It’s more away day blues for County
COUNTY slipped to a fourth away defeat of the season, with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at promotionchasing York at Bootham Crescent on Saturday.
Coming just days after the Hatters outstanding 6-0 romp over Southport at Edgeley Park, boss Jim Gannon opted for an identical line-up and formation - with the 4-4-2 diamond getting its second runout of the season.
But the show of faith in the same eleven which dominated four days prior was not repaid with a win, as first-half strikes by Simon Heslop and former County striker Amari Morgan-Smith condemned Gannon’s men to a fourth defeat on the road in five – in a loss which means County have already matched their tally of away defeats in the entire 2016/17 campaign.
York, relegated from the National League last season, have adapted well to life in the sixth tier and leapfrogged The Hatters to move into the play-off places in a win which was made “far too easy” for the Minstermen according to Gannon.
After 16 minutes, former County captain Sean Newton – taken to Edgeley Park by Gannon in 2012 – launched a long throw into the crowded County penalty area; where Heslop was lurking to poke home in front of the 770 travelling supporters.
The onlooking County supporters must be finding their side’s inconsistent start to the campaign as baffling as it is frustrating – with the Hatters looking nothing like the side which had swept aside Southport in that 6-0 thrashing.
Gannon claimed afterwards that his side “didn’t react” to York’s opener, and that notion was given even more credence when Morgan-Smith was afforded as much time as he needed to curl a delightful effort into Ben Hinchliffe’s very top corner, with Hatters defender Michael Clarke stretchered off after dislocating his kneecap in the buildup to add to County’s woes.
The gruesome injury meant Gannon had used two substitutions before the interval, also hauling off right-back Sam Minihan and later expressing his frustration with the youngster over Minihan’s apparent refusal to acknowledge a groin injury which had plagued the former Worcester man since Tuesday’s win.
County did improve somewhat, and thought they had found a route back into the game when Matty Warburton’s strike cannoned off the post and was then turned in by York defender Josh Law.
As The Hatters raced back to the centre circle, the officials consulted and eventually awarded the hosts a free-kick due to an apparent foul, leaving Gannon mystified as he later claimed that the referee had deemed it a “perfectly good goal.”
In truth, that was as close as County came to finding the net in a long afternoon for Gannon’s side, who are finding that their formidable Edgeley Park form as their only salvation so far this campaign.
Defender Stephen O’Halloran looked to be one of few to take the proceedings by the scruff of the neck in the second half, as the former Aston Villa left-back drove forward and drilled just wide of goal, with top goalscorer Oswell lurking nearby.
O’Halloran had superbly blocked two York counter-attacks as the hosts sought to kill off the tie by the time Jimmy Ball had dragged a great chance wide of goal after putting in all the hard work in the build-up, but as time ran out it became evident that it was not County’s afternoon in another off-colour away showing.
Gannon later fumed that “certain members of the squad” had been carried through the National League North season by their teammates so far, and promised that the same players would be “out of the side and out of the club” before long – especially with players returning from injury, and new signings making their way to County.
Winger Adam Thomas returned from two lengthy injury setbacks which have frustrated the 22- year- old since his move to Edgeley Park last summer, and the former Hednesford man showed signs of promise as he tormented York on the right wing late on.
Powerful midfielder Bohan Dixon also joined the club on Monday afternoon as Gannon began to implement the changes he had referenced after another dour defeat on the road – and Dixon appeared set to feature in Tuesday night’s trip to Telford, as the Express went to print.