Jamie bows out with gem
COUNTY’S promotion tilt rolled on last weekend, as The Hatters came from behind to edge a hardfought 2-1 win at struggling FC United.
Departing loanee Jamie Stott proved to be the hero, bundling home in the last minute in front of an ecstactic away support of over 800 at Broadhurst Park, coming after Frank Mulhern had cancelled out Kurt Willoughby’s opener.
It was a fairytale farewell for youngster Stott, recalled by parent club Oldham Athletic at the end of his loan spell at Edgeley Park - with the 21 year-old receiving a standing ovation and a guard of honour from his Hatters teammates at the final whistle.
County took to the field at the home of the lowly Red Rebels boasting the same starting 4-2-3-1 lineup for the third successive match, and the one which had also edged past Leamington 1-0 last Tuesday evening via a Darren Stephenson header.
In truth, County were largely in control throughout a battling affair against their out-of-form opposition, who sit entrenched in a relegation battle despite taking an early lead.
Top goal scorer Willoughby, who had scored FC United’s consolation in a 5-1 at Edgeley Park on the opening day of the campaign, struck the early blow, latching on to a long ball ahead of skipper Ash Palmer, before cutting in from the left to fire past Ben Hinchliffe and into the top-right corner just over the sprawling Stott on the goalline.
The Hatters are in the midst of a lengthy unbeaten run, and have only failed to salvage a result from a 1-0 deficit on just three occasions this season.
And the visitors looked full of confidence throughout despite the early setback, with Stephenson and the star man Matty Warburton both going close in response.
The hosts did come close with a rare foray forward against a leggy County defence before the break, with Sam Minihan clearing off the goalline after Willoughby had raced clear of the Hatters backline.
And just before the interval, County we’re on level terms having stepped up the intensity on the stroke of halftime.
Palmer’s goal-bound header was excellently saved by Allinson, before Mulhern picked up the rebound and chipped over the helpless goalkeeper from the left hand side of the area.
From there, the in-form visitors were favourites to go on and win the tie albeit with few inside Broadhurst Park expecting the winner to come quite so late.
The hosts earned their first corner within two minutes of the restart – and came close to getting
their noses back in front from it, as Whitham headed on the delivery from the left, but saw his effort brilliantly kept out by Hinchliffe at the near post.
County, from that point, moved into the ascendancycourtesy of several opportunities which saw Mulhern head over a Walker corner, Stephenson fire into the right sidenetting, and Jordan Keane blast over from the edge of the area.
Another former Hatter, Chris Sharp, was introduced for the hosts alongside former captain Harry Winter and defender Steve O’Halloran – and he looked to prove a point against his former side, going for goal twice in as many minutes with fierce efforts palmed to safety by Hinchliffe.
With fewer than 10 minutes remaining, the Hatters went close, as Mulhern’s free-kick from 25 yards was punched over by Allinson, before Walker bundled a chance just shy of the right post.
But, after 88 minutes, with the frustration rising - and league leaders Chorley thumping York City 4–1 away from home Walker, for the second time in the match, launched a dead-ball delivery that led to a goal.
His corner from the right was headed clear to the lively Sam Minihan, who half-volleyed the loose ball back over his own head into the path of Palmer, who nodded on for Stott to bundle home at the jubilant away end.
Time ran out for the deflated home side, and the attention turned swiftly towards the departing Stott, who soaked in the adulation of both the away fans and his teammates owing to a stellar run of form since his loan move from Boundary Park.
Boss Gannon moved quickly to replace Stott with Fleetwood loanee Lewis Baines for the rest of the season - but Stott had ensured that a lasting impression was made with his former club.
COUNTY LINE-UP: Hinchliffe, Minihan, Duxbury, Keane, Palmer (C), Stott, Thomas (Cowan, 66), Walker, Mulhern, Warburton (Osborne, 82), Stephenson (Kirby, 74). ATTENDANCE: 2,987 (808 County fans)