Michael Skubala made a small tactical tweak at the break, switching Ryan One and Reeco Hackett around as City looked to maintain their first half advantage.
The second half began with Stockport growing into the game and the visitors introduced Jack Diamond on 56 minutes in place of Joseph Olowu. Within a few minutes they came close to levelling. Kyle Wootton met a cross with a powerful header that forced an excellent save from George Wickens, comfortably the best chance Stockport had created to that point and a warning that City had not quite got going after the restart.
Norwood then delivered a dangerous free kick on the hour that Tom Hamer headed behind for a corner, while moments later Brad Hills went into the book for dragging down Conor McGrandles as City attempted to break away.
Skubala responded on 62 minutes by introducing Ben House and Dom Jefferies in place of Ryan One and Jack Moylan.
City almost doubled their lead shortly afterwards. Good work down the right involving Hackett and Tendayi Darikwa created the opening and Rob Street struck a powerful effort that crashed against the crossbar.
Instead it was Stockport who found the next goal. On 68 minutes Ben Osborn’s cross drifted across the area beyond the central defenders and Diamond arrived at the back post to head past Wickens and draw the visitors level.
The pressure continued to build. Hamer was booked for a foul on Adama Sidibeh in a dangerous position before Norwood’s free kick found Odin Bailey, whose effort was blocked and cleared for a goal kick. There was also a strong shout for a penalty moments later when Hamer grappled with Wootton inside the box, but referee Charles Breakspear waved play on.
City reshaped again on 75 minutes with Tom Bayliss, Jack Lloyd and Adam Reach coming on for Hackett, Street and Varfolomeev. Still Stockport continued to threaten and Diamond nearly turned provider again when he hooked a dangerous cross towards goal, the ball drifting just wide of the post.
City had a huge chance on 83 minutes when a corner caused panic in the Stockport area. Lloyd’s effort was hooked off the line and the rebound fell to McGrandles, but he fired over the bar.
Moments later the visitors made another change, Tanto Olaofe and Lewis Fiorini replacing Sidibeh and Josh Stokes.
The decisive moment arrived on 88 minutes. A loose clearance dropped to Darikwa on the edge of the area and the captain drove a shot towards goal that took a deflection and flew past Corey Addai to restore City’s lead after a difficult second half.
Stockport attempted to respond quickly but Bailey fired well over after collecting a loose ball when House slipped. In stoppage time a couple of hopeful deliveries into the area from Osborn came to nothing as City held firm.
The points were secured in the fourth minute of added time. A long ball forward saw Lloyd battle past his defender before finishing calmly to make it 3-1 and seal the victory.
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