Stalemate for Play-off duo
COUNTY’S impressive unbeaten run extended to sixteen games in an absorbing 2-2 draw with promotion rivals Torquay United at Edgeley Park on Sunday, in a stalemate which suited the hosts much more than a Gulls side whose title hopes suffered a major blow.
In a clash moved from Saturday to be televised live on BT Sport, Macauley Southam-Hales opened the scoring with a stunning curling effort into the very top corner of the visitors’ goal, before a brace from Scott Boden either side of the interval gave Gary Johnson’s men the lead.
Talismanic defender Ash Palmer levelled midway through the second half, however, with both sides exchanging – and spurning - good chances to win a high-quality, endto-end National League affair.
Following an equally entertaining 1-1 draw with play-off chasing Dagenham at Edgeley Park on Tuesday evening, in a deadlock which allbut ended The Hatters’ title hopes, boss Simon Rusk made two changes to his starting line-up – with Tom Walker and Alex Reid replacing youngster Ryan Rydel and striker Paddy Madden, who is now potentially ruled out for the remainder of the campaign following an injury suffered off-the-ball on Tuesday night.
Torquay came to Edgeley Park needing all three points to keep the pressure on league leaders Sutton United, with both sides starting brightly to set the tone for a real slugfest.
The ever-lively Elliot Newby drifted out to the left wing and crossed for target man Harry Cardwell to head straight at Brazilian stopper Lucas in the Gulls goal, before Ben Hinchliffe at the other end denied the tricky Connor Lemonheigh-Evans from distance.
A delightful one-touch County move into Torquay’s box shortly after saw leading goalscorer Reid produce the best chance of the game when he prodded Southam-Hales’ low cross goalwards, with Lucas producing a fine point-blank stop to tip around the post.
Midway through the first half, LemonheighEvans pounced to dispossess Liam Hogan inside the County area to race clear on goal and dink over Hinchliffe, only to see his effort strike the base of the post and away from danger.
In a naturally tight affair, it seemed inevitable that the opener would come through either a moment of magic or a mistake – and the former proved to be the case ten minutes before the break.
Southam-Hales had proven to be a good outlet out on the right for County, but it was only when the Welshman cut inside onto his left foot that the opening goal came about, with the former Hartlepool wing-back curling an unstoppable effort into the very top corner of Lucas’ goal.
But, just as against Dagenham on Tuesday evening, the visitors pulled themselves level through the softest of equalisers just five minutes later.
After an initial Gulls corner was cleared, midfielder Ryan Croasdale took a heavy touch inside the area and allowed LemonheighEvans to pounce on the loose ball.
Croasdale rushed into the challenge to win the ball back, but could only bring the winger down and allow Boden to lash home the resulting penalty.
On the hour mark the
Gulls went ahead, with the pivotal LemonheighEvans this time providing the through-ball for Ben Andrews to square for Boden to grab his second from close range, after seeing his first effort cannon off the crossbar and back into his path to slot home.
This time, however, it was The Hatters who quickly pegged their visitors back, with Palmer powering home his sixth goal of the season when he met Rooney’s swirling corner and thumped past Lucas at the back post.
Southam-Hales saw a shot deflected over by Joe Lewis, while a Croasdale chip from the right was agonisingly shy of the far post, as County pushed to get back in front.
At the other end, Torquay spurned a chance when substitute Benji Kimpioka opted to square to the off-balance Lemonheigh-Evans when best placed to shoot.
As added time approached, Newby fired over from the left – before both defences held firm in the dying stages to preserve a point apiece.
For County, third place (and a home tie in the play-off semi-finals) is now firmly in their own hands as The Hatters reclaimed third spot from
Hartlepool with two games remaining – but Gary Johnson’s Gulls now face the prospect of missing out on the title following this top-class showing by both sides at Edgeley Park. Hogan ©, Palmer, J. Jennings; Southam-Hales, Croasdale, Rooney, Walker (Minihan, 83); Newby; Cardwell (Bennett, 89), Reid (Keane, 84).Subs: Fitzsimons, Maynard.
Hinchliffe;