Prove costly
hacked off the line.
The lively Newby saw two efforts from distance saved as time ran out for County, while James Jennings cannoned a last minute free-kick into the big Weymouth wall.
After holding onto their lead for 86 mins, the hosts successfully saw out three minutes of stoppage time to claim the three points on a frustrating afternoon for The Hatters.
The focus for Rusk and company switches to another busy week in the
National League, with Tuesday’s scheduled trip to Solihull Moors – a place where The Hatters have found goals and points hard to come by down the years – quickly followed by the visit of struggling Dagenham to Edgeley Park on Saturday.
The reverse fixture in January saw goals by Alex Reid and Richie Bennett give The Hatters all three points in Jim Gannon’s final fixture in charge of the club, with things certainly looking a lot different around the club since that outing.
After more frustration and inconsistency on the road, Rusk and company will be hoping for a marked change in fortunes in a big week to come. COUNTY LINE-UP (4-4-2): Hinchliffe; Minihan, Palmer (Bennett, 76), Hogan ©, J. Jennings; Newby, Croasdale, Collar, Walker (Keane, 57); Reid, Dalby (Cardwell, 46).
COUNTY boss Simon Rusk admitted that his side need to see the goals “flying in sooner rather than later”, as The Hatters fell to a surprise 1-0 defeat on the road at lowly Weymouth in National League action.
Andy Dallas’ early strike gave The Terras all three points and secured a memorable league double over The Hatters, following their 1-2 win at Edgeley Park on Halloween last year.
Dominance in possession and an improved second half performance was not enough to salvage anything from the game for Rusk’s men, who suffered a familiar tale of an inconsistent ninety minutes and a lack of a cutting edge in the final third.
“I’m really disappointed with aspects of the performance. We’ve been punished for a slow start - the goal gives all the advantage to Weymouth and gives them something to hang on to,” reflected Rusk.
Dallas’ fourth minute strike for the hosts proved the match-winner following a move which saw the striker inexplicably allowed to stroll into the County area – and despite a number of good chances in the second half, The Hatters were unable to respond.
“There’s been a mistake at the back, and it’s been punished,” said Rusk.
“We have to do better. The disappointment for me is that the goal comes early, we go on to have enough pressure that we should score, but we haven’t done, and we have to address that.”
Watford loanee Sam Dalby continued up top alongside Alex Reid, but it wasn’t until the introduction of Chorley loanee Harry Cardwell in the second half that The Hatters really tested the Weymouth defence.
Dalby has struggled for consistency despite a string of starts for the youngster, whilst Cardwell looked somewhat of a threat and came close to levelling with a backheeled effort hacked off the goalline in the second half.
For Rusk, however, the drying up of goals for The Hatters in recent weeks is something which will rectify itself “sooner rather than later”.County travel to Solihull on Tuesday evening looking for an immediate response, before the visit of struggling Dagenham to Edgeley Park on Saturday.
Meanwhile, The Hatters again moved to add to their ever-increasing squad this week with the double signing of loan pair Nathan Shaw and Jack Stretton from Blackpool and Derby respectively.
The young duo put pen to paper on initial one month loan deals on Monday, twenty four hours prior to County’s scheduled visit to Solihull on Tuesday evening as the Express went to print.
Shaw, who recently enjoyed a loan spell at National League North side AFC Fylde prior to the curtailment of the sixth tier, and Stretton, who comes highly rated from Wayne Rooney’s Derby side, join Tom Walker, Will Collar, Sam Dalby, Harry Cardwell and Elliot Newby in linking up with The Hatters since Simon Rusk’s arrival at the club.
Young Watford loanee Dalby looks set to re-join his parent club at the conclusion of his one month loan spell next week, whilst The Express understands that The Hatters are continuing to seek a more experienced goalscoring forward as soon as possible to bolster the club’s promotion ambitions.
Fleetwood Town forward Paddy Madden has been increasingly linked with a move to County in recent weeks, although the club appear to be keeping their options open in the hunt for another new face through the doors at Edgeley Park.
‘We should score, but we haven’t done, and we need to address that’