Football: NATIONWIDE ROUND-UP: Angell takes flight for County

BRETT ANGELL scored a hat-trick of headers as he gave Stockport only their second home First Division win of the season yesterday. County surrendered a two-goal lead before late strikes by Angell and Steve Grant killed off Port Vale 4-2.

Angell opened his account in the 20th minute when he put a forceful header past Paul Musselwhite. His second was from two yards out, from Tony Dinning's corner in the 41st minute.

Vale - managed by John Rudge, who is thought to be in the frame to replace Mark McGhee as manager of Wolverhampton - pulled one back courtesy through Peter Beadle two minutes later, then drew level in the 56th minute when County's captain, Mike Flynn, put through his own net. Angell rescued the situation three minutes from time, heading home Ian Moore's angled deep cross from the right.

Though Rudge hardly improved his chances of getting the Wolves job, on Saturday, the Molineux side showed how much they are missing McGhee, putting six goals past Bristol City. With Colin Lee in temporary charge, they won 6-1, David Connolly hitting four and Guy Whittingham and Carl Robinson one apiece.

The early season pace-setters, Huddersfield, were about to take three points from Ipswich before David Johnson's late equaliser. Mark Venus had given Ipswich a 24th-minute lead but Huddersfield hit back through Rob Edwards and Wayne Allison before their late setback.

The top four were all winners in the Second Division, though it was Manchester City's 3-0 win at Oldham which will have their rivals worried. City at last performed with a measure of pride,Kevin Horlock hitting two and Andy Morrison the third.

Stoke stay at the top after beating Luton 3-1, while third-placed Preston maintained their superb start with a 4-1 win over Burnley, while fourth- placed Walsall beat Millwall 3-0.

Rotherham seem most likely to rise above the Third Division promotion race after their 4-0 win over Scarborough left them sharing first place with Scunthorpe and Cambridge.