By hangover

to head high past Hinchliffe and level proceedings.

County went into the break frustrated at failing to hold onto a well-earned lead, but the second half signalled a complete turnaround as Nuneaton piled the pressure on The Hatters for large periods.

Forward Joe Ironside curled over Hinchliffe’s crossbar, before Williams agonisingly missed out on diverting full-back Connor Anderson’s driven strike from long range towards goal.

The Hatters made it to the final five minutes with the score still in deadlock, thanks in no small part to the excellent Courtney Meppen-Walter deputising at left-sided centreback, and the typically cool and collected Lewis Montrose – with the languid midfielder hauling his side into a late surge on the Nuneaton goal.

Kayode Odejayi, Sam Minihan and John Marsden were all introduced as attacking substitutes late on as four minutes of stoppage time were signalled – with Gannon admitting afterwards that he was “disappointed in himself” for not making the changes sooner, as County ended up somewhat surprisingly running out of time to secure the three points after a frantic stoppage time period.

Marsden saw his fierce effort parried by Boro’s man of the match Dibble, before Meppen-Walter caught a volley sweetly from long range which Dibble again palmed away.

But County’s huge opening to win the game came when goalscoring defender Michael Clarke incredibly diverted the ball wide after a goalmouth scramble – and suddenly, after a rather flat second half, The Hatters were left disheartened at not sealing a first victory of the month.

Gannon’s side took a point and remained in 11th place after the match; but with games in hand to come (The Hatters were due to host Gainsborough Trinity at Edgeley Park as the Express went to print on Tuesday evening), County will now hope for a rise up the league standings over the coming festive period.