Stockport drew level on points with League One leaders Huddersfield after a deserved 3-1 victory over Reading.
Ethan Ennis and Jack Diamond struck after Jack Marriott had cancelled out Kyle Wootton’s early opener, helping County move onto 29 points.
The Hatters sit behind Huddersfield on goal difference, although they have played a game more.
Reading slipped from sixth to seventh, dropping outside the play-off places.
Wootton put Stockport ahead after six minutes in unusual fashion.
His effort from Ennis’ cross struck the post before rebounding off him and into the net, taking his league tally to 10 for the season.
Reading responded just five minutes later when Marriott converted Kyreece Lisbie’s delivery for his ninth league goal of the campaign.
County restored their advantage shortly after the half-hour mark through a flowing team move.
Harry Wood supplied the layoff for Ennis, who fired beyond Joel Pereira’s dive.
The hosts pushed hard for a third after the interval, with Pereira producing impressive saves to deny Oliver Norwood, Wood and a Diamond header.
But the Reading goalkeeper was beaten again in the 52nd minute when Diamond drove a low shot into the bottom-right corner.
Wootton later had a second effort of the match ruled out for offside as Stockport threatened to extend their lead further.
County nevertheless finished comfortably to secure three valuable points and maintain the pressure at the top.
