Paddy salvages County point
COUNTY ............................ 1 HARTLEPOOL UTD ......... 1
COUNTY snatched a late point through striker Paddy Madden’s first goal for the club, in a well-balanced 1-1 draw with secondplaced Hartlepool United at Edgeley Park on Saturday.
An all-Irish scoresheet saw midfielder Gavan Holohan head the Pools into a second-half lead in National League action, before former Fleetwood forward Madden crashed a superb late volley home to secure a well-deserved point for Simon Rusk’s men.
Madden’s classy finish extended County’s recent unbeaten run to five games ahead of an Easter Weekend double header against Aldershot and Bromley respectively, with The Hatters still holding onto fourth spot in the National League in an incredibly tight campaign.
County took to the field showing two changes from the line-up that had started in a dominant 3-0 win over play-off chasing Eastleigh at Edgeley Park in midweek – with Alex Reid being recalled and Blackpool loanee Nathan Shaw earning his full debut, in place of Harry Cardwell and Tom Walker who were both named among the substitutes.
For Dave Challinor’s Hartlepool side, former Hatter Rhys Oates was ruled out by injury after already haunting his old side in a 4-0 win over County back in December.
The entire game followed a pattern of two well-drilled sides cancelling each other out, with the opening half-hour passing before a sign of serious action in either penalty area, with Reid going to ground in the visitors’ box under a challenge by Lewis Cass – with the officials waving away County’s penalty appeals.
With eight minutes of the half remaining, a foul against Elliot Newby on the edge of Hartlepool’s ‘D’ handed County a setpiece opportunity – but Madden’s free-kick was blocked by the wall. And Reid’s low shot on the turn a few minutes later was comfortably smothered by visiting goalkeeper Ben Killip.
At the other end, Ben Hinchliffe made equally routine saves from Mark Shelton, who latched onto dangerous striker Luke Armstrong’s pullback, and eventual goalscorer Holohan with a low drilled effort from distance.
The Hatters introduced former Hartlepool wingback Macauley SouthamHales in place of the ineffective Shaw for the start of the second half, with right-back Sam Minihan shifting over to the left as Rusk rearranged.
That move looked to undo County, as Hartlepool’s opener came within two minutes of the restart down County’s left flank as Lewis Cass was allowed to burst forward and cross superbly for Holohan to place a well-timed header past a helpless Ben Hinchliffe.
Minihan was duly shifted back to the right flank as County looked to respond, with SouthamHales spurning a great chance to level against his old club as he saw an unmarked header at the back post held comfortably by ‘keeper Ben Killip.
Lively Elliot Newby twice tested the visiting ‘keeper with well-struck shots – on the first occasion, after dispossessing captain Nicky Featherstone.
With the tie boasting the two goalkeepers in the National League with the most clean sheets this season, the afternoon was never going to be one filled with goalscoring chances – but following the introduction of Scotsman Harry Cardwell up top, County looked undoubtedly more dangerous.
Cardwell made enough of a nuisance of himself late on to force SouthamHales’ long throw into the path of the lurking Madden, who thundered a first-time volley past a helpless Killip with less than fifteen minutes remaining.
Cardwell headed high and wide in added time after connecting with a free-kick from the left by fellow Chorley loanee Newby – and, in truth, a point apiece was deserved for both sides.
The late equaliser again demonstrated County’s recent resiliency and consistency, with Rusk’s men now five unbeaten.
That run looks even more impressive given that it has occurred largely without key men Mark Kitching, skipper Liam Hogan and talisman John Rooney all through various injuries.
County now look to their visit to Aldershot Town this coming Friday, with Rusk looking to earn The Hatters a first ever win at the home of The Shots.
Hinchliffe; Minihan (Stretton, 74), Keane, Palmer (C), J. Jennings; Newby, Croasdale, Collar, Shaw (Southam-Hales, 46); Madden, Reid (Cardwell, 65).