County make it Six in a row
IN-FORM County rounded off a satisfying pre-season schedule by sealing a sixth win in a row, with a 2-1 win over National League North side Kidderminster Harriers at Edgeley Park on Saturday.
Jim Gannon’s side fell a goal behind midway through the first half via a deflected strike from former Hatter Amari Morgan-Smith, before goals from John Rooney and a late Nyal Bell winner either side of the interval sealed another victory for County.
Gannon and company were dealt a blow prior to kick-off, with the news that winger Jordan Williams would be ruled out for a number of weeks with a groin strain.
In his place came Mark Kitching on the left-hand side in Saturday’s starting line-up, whilst Connor Jennings replaced forward Alex Reid in the only other change to the side which grabbed a late win at York City the weekend before.
As has been the case in the majority of The Hatters’ pre-season schedule, County enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and opportunities throughout proceedings - with striker Richie Bennett going close early on with a low strike held well by the Harriers’ trialist goalkeeper.
The lively James Jennings - who’s looked a real star performer of County’s pre-season since a move from Wrexham over the summer - placed a number of dangerous crosses into good areas throughout the first half which tested the visitors’ backline, before Kidderminster struck against the run of play.
Former County striker Morgan-Smith brought down a loose ball following Ash Palmer’s clearance, and lashed a deflected half-volley past a helpless Ben Hinchliffe.
Set-piece expert Rooney curled a free-kick just past the upright from the edge of the area in response, whilst Richie Bennett got underneath a Sam Minihan cross and headed well over the crossbar.
County continued to press, and on the stroke of half-time won their first penalty since Sam Walker’s strike at Chester back in April 2019 - a first spotkick in 537 days in all competitions.
James Jennings was again at the heart of things, rolling a through ball for left winger Kitching to latch onto inside the area, only for defender Keith Lowe to hack down the former Hartlepool wing-back.
John Rooney stepped up, confidently placing the resulting penalty high
to the goalkeeper’s left to bring Gannon’s side deservedly level before the break.
With this County’s final pre-season fixture before the scheduled National League kick-off at Torquay Utd this coming Saturday (3rd October), boss Gannon stuck with the same side for the restart; opting against any further changes until later on in proceedings.
In truth, it wasn’t until Nyal Bell’s late arrival in the second-half that any real goalmouth action returned - with Bell firstly instigating a scramble inside the area following Rooney’s parried freekick, before grabbing a second late winner in as many fixtures.
Following on from the former Rochdale’s last minute winner at York last Saturday, the 23-year-old capped a fine County move to clinically sweep home Sam Minihan’s low cross high into the net in the 86th minute.
The Hatters still had time to almost fashion a third, with John Rooney cleverly dropping a shoulder and firing a fierce effort onto the post via a fingertip save - but Bell’s strike had done enough to earn Gannon’s promotion favourites another preseason win in their final outing.
Next up is that long trip to Torquay - albeit with the start of the National League season still yet to be fully confirmed as the Express went to print - before an Edgeley Park double-header the following Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon, with visits from Halifax Town and Dover Athletic. COUNTY STARTING LINE-UP (4-4-1-1): Hinchliffe; Minihan, Hogan (C), Palmer, J. Jennings; Thomas (Bell, 77), Rooney, Maynard, Kitching (Reid, 90 + 2); C. Jennings; Bennett (Keane, 83). UNUSED SUBS: Southam-Hales,