County v Leamington: COWS Match Report (24/03/2018)
Mar 24, 2018 21:24:19 GMT
gazz and ceefer like this
Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 24, 2018 21:24:19 GMT
Job done, report done. Nicely done, County! 
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COUNTY v LEAMINGTON: MATCH REPORT (24/03/2018)
By Hatter in Macc
County Step On The Brakes To Accelerate Back Into Play-offs
The Hatters registered a first hat-trick of victories since December 2016 to reclaim the play-off-place that they had surrendered in midweek, after firing four past the ‘Brakes’ of Leamington without reply at Edgeley Park.
The contest was effectively settled a little over half an hour in, as County ran riot with a brace for Jimmy Ball sandwiching Rhys Turner’s strike. And Scott Duxbury netted a fourth late on to complete the rout.
The Hatters took to the field in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and showing one change for their last match ahead of British Summer Time. Dan Cowan was ruled out because of a virus - so Darren Stephenson, who, as coincidence would have it, had come on for Cowan as a substitute during the single-goal win against Boston in SK3 four days earlier, replaced him.
County sounded an initial declaration of intent after two minutes, as Duxbury cut in from the left before firing a shot that veteran goalkeeper Jose Veiga did well to parry. But Veiga had no chance a minute later when Ball, seizing on a misplaced pass by Junior English, raced into the box to unleash a low drive and give the Hatters an early lead.
Matty Warburton almost doubled the lead with 10 minutes on the clock, courtesy of a curling shot that struck the right post, before Turner, on 19 minutes, succeeded in doing so - having intercepted a header by visiting captain Jamie Hodd and left-footed home from 20 yards.
The visitors - clearly shell-shocked after conceding just once in their previous four matches, but also understandably weary following their long trip up to Spennymoor two days beforehand - first properly ventured upfield around the half-hour mark, when Kieron Dunbar blasted over.
But almost immediately afterwards, a second for Ball, and County’s third, followed by way of a 30-yard pile-driver. And two minutes later, Jason Oswell swivelled to fire a half-volley that grazed the crossbar.
HALF-TIME: County 3 (Ball, 3 and 31; Turner, 19), Leamington 0.
The Hatters began the second half much as they had operated throughout the first - forcing two corners at the outset, and creating a chance, from Oswell, that Veiga did well to keep out.
But, as time went on, the Brakes did make a better job of halting County’s momentum. And after 58 minutes, they themselves hit the woodwork as Dunbar’s free-kick from just beyond the Hatters’ ‘D’ bounced down off the Cheadle End bar and out of danger.
Sam Minihan’s introduction for his first match in six months and one day attracted huge applause. And the substitute could have earned himself even greater acclaim with his very first touch - but he skied over Warburton’s cross from the left.
A decidedly flatter period of play following the break was enlivened by an excellent team goal seven minutes from time. Bohan Dixon’s surging run upfield culminated in a pass out wide to fellow substitute Minihan, whose cross from the right found Oswell. And when the leading scorer’s shot rebounded off the far upright, Duxbury was on hand to tap into an empty net.
Ben Hinchliffe had enjoyed a quiet afternoon, but remained alert to parry Danny Udoh’s late bobbling effort past the left post - thereby ensuring a second successive clean sheet to accompany his team’s third win in a row.
FULL-TIME: County 4 (Ball, 3 and 31; Turner, 19; Duxbury, 83), Leamington 0.
Team: Hinchliffe, Thomas, Duxbury, Winter (Capt.) (Turnbull, 46), Clarke, Stott, Turner (Minihan, 62), Ball, Oswell, Warburton (Dixon, 76), Stephenson.
Unused Subs: O’Halloran, Ormson.
Booked: Winter.
Man of the Match: Ball.
Attendance: 3,673 (79 away).
*****************************************************************************************************
COUNTY v LEAMINGTON: MATCH REPORT (24/03/2018)
By Hatter in Macc
County Step On The Brakes To Accelerate Back Into Play-offs
The Hatters registered a first hat-trick of victories since December 2016 to reclaim the play-off-place that they had surrendered in midweek, after firing four past the ‘Brakes’ of Leamington without reply at Edgeley Park.
The contest was effectively settled a little over half an hour in, as County ran riot with a brace for Jimmy Ball sandwiching Rhys Turner’s strike. And Scott Duxbury netted a fourth late on to complete the rout.
The Hatters took to the field in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and showing one change for their last match ahead of British Summer Time. Dan Cowan was ruled out because of a virus - so Darren Stephenson, who, as coincidence would have it, had come on for Cowan as a substitute during the single-goal win against Boston in SK3 four days earlier, replaced him.
County sounded an initial declaration of intent after two minutes, as Duxbury cut in from the left before firing a shot that veteran goalkeeper Jose Veiga did well to parry. But Veiga had no chance a minute later when Ball, seizing on a misplaced pass by Junior English, raced into the box to unleash a low drive and give the Hatters an early lead.
Matty Warburton almost doubled the lead with 10 minutes on the clock, courtesy of a curling shot that struck the right post, before Turner, on 19 minutes, succeeded in doing so - having intercepted a header by visiting captain Jamie Hodd and left-footed home from 20 yards.
The visitors - clearly shell-shocked after conceding just once in their previous four matches, but also understandably weary following their long trip up to Spennymoor two days beforehand - first properly ventured upfield around the half-hour mark, when Kieron Dunbar blasted over.
But almost immediately afterwards, a second for Ball, and County’s third, followed by way of a 30-yard pile-driver. And two minutes later, Jason Oswell swivelled to fire a half-volley that grazed the crossbar.
HALF-TIME: County 3 (Ball, 3 and 31; Turner, 19), Leamington 0.
The Hatters began the second half much as they had operated throughout the first - forcing two corners at the outset, and creating a chance, from Oswell, that Veiga did well to keep out.
But, as time went on, the Brakes did make a better job of halting County’s momentum. And after 58 minutes, they themselves hit the woodwork as Dunbar’s free-kick from just beyond the Hatters’ ‘D’ bounced down off the Cheadle End bar and out of danger.
Sam Minihan’s introduction for his first match in six months and one day attracted huge applause. And the substitute could have earned himself even greater acclaim with his very first touch - but he skied over Warburton’s cross from the left.
A decidedly flatter period of play following the break was enlivened by an excellent team goal seven minutes from time. Bohan Dixon’s surging run upfield culminated in a pass out wide to fellow substitute Minihan, whose cross from the right found Oswell. And when the leading scorer’s shot rebounded off the far upright, Duxbury was on hand to tap into an empty net.
Ben Hinchliffe had enjoyed a quiet afternoon, but remained alert to parry Danny Udoh’s late bobbling effort past the left post - thereby ensuring a second successive clean sheet to accompany his team’s third win in a row.
FULL-TIME: County 4 (Ball, 3 and 31; Turner, 19; Duxbury, 83), Leamington 0.
Team: Hinchliffe, Thomas, Duxbury, Winter (Capt.) (Turnbull, 46), Clarke, Stott, Turner (Minihan, 62), Ball, Oswell, Warburton (Dixon, 76), Stephenson.
Unused Subs: O’Halloran, Ormson.
Booked: Winter.
Man of the Match: Ball.
Attendance: 3,673 (79 away).
