Hatters in shaky showing
COUNTY slipped to a 3-2 defeat at AFC Telford last Tuesday.
The hosts – who had lost all five of their home fixtures before the visit of The Hatters – capitalised on another shaky defensive performance by Jim Gannon’s men.
It proved a calamitous night for County, with motorway delays on the evening meaning four players were unavailable for selection.
In a makeshift line-up and formation for Gannon’s men, the returning Adam Thomas started his first competitive fixture in 13 months – although the young winger did so in a right wing-back position due to a string of injuries and the traffic delays.
Chris Smalley, Scott Duxbury, Ben McKenna and Gary Stopforth were all left in lengthy delays due to an earlier incident.
Smalley and Duxbury both made it to the New Bucks Head ground in time to be named on the substitute bench, before both were introduced at the interval – although ironically The Hatters were more competitive before the changes.
Former County attacker John Marsden saw his header crash off Ben Hinchliffe’s crossbar early on, before Matty Warburton was adjudged to have handled the rebound on the goalline.
Warburton was spared a red card due to Connor Hampson’s presence on the goalline alongside The Hatters number ten, but Marsden confidently dispatched the spot-kick.
Warburton himself made amends when he converted Thomas’ precise cutback shortly after, but County once again went behind when Telford striker Marcus Dinanga was afforded the freedom of the penalty area to tuck away Marsden’s cross.
Debutant Bohan Dixon – making his County bow just 24 hours after joining the club from Halifax – rifled home to level proceedings before the break, but The Hatters failed to compete after the interval and slipped to a fifth away defeat in six when Tom Murphy curled home in the second half after a slip by defender Stephen O’Halloran.
“Aspects of our preparation are obviously well off at the minute, and forgetting part-time or full-time status, that has to be something we do professionally if we’re going to have a chance in games,” said Gannon.