Gaffer’s plotting to better ‘special year’
COUNTY boss Jim Gannon reflected on a “special year” for The Hatters, as his side continued their fine end to 2019 with a thumping win over Chorley at Edgeley Park.
After going a goal down early on to the struggling Magpies, The Hatters followed up on last week’s 5-1 demolition of Torquay at Plainmoor by storming to a 4-2 win over the Lancashire outfit on Saturday.
County take a break from league action to host National League North outfit Blyth Spartans in the first round proper of the FA Trophy this weekend at Edgeley Park.
The Hatters enjoyed an impressive Trophy campaign last season, reaching the semi-finals where a last-gasp Fylde winner denied the National
League North champions a trip to Wembley - and Gannon looks set to once again take the competition seriously.
The County boss may look to utilise the rest of his squad for the cup tie, and admitted that he will have further work to do in the New Year to rebalance his squad.
Salford duo Devante Rodney and Tom Walker have made a big impact since joining on loan from The Ammies, while leftback Tyler Garratt has helped solidify the County defence since joining on a short-term deal until January - and Gannon suggested that he is ‘keen’ to work on possible extensions for the trio.
The Hatters legend also reflected on a ‘momentous’ year for him and his side, having become the most successful manager in the club’s history as he guided County to title glory in the summer, before leading his side into the National League play-off race - just six months into County’s first season back in the division in six years.
“I’ll talk to Salford on Devante and Tom, but as we know, it’s not always in our hands with things like this,” he said. “We’ve got work to do in January, and obviously Tyler Garratt’s deal is up too - but we’ve got time to work on these things.
“Regardless of that, I’ve spoken with the lads on how 2019 was a special year for us, and now I just hope that 2020 is even better - we all want Football League football here again.
“I have a vision for this club, and we’re all working extremely hard to see it through.”
The latest three points keeps Gannon’s side neck and neck with a number of other clubs around the National League play-offs following an impressive run of just two defeats in their last eleven league outings.
“Huge credit to the lads, because they keep going about their job so professionally. Chorley are a strong side within the shape that they play with some good attacking players, so hopefully our fans noticed the difference in things we’ve been working on in training paying off on the day.
“I still trusted that we had more to add to the game (at 1-0 down), and I felt that we had the potential to score every time we went forward.
“I hope the fans left the ground enjoying the win, enjoying where we’re at in the league, and where we have the potential to be going forward.”
In-form Nyal Bell capped a flowing team move - involving seventeen passes with everyone but defender Ash Palmer touching the ball - to level proceedings on the halfhour against last season’s National League North title rivals, before cult hero Festus Arthur grabbed his first league goal for the Hatters on the stroke of half-time.
Defender Arthur has enjoyed a meteoric rise into the County first team under the tutelage of a renowned developer of young players in Gannon, and the Irishman was quick to praise his young centre-back after another eye-catching performance.
“I thought Festus had scored a hat-trick the way he ran off with the ball!
“He’s a great lad - he’s always raising morale, always enthusiastic challenging the likes Devante Rodney to 100 yard sprints, challenging lads to bench press him. He’s never going to win that sprint though!”
Striker Bell helped himself to his fourth goal in six as he burst past Chorley skipper Andy Teague in the second half to put the Hatters 3-1 ahead, before Tom Walker capped the afternoon with a rasping effort from 25 yards.
A late consolation failed to take the shine off another electric attacking display by Gannon’s men, with the former Northwich chief reserving a mention for his current man in form.
“I only get frustrated with players like Nyal because I know what they’re capable of and the ability they have. Both our strikers are in really good form, so I’m really pleased with where we’re at in that regard. Frank (Mulhern) may be frustrated that he’s not in the side at the moment, but his moment will come around.
“We also have to remember that they’re both young lads and ‘confidence’ players.
“I’ve told Nyal again and again that my money would be on him being the top goalscorer in the league if he believed in himself.”