A spectacular strike from 19-year-old midfielder Stephen Gleeson gave Stockport a 1-1 draw at Wycombe in their League Two play-off semi final first leg clash at Adams Park.

The late leveller from Wolves' on-loan Ireland international was a bright spot for Stockport in a game their hosts dominated after they went ahead through a first-half Delroy Facey goal.

Playmaker Tommy Doherty showed some early glimpses of the class that earned him a move to QPR three seasons ago when his superbly struck drive forced a good save from John Ruddy on five minutes, which he then followed by a delicate lob from the subsequent corner that landed just over the bar.

Everton-owned Ruddy was forced into action again midway through the half when he tipped a Craig Woodman cross over after the ball had threatened to swerve into the goal.

County had started slowly but eased into things with 19-goal striker Liam Dickinson the focal point for their attacks.

Anthony Pilkington had the visitors' first good chance when he capped off a fine move with a header that on-loan Blackburn youngster Frank Fielding palmed over for a corner, but it was the hosts who took the lead.

With nine minutes of the half remaining, Ruddy mis-kicked a routine clearance, Facey chested the ball down, powered past the County centre-backs and coolly poked the ball past the advancing keeper.

It was a deserved lead and one which the Chairboys threatened to add to, although the main highlight of the remainder of the half was an altercation between County boss Jim Gannon and Wycombe manager Paul Lambert after a bad tackle by Doherty on Dickinson incensed the Stockport bench.

The second half continued in a similar vein. The skilful Wycombe midfield duo of Doherty and Argentine Sergio Torres saw more of the ball and exploited the space left by County's attempts to force an equaliser.

Torres in particular went close when he executed an immaculate turn to put himself clear but Ruddy read it well.

Defender Leon Johnson then sent a header just over after a Russell Martin corner as Wycombe continued to dominate.

But County had a superb chance to level that was spurned by Tommy Rowe, who somehow failed to connect with Dickinson's low ball across the face of goal for an easy tap in.

Gary Holt then went close with a drive that went just over after clever build-up play from Scott McGleish and Martin.

The main outlet for the Greater Manchester side was Dickinson, who Wycombe had pinpointed as a threat and tried to stop by fair means and foul, Doherty and Stefan Oakes receiving yellow cards for heavy challenges on the former non-league player.

Chairboys substitute Matty Phillips was also lucky not to see red for an over-the-top tackle on Gary Dicker.

But, against the run of play, Stockport levelled when young Gleeson sent a swerving, dipping volley into the roof of the net from around 25 yards.

It was a spectacular strike that gave the visitors the impetus to push on for a winner, with Fielding forced into a brave stop from sub Leon McSweeney soon afterwards.

Fielding was called into action towards the end, when Dickinson found Pilkington from the right, but the score stayed level and the match was left neatly poised for the return leg at Stockport on Saturday.

Reda Maher / Eurosport