County move up the table despite being
THE Hatters’ second home match in three days saw them earn another point, albeit again without troubling the scorers.
They will, without doubt, have been disappointed not to secure all three, following a contest they dominated in terms of both possession and chances – and during which both Tanto Olaofe and Kyle Knoyle struck the opposition’s woodwork.
County took to the field showing just one change from the starting line-up at EP against Doncaster. Neill Byrne was recalled to the back three – replacing Akil Wright, who dropped to the bench. The ‘Gills,’ for their part, included among the starters midfielder Ethan Coleman, who had turned out for County as a trialist during the 2020 close season.
In the course of the opening 10 minutes, Ryan Rydel sent over a couple of deliveries – the first a corner, the second a cross – from the left, which narrowly evaded the respective heads of Fraser Horsfall, who was continuing to act as captain, and Kyle Wootton. Chances then remained at an absolute premium until two minutes before the half-hour mark, when another Rydel cross from the same flank found Will Collar, who headed beyond the far post.
Having played provider on three occasions, Rydel cut in from the left to unleash, a shot of his own, which visiting goalkeeper Glenn Morris did well to grasp – before Jacob Davenport was teed up by Antoni Sarcevic on the edge of the box to fire directly at Gillingham’s Number One.
With the break three minutes away, Olaofe produced the best effort of the half – courtesy of a