Hatters lifeline via
ALAST-GASP wonder strike from Danny Lloyd earned the Hatters an FA Trophy replay after a 1-1 draw with Brackley Town at Edgeley Park on Saturday.
With the hosts struggling to break down Kevin Wilkin’s promotion-chasing Brackley after Steve Diggin’s opener for the visitors, star man Lloyd produced a scorching effort from the edge of the penalty area deep into stoppage time - salvaging a Second Round replay for Jim Gannon’s men (due to be played at Brackley on Tuesday night as the Express went to print).
County boss Gannon fielded an unchanged side after the excellent 2-0 away win at Boston the week before, following a week in which The Hatters acted upon their strongly worded statement rebuffing interest in a number of “key players”.
Consistent centre-half Michael Clarke penned a new deal at Edgeley Park, along with promising fullback Max Cartwright. Goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe rounded off the trio of new deals in perhaps the most crucial of the three contract extensions, whilst one of the Hatters’ standout performers also put pen to paper on a new deal just hours after the Brackley stalemate on Saturday.
Gannon has indicated that more will follow in the quartet’s footsteps, although fan favourites Lewis Montrose and Danny Lloyd are yet to sign on the dotted line amidst reported interest in the duo. County, however, have remained defiant so far with no bids believed to have been made – and it was the pairing of Montrose and Lloyd who were again prominent in the dramatic late draw.
Wilkin’s Brackley came into the Trophy clash as arguably the only side to have bested The Hatters over a full 90 minutes so far this campaign after their 4-2 triumph at Edgeley Park in August, with the visitors defying all expectations in the National League North to find themselves on the cusp of the play-off positions.
County have been visibly improving ever since that humiliating defeat, however, and a finely-balanced - albeit scrappy first-half showed that there would be no repeat of the August score-line for the 1,605 in attendance.
Lloyd openly admitted afterwards that the afternoon was one of his less impressive appearances in a County shirt, and during a frustrating first half for the left winger, The Hatters’ best chances came via Jimmy Ball and full-back Scott Duxbury.
A threaded pass by Montrose found Sam Minihan, typically burgeoning down the right, for a cross to the back post where Kay Odejayi chested down perfectly for midfielder Ball in front of goal; the youngster’s fizzed half-volley tipped wide by Brackley stopper Laurie Walker.
Lloyd wasn’t to be kept completely quiet, however, as he saw a strong appeal for a penalty denied early on.
The 25 year-old skipped effortlessly around Alex Gudger and into the Brackley penalty area, only for the raised arm of Gudger to halt Lloyd in his tracks. The official appeared to put the whistle to his lips after Lloyd’s frantic appeal, before signalling for a goal kick as The Hatters fumed.
Good work from Ball followed, as he popped up on the left to feed Duxbury on the edge of the area, with youngster Duxbury cleverly letting the ball run across to his weaker right foot before firing a fierce effort at goal, which Walker was again equal to with a strong palm behind.
Brackley, who host The Hatters in a vital league fixture at the end of the month, soon began to show why they find themselves just one place behind County in the National League North table however, with Gudger racing forward to fire a dipping volley over Hinchliffe’s crossbar.
The half-time whistle was sounded as the visitors began to threaten, and The Saints capped their improvement straight after the interval with the opening goal.
Ball carelessly conceded possession on halfway, and as a frustrated Gannon immediately signalled for John Marsden to replace the young midfielder, Brackley strode forward to find top goalscorer Steve Diggin inside the area, who made it 15 goals for the season with a cool finish inside Hinchliffe’s near post.