Hatters into hat
COUNTY eased past ninth-tier Bishop Auckland on Saturday, with a 2-0 win at Edgeley Park putting The Hatters into the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in four years.
Boss Jim Gannon saw two first-half goals from star man Danny Lloyd ensure that the Hatters’ chief love affair with the FA Cup continues, having guided former club Northwich through ten games to reach the second round proper last season.
County can now look forward to a club record fourth consecutive home tie in the competition, having been drawn to play either Torquay Utd or Woking (their fourth qualifying round replay was due to take place as the Express went to print) at Edgeley Park in just over two weeks’ time.
The latest cup victory again came courtesy of a 2-0 home win, with both of The Hatters’ previous cup fixtures against Hyde and Salford City also yielding the same scoreline.
In truth, Saturday’s clash with the lowestranked club left in the competition should have seen more goals for the hosts, as Gannon’s resurgent side were dominant throughout to claim a fifth win in six games.
Left-sided Max Cartwright came in to the starting eleven to make his full debut for the club, having grabbed the winner in last weekend’s 2-1 league win against Salford City, and forward Josh Amis recovered from a knock which saw him ruled out of the same game to start as the lone striker.
Visitors Bishop Auckland had dubbed the tie as one of the biggest in their history, but – aside from short spells of possession for Steve Riley’s side - The Hatters were comfortable for the majority, with top goalscorer Lloyd signalling his intent with a glorious early chance.
The left winger came bursting into the penalty area as Amis did well to win the ball before releasing to find the 24 year-old.
The former Fylde man sorted his feet out quickly to get the shot away, but Auckland stopper Ed Wilczynski did well to parry low to his left.
After youngster Amis – with just one goal to his name for The Hatters but leading the line admirably in recent weeks - was bundled over shortly after, Lloyd stepped up to curl a delicious attempt at goal from around 25 yards – but the curl which carried the free-kick around the Auckland wall continued to take the ball skimming inches past Wilczynski’s upright.
The County dangerman continued to get closer to the opening goal, and eventually found it just four minutes after the away side had seen their first attempt of the day, a weak effort from target man Ian Ward, saved easily by Ben Hinchliffe.
Captain Mark Ross, showing signs that he’s beginning to excel for The Hatters at right full-back after an admittedly slow start to his County career, barrelled down the right hand side unchallenged, finding space to chip a cross towards Amis. The 21 year-old was beaten to the header by Scott Martindale, but the Auckland defender’s clearance fell only to Lloyd, who stretched to chest the ball down before catching it on the volley sweetly into the far corner of Wilczynski’s goal.
The minnows from Durham had been playing with a certain zest despite failing to really test Hinchliffe up until Lloyd’s cracking opener, but just minutes later Ward won a big flick-on to release top goalscorer Andy Johnson – on 17 goals already for the season – for Auckland’s big chance of the afternoon.
Johnson raced clear of the backtracking Michael Clarke to find himself one-on-one with Hinchliffe, but the big County ‘keeper once again proved his worth to the side with a big right hand to deny the Auckland forward.