Hatters return to
PROMOTIONCHASING County got back to winning ways this week in battling fashion, earning a hardfought 0-1 win at Colchester United on Saturday.
Kyle Wootton’s 12th goal of the season sealed all three points for The Hatters in Essex, moving Dave Challinor’s men up to fifth in League Two courtesy of a first win in four.
County could have had more, with Will Collar and Callum Camps going close either side of the interval, whilst Antoni Sarcevic rattled the frame of the goal with a stunning free-kick early in the second half.
The visitors didn’t have it all their own way, however, and are now left sweating on the fitness of key defender Fraser Horsfall, who hobbled off midway through the first half due to an ankle injury.
Wootton’s header brought about a deserved win for Challinor’s side, who ended a goal-drought which had extended beyond five and a half hours, and earned a league double over relegation-fighting Colchester.
After the disappointment of successive 0-0 draws at Edgeley Park to Doncaster and Gillingham respectively over the past week, Challinor opted for three changes to the starting line-up which had been held by Neil Harris’ Gills the Tuesday evening prior.
Ryan Croasdale, Myles Hippolyte and captain Paddy Madden were all recalled, with Madden continuing on his comeback trail from injury, with the trio replacing Jacob Davenport, Tanto Olaofe and Ryan Rydel.
The hosts, who themselves had not scored in four matches, began proceedings looking to catch the visitors cold in an extremely early flurry, as Junior Tchamadeu burst into the County area within just fifteen seconds.
But, after Tchamadeu had hit the turf, referee Declan Bourne waved away the earliest of penalty appeals.
County warmed up to the clash as time ticked on, and could have opened the scoring themselves after a quarter of an hour.
After so long without a goal, it was perhaps unsurprising that that first chance came via a set piece, with Chris Hussey’s effort striking off the Colchester wall and landing at the feet of Will Collar, who forced the close-range save via the face of goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara.
Horsfall was to be worryingly replaced after a collision with Tchamadeu just after the half-hour, with the former Northampton Town defender limping out of action just a week after returning from a lengthy injury absence.
The Hatters are continuing to assess the fitness of Horsfall as this week progresses - but on the day at Colchester, it was Horsfall’s replacement who made the difference.
Chris Hussey’s corner moments later was firmly met by substitute Ryan Johnson, who headed back across goal for the lurking Wootton to head home the winning goal just before the break
Wootton had an opportunity to double his and County’s tally in added time at the end of the first half, but after being played through on goal by Madden, Wootton could only force the save by former Hatter loanee O’Hara at the near post.
And, having ended the first half by going close to adding to a slender lead, the Hatters did likewise early in the second, with a Sarcevic free-kick agonisingly striking the inside of the left post and clearing away from danger.
Shortly after the hourmark, the hosts enjoyed a first real bright spell of the afternoon, with a header from skipper Luke Chambers turned crucially around the right post by