Thomas puts on a show for travelling fans
COUNTY eased to a second successive pre-season win on Saturday, with Adam Thomas starring as The Hatters won 2-0 at Colne – in a fixture which saw the return of spectators for Jim Gannon’s side.
Northern Premier League North outfit Colne were able to welcome 400 supporters in Lancashire thanks to government guidelines on crowds at ‘non-elite’ sporting events, with around 200 County supporters making the short trip for The Hatters’ fourth pre-season outing.
And those in attendance saw two first-half goals seal County’s win, as winger Thomas set up an own goal by an unfortunate Colne trialist, before Thomas himself headed Jamie Stott’s cross inside the far post on the stroke of half-time.
Boss Jim Gannon stuck with the same side which deservedly edged past League Two side Salford City 1-0 at Edgeley Park ten days earlier, with former Barrow forwards Richie Bennett and Jordan Williams continuing to renew their old partnership in attack for The Hatters.
Trialist Fraser Preston, recently released by Sheffield Wednesday, took a place on the bench – as did goalkeeper Josh Barnes, who penned a one-year deal at the club after a successful trial period in County’s first three pre-season fixtures.
Former Reading midfielder Ethan Coleman, who had played in the second half of each friendly before the Colne trip, had left The Hatters in the week at the conclusion of his trial period – with National League North side Brackley expected to add the central midfielder to their ranks.
Former Barrow skipper John Rooney dominated possession in the early stages alongside midfield partner Lois Maynard, with County fans catching a first glimpse of many of their side’s new summer signings.
And it was Rooney who went closest after ten minutes, cutting inside and seeing a fierce swerving effort tipped over by welltravelled goalkeeper Hakan Burton in the Colne goal.
Burton continued to impress, going on to make a stunning save as Jordan Williams looked to head Richie Bennett’s cross home from close-range – with Burton racing across his goal and palming Williams’ effort around the post.
After a period of domination for The Hatters, it was the hosts who actually spurned two glorious opportunities to break the deadlock shortly after – firstly as former County midfielder Charlie Russell scuffed a close-range effort straight at Ben Hinchliffe, before striker Samizadeh rounded Hinchliffe from distance and saw his goal-bound effort hacked off the line by the retreating Liam Hogan.
From there, Gannon’s side weren’t to be denied, as Thomas linked up well with Connor Jennings on the right before crossing low into a good area, where Colne’s trialist fullback could only divert past Burton for the opener five minutes before the interval.
There was still time for Thomas to double that lead on the stroke of the half, as the former Hednesford man came inside to head defender Stott’s pinpoint cross inside the far post and past the despairing dive of Burton.
Gannon continued to give opportunities to his entire squad, opting for nine changes at the break – with goalkeeper Barnes, Sam Minihan, Mark Kitching, Jordan Keane, Harvey Gilmour, trialist Preston, Alex Reid, Nyal Bell and former Colne favourite Alex Curran all entering the fray.
Technical midfielder Gilmour, currently on a short-term deal at the club, saw a free-kick from range curl narrowly over the crossbar, before trialist Preston twisted and turned on the edge of the area and saw his low drive well held.
Chances were at a premium after the first-half, however – and County saw out the second half to seal the win back in front of supporters for the first time since a trip to Maidenhead on the 14th March.
Up next for Gannon’s side is a return to Edgeley Park this Saturday as National League North outfit Curzon Ashton make the trip to Stockport, before County travel to Guiseley – also of the sixth tier – on Tuesday evening.
Hinchliffe, Thomas, Stott, Palmer, Hogan, J Jennings, Maynard, Rooney, C Jennings, Williams, Bennett.
Barnes, Minihan, Palmer, Hogan, Kitching, Keane, Gilmour, Trialist, Curran, Reid, Bell.