Two points dropped for shot-shy side
A BIT of an odd week for County – we had a Tuesday off!
On what should have been our game against Macclesfield we could all sit back and watch from a distance as our promotion rivals had a mixed set of results.
Saturday arrived and it seemed the north was under cold skies, games called off all over the place and in divisions higher than the National League.
We were one of only three games on in our division.
Part of me was disappointed that the game actually took place given the performance and result!
It was an early start for the ground staff, removing covers, heaters and lights took a few hours and even then we had to wait for the referee to give his seal of approval, we even had one of the security staff spending the night at EP just to keep an eye on the gas heaters.
There was no doubt that the pitch in front of the Pop side was “firm”, with no sun on it, it always is but the ref was OK with it and I have to say that the fact the game took place at all was down to a real team effort.
The game its self wasn’t exactly exciting.
Aldershot, without ever causing Ben Hinchliffe any problems were a handful, they came with a game plan to spoil our play and they did it with some effect, we had the lion’s share of possession, corners, shots both on and off target but the game ending 0-0 was of no surprise to anyone especially after Ritchie Bennett missed from four yards out when it looked easier to score and then John Rooney, given the golden chance of a penalty, hits the tamest of shots that was comfortably saved.
Their keeper had done his homework and got to the ball with both hands so you have to credit him with the save rather than John with a miss but even so, we dropped two points at home to a very average side whose reaction at the final whistle said it all.
Away from home we’re so dominant while at EP we look troubled for some reason and I’ve no idea why.
Hopefully the addition of Will Collar and Tom Walker will settle things down in the mid-field.
There’s no problem at the back Hogan, Palmer, Stott, J Jennings, Minihan, Kitching in whatever combination are hard to beat.
The main problem seems to be up front.
We pass rather than shoot, there’s a lack of coordination between the front two, I’m sure Rusk has his eye on everything but if we’re serious sbout promotion we can’t be dropping points at home to teams like Aldershot.