Wootton, but his attempted lob was blocked by keeper Nathan Bishop.

Stokes made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute with a shot from outside the box that took a slight deflection on its way past Corey Addai.

In the second half Stockport piled on the pressure and Bishop made a flying save to deny Wootton after the County striker had turned well in the box. James Gibbons cleared a shot from substitute Sam Cosgrove off the line as County were unable to find a way through.

To compound the visitors’ woes, defender Callum Connolly was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence.