So far, so good for Hatters
COUNTY’S impressive pre-season continued at pace this week, as The Hatters secured further back-toback wins over National League North sides – following up Tuesday evening’s thrashing of Guiseley with a 1-0 win over promotion hopefuls York City.
An unlikely first half hat-trick from left-back James Jennings set Jim Gannon’s side on their way to a first ever victory at Nethermoor last Tuesday night, before secondhalf goals from Richie Bennett and John Rooney sealed a big 5-1 win.
Victory in Yorkshire was swiftly followed up with a deserved late 1-0 win over York on Saturday, in what is expected to be the final ever match hosted at Bootham Crescent – with the hosts set to move to a new community stadium for the start of their National League North campaign.
Nyal Bell struck in the final minute of proceedings against Steven Watson’s men to seal Jim Gannon’s side their fifth pre-season win in a row, in a fixture kept private by the hosts due to concerns that home supporters would seek to attend Bootham Crescent for the final time.
After Jennings’ scoring exploits the Tuesday evening prior, boss Gannon opted for three changes to the side which started in the goal glut at Nethermoor, with Sam Minihan, Adam Thomas and Alex Reid all coming in, and new boy Macauley SouthamHales, Jordan Keane and Connor Jennings dropping to the bench.
Following a rapid start in the fixture at Guiseley, in which Jennings opened the scoring after a solitary minute, The Hatters almost had the dream start at York to follow – only for striker Richie Bennett to remarkably hit the woodwork twice in the opening minute.
Jordan Williams, deployed as a left wingback on the day, carved out the opening firstly to feed Bennett who saw an instinctive effort cannon off the crossbar and away, before Bennett again rose to meet John Rooney’s corner and see his welltimed header thud off the foot of the far post.
Rooney, one of County’s more ‘big money’ signings over the summer under the ownership of Mark Stott, continued to impress as pre-season draws to a close, controlling much of the play from midfield and seeing a curling effort tipped away by the hosts goalkeeper moments later.
The home side grew in confidence, possession and chances as the half rolled on, although Jake Cassidy was unable to force his way past County stopper Ben Hinchliffe just before the interval.
County continued in the same vein after the break, although they had Hinchliffe to thank for keeping the scores level almost instantly after the restart; Harry Bunn’s deflected effort striking Ash Palmer and flying goal-wards, only for the wrong-footed Hinchliffe to claw the ball over the crossbar.
Rooney again was at the heart of County danger as he saw a deft backheel cleared off the goal-line late on, before sub Bell grabbed his first pre-season goal as he diverted the ball in from close-range following a scramble inside the six-yard box.
With just two minutes left, Bell’s goal capped a solid cameo, handing Gannon and company yet another win ahead of this Saturday’s final pre-season fixture, with Kidderminster Harriers travelling to Edgeley Park.
Dependent on government guidelines, the National League season will then kick off on Saturday 3rd October with the long journey to Torquay
United – although the National League themselves have reportedly reemphasised to clubs this week that the fifth-tier season will not begin until spectators are able to attend.