Leaders snatch
COUNTY were denied a big win in the National League North by a lastgasp Salford City equaliser in a pulsating 2-2 draw at Edgeley Park on Saturday.
Jason Oswell grabbed his 22nd goal of a remarkable campaign with a bullet header past Max Crocombe in the first half, before Jack Redshaw levelled for the league leaders after the break.
Substitute Bohan Dixon stroked The Hatters into a late lead just thirteen seconds after replacing Adam Thomas with eight minutes left on the clock, only for impressive full-back Michael Nottingham to cruelly deny Jim Gannon’s side a win which would have taken County into the play-off spots for the first time since September.
A bumper gate of 5,129 inside a buoyant Edgeley Park would have left the ground thinking that a draw was the fairest result on the balance of an enthralling 90 minutes, but with County leading up until the third minute of stoppage time, title favourites Salford were left thanking their lucky stars for the leveller – albeit one which only served to continue a miserable run of just one win in five for the National League North pace-setters.
Gannon opted once more for his favoured 4-23-1 line-up, with an unchanged starting eleven from that which saw off struggling Alfreton in a 3-1 win on New Year’s Day.
The only change in the sixteen-man squad, in fact, from the comfortable win at the Impact Arena saw new boy Rhys Turner – back at Edgeley Park on a loan deal until the end of the season – replace winger Ben McKenna on the substitute bench.
Salford welcomed a new addition of their own, with former Hatter Tom Walker starting for the Ammies at left-back after joining from FC United in midweek.
Joint Salford bosses Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley had promised a fast start by the visitors as they sought a first ever win at Edgeley Park, but in truth the opening quarter was a tentative affair, with both sides feeling their way into the game.
Salford came into the local derby on a run of just one win in four, having taken just one point from a possible six in the festive double header against neighbours FC United – whilst the Hatters were enjoying a run of just one defeat in twelve in all competitions.
The quality of the bigspending league leaders became evident in a number of forays into County territory, but Gannon’s backline – marshalled superbly by the in-form Chris Smalley at the heart of the defence – were able to keep the Ammies at bay.
And on the half-hour mark, Oswell made the visitors pay for a lack of killer instinct when Gary Stopforth’s quick thinking got Scott Duxbury away down the left – and the young full-back was able to expertly stand the cross up for the lurking Oswell to nod down past Crocombe.
The goal jolted County into life, and the everimproving Darren Stephenson drilled just wide of the far upright soon after before the same player leapt highest in a packed penalty area to flick goalwards and see a deft header tipped over by Crocombe.
But County’s Achilles heel this campaign has been a failure to convert chances into match-winning goals - despite one of the highest goal-scoring records in the league. So, despite holding a slender lead as the second half got underway, the biggest moment of the game came and went without a crucial second for the home side.
Former Salford midfielder Stopforth found himself in acres at the back post just thirty seconds into the restart, and after Oswell flicked on