Walker salvages Hatters point
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE COUNTY ............................ 1 EBBSFLEET UTD ............. 1
COUNTY’S recent ‘never say die’ spirit came to the fore again on Saturday, as The Hatters scored a third late goal in as many games to salvage a point against Ebbsfleet United at Edgeley Park.
With County trailing to a first-half Tomi Adeloye strike against the run of play, the rather cynical visitors were finally pegged back by a stoppage time Sam Walker free-kick to share the spoils in a lively 1-1 affair.
Walker’s late leveller proved to be The Hatters’ third stoppage time goal in as many games, with the resiliency of Jim Gannon’s side earning County no fewer than five additional points through their recent late shows.
County’s previous lastgasp winner came at Barnet the week prior, with two substitutes on that occasion in Ben Jackson and Frank Mulhern combining for the latter to prod home in a 2-1 victory - and the pair’s heroics in North London were enough to earn them a recall to the starting lineup against struggling Fleet.
The eventual hero Walker was replaced, along with striker Nyal Bell - as he and Mulhern continue their rotation in the number nine position.
A fine recent run of just one defeat in seven prior to Saturday’s clash had the Edgeley Park faithful eyeing a leap into the National League play-off positions, with County just two points off the final spot before kick-off.
And for large parts of the afternoon, it appeared that Gannon’s men would edge closer to those playoff berths, dominating possession and opportunities against an Ebbsfleet side which, despite their position in the relegation places, has enjoyed an upturn in form under new manager Kevin Watson.
Gannon appeared to very deliberately target the Ebbsfleet right early on, with the lively Tom Walker and Ben Jackson repeatedly teaming up down the Hatters left to pepper crosses into the crowded area.
And it was Huddersfield loanee Jackson who came closest early on, bursting into the box to reach Elliot Osborne’s perfectlyweighted through ball only to see his eventual stinging drive parried to safety by Harry Palmer inside the away side’s goal.
Two injuries in quick succession looked set to hamper Watson’s side in the first half - but a switch to a five-man defence shortly after soon paid off for the visitors.
Seemingly from nowhere, capitalising on a lack of cutting edge by County in front of goal, the Fleet enjoyed a short spell of pressure - with striker Alex Reid testing Ben Hinchliffe from close range, before an almighty goalmouth scramble came to nothing at the Cheadle End.
But with just over ten minutes remaining of the half, County did slip to a surprising disadvantage.
The experienced Myles Weston, the standout player for Watson’s side on the day, began the move by picking out the effective target man Gozie Ugwu on the right, with Ugwu’s pullback drilled home underneath a helpless Hinchliffe.
From there, County’s earlier buoyancy and vibrancy seemed to dissipate before the interval, whilst the away side began to display the sort of cynicism in their efforts to see out the half which drew the ire of the majority of Edgeley Park later in the second half.
Despite that, The Hatters went close to levelling just two minutes later – with last weekend’s match-winning duo linking up again.
Ben Jackson’s in-swinging corner was met at the near post by Mulhern, who planted a header against the underside of
the crossbar and away from danger.
Ebbsfleet did make it into the break unscathed, with County returning for the restart looking determined to break down their resolute guests.
Referee Gareth Rhodes continued to antagonise the home supporters, refusing to punish some rather blatant Ebbsfleet time-wasting before eventually booking goalscorer Adeloye late in the half when he openly kicked the ball into the stands before a throw-in.
Despite playing the roles of pantomime villains, Ebbsfleet must have thought they were home and dry with just minutes remaining of the clash.
The pacey Devante Rodney had tested Palmer with a stinging effort from distance, while Elliot Osborne’s apparent equaliser was ruled out due to substitute Nyal Bell running out of play before crossing into the area.
But Gannon has instilled a determination and grit into this side and once again, County saved themselves with a last-ditch strike.
Still reeling from official Rhodes’ decision to add on what County felt was a paltry four minutes of stoppage time given Ebbsfleet’s considerable efforts to wind down the clock, The Hatters won a somewhat soft free-kick when Mulhern was hauled back around 35 yards from goal.
Dead-ball specialist Walker stood over it, with the experienced midfielder ensuring that
County’s fine run of form continued into just one defeat in eight, as the former Salford man teased a delivery into the box - all the way inside the far post, in front of over 4,000 relieved Hatters supporters.
COUNTY LINE-UP (4-1-4-1): Hinchliffe, Minihan, Palmer (C.), Arthur, Garratt (Bell, 57), Keane, Rodney (Thomas, 72), Osborne, T Walker (S Walker, 57), Jackson, Mulhern.
ATTENDANCE: 4,167 (with 97 Ebbsfleet supporters).