Claridge was denied a goal by the woodwork

Kinet's sixth-minute corner then provided an opening for Tim Cahill, who put his header over.

But County were unable to stem the Millwall tide and it was Dublin who opened the scoring after good work by Ifill.

The visitors attempted to haul themselves back on level terms three minutes later but Ali Gibb's speculative drive was never likely to beat Tony Warner.

Millwall suffered a setback in the 34th minute when Sean Dyche was forced to leave the field injured, with Darren Ward coming on as his replacement.

The Lions regrouped and Dublin should have scored his second goal from Kinet's 38th-minute corner, but only succeeded in heading over the crossbar.

Ifill decider

Millwall continued to pressurise County after the interval and Ward came close to doubling their lead from another Kinet corner after 54 minutes, but his header drifted wide.

County attempted to push forward in search of an equaliser but were so nearly caught out when Claridge's header came back off the woodwork in the 69th minute.

The hosts came close again seven minutes later but Colin Woodthorpe was on hand to clear the danger after Ward had headed goalwards from yet another Kinet corner.

But Stockport's resistance was finally broken with nine minutes left when Dublin's header for Kinet's free-kick was blocked and Nethercott stabbed in the rebound.

And Ifill made the game safe for the Lions when he crashed the ball past Dibble three minutes from time.