Play-off dreams
COUNTY wrapped up a frustrating Easter Weekend by seeing their National League North play-off hopes all but fade away in a 0-0 draw at relegationthreatened Worcester on Monday.
The Hatters missed the chance to move into the play-offs after being held by lowly Telford at Edgeley Park on Friday evening, and Jim Gannon’s men compounded their miserable weekend in a dour showing at the Victoria Ground on Bank Holiday Monday.
Gannon ushered in some surprising changes for the trip, with Ian Ormson replacing usual number one Ben Hinchliffe in goal, recalled youngster Max Cartwright starting at centre-back, and target man Kay Odejayi being handed a start alongside Danny Lloyd and Josh Amis.
Backed by a vociferous travelling support who were more than aware that their side’s promotion hopes hung in the balance, County failed to make any real inroads in a flat first-half – and the only danger came via the more energetic hosts, who sought to keep their noses above water in the National League North.
Lloyd charged into the penalty area early on before going down under pressure from City skipper Tyler Weir - Lloyd seemed to fall inside the area, although the Hatters freekick was awarded on the cusp of the line.
County’s twenty goal left-winger went hard and low with the set-piece, forcing ‘keeper Nathan Vaughan into palming the strike away at his near post; and, in truth, palming away County’s only chance of the first half.
As captain Mark Ross slipped on the halfway line, Worcester’s leading marksman Jordan Murphy strode clear of the trailing Hatters’ defence – only for the recalled Ormson to spring into action with a fine one-on-one save.
County struggled from some “jitters” on Friday evening according to Gannon, and the same could have been said at the Victoria Ground as the faltering play-off chasers gifted their hosts another glorious chance.
Scott Duxbury dallied in possession at the back, and the lurking Kuda Muskwe pounced before bursting into the area. Muskwe breezed around Cartwright with a clear sight on goal opening up, but the forward could only blaze wildly into the stands.
After injuries to Chris Smalley, Sam Minihan, Connor Hampson and Kaine Felix in recent weeks, The Hatters faced another blow when midfielder Harry Winter took a tumble on the dreadful surface and had to be replaced by Courtney Meppen-Walters just before the break.
Gannon confirmed afterwards that a Winter will miss County’s remaining two fixtures, and could be a doubt if County can make a miraculous dash for the play-offs.
Chances continued to come at a premium after the interval, with Worcester again spurning a big chance to take the lead as winger Cieron Keane tested Ormson with a stinging drive from just inside the area.
Murphy then almost caught Ormson out with an instant shot on the turn from long range which the County stopper was equal to, but The Hatters were quickly running out of time on the afternoon and on their league campaign.
Long balls from defence were failing to stick to target men Odejayi and Amis, but it was a bolt out of the blue which almost saved County’s season just fifteen minutes from time.
Weir rose to head clear a long Meppen-Walters free-kick, only for Scott Duxbury to collect and