County left flat
COUNTY were left deflated by a stoppage time equaliser denting their play-off hopes in a 1-1 draw at lowly Alfreton Town on Saturday in the National League North.
Josh Amis’ first-half header from a nicely weighted Danny Lloyd cross had put The Hatters on course for their third consecutive win and a surge up to third in the division – only for Liam Hearn’s late, late strike to deny Jim Gannon’s side.
There were three changes for Gannon’s men, with goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe and captain Mark Ross both returning to replace Ian Ormson and Courtney Meppen-Walters, who both started in last week’s 3-1 home win over Stalybridge.
Jimmy Ball started in the number 10 role over John Marsden, who again dropped out after another week without a goal for County.
The game was largely a scrappy affair, taking place on a heavy surface after much rain and snow throughout the week in Derbyshire.
Elliot Osborne, starting for the fifth consecutive game since joining on loan from Fleetwood, did his best to overcome the dank conditions, only managing to scuff wide from the edge of the area on two occasions.
The returning Jimmy Ball came agonisingly close to putting his side into the lead shortly after, again demonstrating his excellent technique of striking the ball to half-volley mere inches over Fabian Spiess’ goal after good work by Lloyd to steer it into the path of the young midfielder.
Lloyd was the architect when The Hatters did eventually find the breakthrough, drifting out onto the left hand side to loft a cross right into the path of the onrushing Josh Amis, who powered a welltimed header high past Spiess.
Lloyd, as County supporters will be accustomed to after seeing it so often so far in the winger’s debut season for The Hatters, quickly began popping up all over the pitch after his involvement in Amis’ nicelyworked opener, racing clear to curl an effort at goal from the edge of the area soon after – with Spiess equal to the strike to palm it away.
Alfreton did seek to apply more pressure than a flat first half for the hosts, although Hinchliffe was again largely untested in goal for The Hatters.
Lloyd wasted a huge chance to double the lead and surely seal another three points for County just after the hour mark, when Amis powered his way through the home defence to tee up The Hatters’ top goalscorer – and, with Spiess left in no man’s land after rushing out of his area to meet Amis, Lloyd somehow fired wide of the open goal with a miss which would prove costly.
Lloyd’s miss also proved to be the insult added to a quite literal injury for his side, as Amis was forced off through a nasty cut on his ankle after a late challenge in the build-up to the chance; with Gannon left angered by the unpunished foul.
As has happened so often this campaign with County’s excellent away form, the visitors again looked to have stood up tall to the second half threat of their opposition, to claim another priceless away win – but for Hearn to level in stoppage time to leave Hatters seething.
Lewis Montrose shielded a clearance out for a County goal-kick as the clock ran down, only for the officials to bizarrely signal for a corner under no Alfreton appeals – and Heard was