Full timers given run for their money

COUNTY gave title favourites AFC Fylde a scare at Edgeley Park, where Danny Rowe’s 98th minute free-kick earned the Coasters a 2-1 win.

Dan Bradley had provided Dave Challinor’s league leaders with the lead in the first half, before Scott Spencer looked to have earned County a fully deserved point with a 92nd minute leveller.

But, after substitute Kay Odejayi had needlessly barged Dom Collins over, the National League North’s top goalscorer Rowe stepped up to curl home a 25 yard free-kick to break Hatters’ hearts.

County came firing out of the blocks early on, with the improving Josh Amis trying his luck and seeing his effort fizz wide after a Danny Lloyd flick-on.

Whilst the hosts were imposing themselves on The Coasters in terms of chances and attempts on goal, Fylde were imposing themselves physically on County - with a number of first half fouls going unpunished.

Defenders Danny Holmes and Dom Collins were both eventually booked for heavy late challenges, but arguably even worse was to come from Collins on a controversial evening at Edgeley Park.

John Marsden thundered an effort against the post as County again went close, so Bradley’s strike just minutes later was even more of a sickener for the in control Hatters.

From a County corner kick, the impressive Bohan Dixon charged forward and found himself in plenty of space to pick out the unmarked Bradley - with the recent signing from Alfreton scoring his second of the season against The shatters, chipping coolly over Ben Hinchliffe.

Dixon then strode past four County challenges and into the area only to see his effort blocked by Hinchliffe, as Fylde enjoyed a late flurry to end the first half.

Many around the ground would have been forgiven for expecting full-time side Fylde to overcome County’s high energy first half, but The Hatters continued to have their counterparts on the ropes for the majority of a second half which would eventually end on 101 minutes after a controversial stoppage.

Amis was leading the line admirably for the hosts, and could have had his second of the season as his back post header was kept out well by Thompson, before Michael Clarke saw his powerful header kept out.

Lloyd volleyed just over on the spin as Thompson quickly retreated, with County giving their visitors no time to settle - but a ten minute stoppage shortly after would do just that for Challinor’s men.

A Mark Ross cross came into the box, and as full-back Scott Duxbury leapt to head at goal, Fylde’s Collins came charging out to clatter into the County defender and leave Duxbury unconscious. The youngster was eventually stretchered off after a lengthy stoppage, with Duxbury later confirming he had suffered concussion and bruising to the face from the challenge - but there would be no further punishment for Fylde or Collins, with the official deeming the challenge a clash of heads.

The stoppage may usually have taken the wind out of County’s sails somewhat, but a huge sense of injustice around the stadium seemed to spur the hosts on - and substitute Spencer turned and fired home a crisp strike low past Thompson to seemingly earn a point in injury time.

But Rowe, kept quiet for much of the evening by The Hatters’ defence, would step up to fire home another excellent set piece to cruelly deny County a hard-fought and fully merited point.

Expectations were seemingly low amongst many of the Edgeley Park support prior to kick-off, but the evening ended with rapturous applause from the home faithful after a spirited performance by Jim Gannon’s men, despite Rowe’s late blow.