Depleted by a number of unavailable players, Spitfires took to the pitch against visiting Glossop with the early October sun shining down on Fortress Headlands.
There seems to be an air of belief about this Spitfires side this season. In fairness to Glossop, they may not have been the strongest opposition Stockport will face this year, but Spitfires carried themselves with a confidence that has been steadily growing. Three wins from three and 72 points on the combined scoreboard tells its own story.
For large parts of the first half, Stockport struggled to get out of their own 22. On paper, that might suggest a very different sort of afternoon. In reality, they defended strongly, absorbed pressure and chose their opportunities carefully. When the chance came to move the ball into space, they did so with pace, strength and increasingly good vision.
Alwan-Walker was immense with ball in hand and equally in the scrum, Glossop struggling throughout to contain him in either. On seven minutes he opened the scoring, driving from the breakdown and powering over in the corner.
Barely a minute later Nelson followed. Excellent support play, quick feet and genuine pace saw him finish another Stockport attack and suddenly the scoreboard was moving rather rapidly.
Howard, running some superb lines through midfield, added another on 25 minutes, neatly converted by Parker, before Alwan-Walker powered over again for his second of the half.
The pack looked strong across almost every aspect of the game. Hughes appears to have discovered a new, spicier version of his mojo and produced a sterling performance with ball in hand, regularly breaking the first tackle and giving Stockport good front-foot ball from which to recycle.
Chadwick was equally sharp around the field: quick to the breakdown, industrious and winning some excellent turnover ball after some sizeable contributions in the collision from Kitchen, Grantham and Powel. All three carried with real strength and looked a constant threat whenever Stockport moved forward.
The backs showed equal skill, adaptability and vision. The combination of Loughlin, Howard and Wightman in midfield worked particularly well, each putting in some serious defensive work while continually looking for space in attack.
Midway through the first half, Howard decided to escort his opposite number swiftly into next week.
Reading the line perfectly and spotting a loose pass, he burst forward and delivered a tackle of such ferocity that the unfortunate recipient was promptly cut in half, relieved of most of his available oxygen and dispatched to the bench for an early rest. Winded, pride dented, but otherwise apparently intact. One suspects he may remember Mr Howard for a little while yet.
At the back Roberts, Parker and Price all produced good performances, while new signing Harrison Webster came on and wasted absolutely no time introducing himself, audaciously crossing for a try on his Spitfires debut.
More impressive than any individual contribution, however, was the collective work-rate. The communication across the field was excellent and Stockport increasingly looked like a side comfortable in what they were trying to do.
The second half brought further reward. Kitchen crossed twice, while Parker, Nelson and Alwan-Walker all added to the scoreboard as Spitfires increasingly imposed themselves on the game.
If there is criticism to be made, the handling was not always as clean as it could have been. A few too many balls went to ground and the consequence was an extraordinary 20 scrums, 15 of them with a Glossop put-in.
A certain South African member of the Stockport scrum coaching establishment — who shall remain entirely anonymous — was quick to point out that this was far too many.
He was equally quick, however, to mention that Spitfires turned over three Glossop scrums and won two scrum penalties.
Funny that.
There is always work to do. Decisions to improve, lessons to learn and parts of the game that can be sharpened. Better opposition will punish mistakes more severely and Stockport will know that.
But there is something increasingly convincing about this group.
Players are beginning to nail their colours to the mast. The forwards are carrying hard, the backs are seeing space, the defence has an edge to it and, perhaps most importantly, there is a growing sense that this side genuinely believes in itself.
And with Howard now released without charge following enquiries into an alleged daylight assault and battery, the squad should even remain at full strength.
Another strong performance.
Well played Spitfires — again.
Onwards!