County keep in
COUNTY continued their impressive away form in the National League North this season with a 0-1 win at high-flying Gloucester on Saturday.
Substitute Kaine Felix grabbed the only goal of game in the second half after a well-worked Hatters move to keep County within touch of the playoffs; although a big hand was due to goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe for a pointsaving performance – not least an early penalty save.
There were three changes from the County side which progressed in the FA Trophy in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Bradford PA, with John Marsden - the second goalscorer in that match dropping back to the bench in perhaps the most surprising switch for Jimmy Ball.
Felix also took his place on the bench in place of returning captain Mark Ross, whilst full-back Max Cartwright missed out through illness, with Scott Duxbury making his first start since that horror head injury suffered against Fylde in September.
Gloucester have been one of the surprise packages in a competitive league so far this season, sitting above the Hatters in the league standings (up until this weekend’s Hatters victory at Whaddon Road) - but County battled hard to earn a deserved win in Cheltenham after the hosts’ early penalty blunder.
After a fairly lively start to the proceedings on a frosty afternoon, County defender Michael Clarke hacked down Tiger’s top goalscorer Luke Hopper after a long diagonal caught the visitors cold – and, although replays later showed the foul to have occurred outside the penalty area, the penalty kick was awarded.
Joe Parker stepped up, but his somewhat weak penalty was too close to the middle of the goal, and the sprawling Hinchliffe tipped it onto the post before gratefully clutching the rebound to the delight of the travelling fans - as well as boss Jim Gannon, who had sent a pile of training cones flying just moments earlier with a frustrated kick.
Gloucester seemed to be deflated by the early miss which came just 7 minutes into the tie, and The Hatters went on to enjoy the better chances of the first half; mostly coming through livewire Danny Lloyd’s creativity.
Target man Kay Odejayi, enjoying a sustained run in the starting line-up for the first time since last summer after his arrival to Edgeley Park, should have opened the scoring when he peeled off to the back post to meet Sam Minihan’s cross - but the veteran’s header was saved well by Jasbir Singh; albeit with Odejayi’s header directed far too centrally.
Singh’s save sparked a melee in the penalty area, and Lloyd went down under a Kieran Thomas challenge to huge appeals from his Hatters teammates - replays did appear to show minimal contact, although County’s biggest appeal for a spot-kick was yet to come.
When centre-half Smalley rose at the back post to meet a Lloyd corner, his header was blocked by full-back Thomas - and although Thomas then appeared to bundle the loose ball back out of play with his hand in front of the vocal travelling supporters, the protests were again waved away.
County couldn’t find a reward which their positivity in the opening half probably merited, with Lloyd coming close soon after with a fizzing strike from the edge of the area which Singh palmed away, whilst Jimmy Ball dragged a pair of longrange efforts well wide.
Meanwhile, Hinchliffe was left with very little to do in goal following his early penalty heroics, until the interval was signalled with the sides even.
In truth, Tim Harris’ side’s most notable chances came only after substitute Felix had drilled County ahead, with Hinchliffe springing to action on more than one occasion to preserve County’s slender lead.
Prior to Felix’ arrival though, captain Ross had surged forward to force Singh into making a comfortable save with a weak effort from the edge of the area, before Lloyd’s effort inside the area on the turn was blocked by Thomas.
When Jimmy Ball conceded possession in front of the dugout, boss Gannon instantly signalled for Felix to replace the youngster with twenty minutes to play – and the on-loan York attacker instantly made his mark.
The goal was rather route one from County, but very well-worked all the same; with Ross’ long throw-in being flicked on by Odejayi into the area – where Felix was lurking to take a touch past Jack Deaman and rifle past Singh.
It proved to be yet another inspired substitution by Gannon, coming just over a week after Josh Amis and John Marsden came off the bench to instantly find a late goal in a 2-2 draw at Tamworth.
Gloucester unsurprisingly threw everything but the kitchen sink at their guests as the play-off hopefuls sought a late leveller, with substitute Craig Reid forcing Hinchliffe into his biggest save of the half, finding space to shoot on the turn and see his strike held excellently by the former Fylde man.
Substitute Josh Amis, on in place of the tiring Odejayi and still sporting a cast on his broken right hand, should have sealed the win when Lloyd skipped around Thomas to wonderfully loft a cross to the back post, where the lurking youngster was left unmarked with the