Positives for
Harry Tomlinson takes a look back at the highs and the lows of County’s 2014/15 Conference North campaign
IT was a seaon in which the Hatters ultimately fell short of delivering their early promise – but in the final analysis there are positive aplenty for Alan Lord’s replacement, whoever he may be.
County began their second season in the Conference North with a renewed sense of optimism as new faces came in to supplement an already solid squad.
The retirement of Phil Jevons, taking his 19 goals with him, and the loss of Kyle Jacobs to Chorley were blows but all in all, Alan Lord’s summer dealings looked to have bolstered the squad.
Another goalscorer was signed – Scott Spencer joined from recentlyrelegated Hyde and an experienced goalkeeper in Danny Hurst joined from Southport.
The County faithful did what they usually do, the crowd of 2,741 the biggest in the league by some way on opening day.
However, a 1-0 defeat to North Ferriby followed by a 3-0 loss at play-off finalists Guiseley was not in the script and Lord found his side goalless and pointless after the first two matches.
Still, an impressive 1-0 win at Tamworth followed and a good run of form saw the Hatters in the play-off spots by October.
In cup action, notable wins away at Harrogate and at home to an effective Ilkeston side in the FA Cup set up a tasty home tie against Conference National side Chester, whose new guise County had yet to face.
The match was keenly anticipated as it harked back to brighter days in the Football League and a crowd of 4,612 turned out to see the Cheshire rivals battle it out for a chance to draw the likes of Bristol City, Preston North End and Sheffield United in the first round.
However, ex-Hatter Sean McConville played his part in giving Chester a 2-0 lead at half-time before a stunning five minutes became the highlight the season for many of the County faithful.
Lord brought on winger Nathan Woolfe at halftime and within minutes he picked out Kristian Dennis with a 50-yard ball over the defence and it was 2-1. Moments later, Spencer turned a man on the corner of the box and let fly the goal of the season to send the fans into raptures, a real reminder of days back in the Football League.
Unfortunately, Chester went on to win, leaving County to focus on FA Trophy action which began well with a win against Colwyn Bay and a trip to Ramsbottom where County ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Another juicy tie against Wrexham followed but County were unable to hold onto a 2-0 half-time lead and were beaten in the replay.
The league table was still promising though and in general the season was shaping up nicely as County made it to the halfway stage with strong play-off aspirations thanks in part to a 3-0 win at home to Hednesford which was seen by many as the best of the season. Lee Stevenson, Richie Baker and Milligan were on the scoresheet as County rose to fifth.
Sadly, those late autumnal and early winter days were to prove the best of the campaign – the squad struggled to recapture them in the new year.
The goal against Hednesford would be the influential Milligan’s last for the club as he joined Harrogate a month later and County began to struggle in midfield.
Mixed results throughout January left the Hatters off the pace in tenth heading into a pair of local derbies against Staybridge and Hyde.
Although lowly opposition at the time, Stalybridge manager Keith Briggs was a familiar face at Edgeley Park and his side were impressive as County had to rely on an injury-time winner from Woolfe to claim the points.
A comfortable 2-0 win over Hyde a week later meant County were in eighth spot, just a couple off the pace on the back of two crowds which topped 3,000.
In what became an unfortunate characteristic of the season, the Hatters could not follow up those results and suffered a disappointing defeat in Yorkshire to Bradford Park Avenue and the momentum was lost. County limped over the line with just three wins from the final 13 games, Lord stepping aside from his role as manager to become director of football following a 3-1 defeat at home to Gainsborough Trinity.
So what next for the Hatters? Expectations may not have been met and the poor run-in is a concern for the future. But the impending appointment of a new manager is set to determine what is a big year for the club.
An impressive shortlist has been drawn up by the club, who have placed on record the target of promotion.