Post by hatter_in_macc on Jan 16, 2016 23:17:47 GMT
My take, for COWS, on this afternoon's events follows.
Happy (well... happier) reading!
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COUNTY v NUNEATON TOWN: MATCH REPORT (16/01/2016)
By Hatter in Macc
One Point Better Than Nun, As Hatters Break Losing Habit
The Hatters avoided defeat at Edgeley Park for the first time in over two months, by fighting back to equalize against the high-flying ‘Boro’ with just five minutes left on the clock.
It was a result that County deserved, after a much-improved showing on that which had seen them lose to bottom-placed Telford seven days earlier.
And in football, as in politics, a week can be a long time. This most recent one, for County, of course, had seen Neil Young resign and playing legend, Coach and Life President, Mike Flynn, installed as Caretaker Manager.
For his inaugural game in charge, ‘Flynny’ made four changes to the side that had started against Telford. Dean Henderson, signed earlier in the week on an initial one-month loan from Manchester United, was handed the goalkeeping gloves, and an immediate debut, in place of Ian Ormson. And Danny Morton, Glenn Rule and John Marsden replaced Paul Connolly, Abs Baggie and Jonny Margetts - the latter of whom had now returned to his parent club, Tranmere.
While not featuring in the playing squad on this occasion, Gareth Roberts was to be more than gainfully employed for the afternoon - acting as Assistant Manager, and proving a lively presence in and around the home dugout-area!
The well-tended EP turf had seen off the overnight frost, but had to brace itself for the onset of light snow flurries as the game got underway with County adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation. The opening exchanges bore witness to little action in either final third, although Marsden, playing ‘in the hole’ just behind Delial Brewster, looked to be especially industrious - and, after a quarter of an hour, constructed the game’s first attempt of note, firing wide of Nuneaton’s left post from outside the box.
But, all in all, the early stages provided little to write home about - save for Karl Ledsham’s tussle with a Cheadle End advertising hoarding that was to require two successive changes of torn or bloodied shorts during the first half.
With twenty minutes on the clock, the visitors took the lead in a manner as bizarre as it was unexpected. An innocuous-looking free kick from the halfway line drew Henderson from his line - but, rather than finding its way into the young ‘keeper’s arms, the delivery was met by Rob Duffy, whose header looped over the County defence before trickling over the line and into an empty net.
Having gone behind against the general run of play, the Hatters made a concerted effort to get back on level terms. Marsden and Brewster both unleashed shots that led to corners, while Ledsham - by now onto his third pair of shorts for the afternoon - let rip (as it were) with a thunderbolt that narrowly cleared the bar... seemingly with the assistance of Jordan Smith’s fingertips, albeit without the award of a corner.
Ledsham tried his luck again moments later - firing wide of the right post - before Morton shot narrowly over after advancing down, and cutting in from, the right.
As half-time approached, Referee, Billy Khatib, was promptly to wave away claims for an infringement in each penalty-area: firstly, after Duffy went to ground in the process of shooting straight at Henderson; and, second, when the Hatters had to content themselves with a corner, rather than a dead-ball kick from twelve yards, following a suspicion of handball amid the packed visitors’ box.
HALF-TIME: County 0, Nuneaton 1 (Duffy, 20).
The Boro started the brighter side, in increasingly snowy conditions, as play resumed. Leading scorer, Aaron Williams, was the first visiting player to set his sights on goal after the break - only to fire high into Cheadle End orbit. And right back, James Clifton, in a move resembling Morton’s first-half foray, went close with a shot that just cleared the bar.
Back fought the Hatters, and they were to do so with the help of Kay Odejayi, who was introduced to proceedings with just over an hour of the contest gone. The big substitute soon linked up well with Ledsham to set up Brewster, who shot wide of the left post - having done likewise a little earlier, after being played through by Joe Garvin.
But for Brewster, it was a case of third time lucky. Running onto a delightful flick by Odejayi, the Everton youth-loanee showed a great turn of pace before rounding Smith and slotting home for his second goal in a County shirt.
The Hatters used added time to force two further corners, as well as earning a free kick which, from thirty yards out, was well struck around the wall by Garvin but could not escape the clutches of a diving Smith.
The County Faithful will have felt no little pleasure on having watched a spirited performance - and, without doubt, a great deal of relief on having seen the Hatters gain their first point at home since sharing the spoils with Tamworth in mid-November.
Oh - and, after a break of a week, and the upheaval in between, that eighth position (first gained, interestingly enough, following the draw against Tamworth) is ours once again!
Plus ça change...
FULL-TIME: County 1 (Brewster, 85), Nuneaton 1 (Duffy).
Team: Henderson, Morton, Garvin, Smalley, O’Hanlon, Montrose, Menagh (Odejayi, 64), Rule (Russell, 86), Brewster, Marsden, Ledsham (Evans, 86).
Unused Subs: Ormson, Tonge.
Man of the Match: O’Hanlon.
Attendance: 2,823 (90 away).
Happy (well... happier) reading!
*****************************************************************************************************
COUNTY v NUNEATON TOWN: MATCH REPORT (16/01/2016)
By Hatter in Macc
One Point Better Than Nun, As Hatters Break Losing Habit
The Hatters avoided defeat at Edgeley Park for the first time in over two months, by fighting back to equalize against the high-flying ‘Boro’ with just five minutes left on the clock.
It was a result that County deserved, after a much-improved showing on that which had seen them lose to bottom-placed Telford seven days earlier.
And in football, as in politics, a week can be a long time. This most recent one, for County, of course, had seen Neil Young resign and playing legend, Coach and Life President, Mike Flynn, installed as Caretaker Manager.
For his inaugural game in charge, ‘Flynny’ made four changes to the side that had started against Telford. Dean Henderson, signed earlier in the week on an initial one-month loan from Manchester United, was handed the goalkeeping gloves, and an immediate debut, in place of Ian Ormson. And Danny Morton, Glenn Rule and John Marsden replaced Paul Connolly, Abs Baggie and Jonny Margetts - the latter of whom had now returned to his parent club, Tranmere.
While not featuring in the playing squad on this occasion, Gareth Roberts was to be more than gainfully employed for the afternoon - acting as Assistant Manager, and proving a lively presence in and around the home dugout-area!
The well-tended EP turf had seen off the overnight frost, but had to brace itself for the onset of light snow flurries as the game got underway with County adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation. The opening exchanges bore witness to little action in either final third, although Marsden, playing ‘in the hole’ just behind Delial Brewster, looked to be especially industrious - and, after a quarter of an hour, constructed the game’s first attempt of note, firing wide of Nuneaton’s left post from outside the box.
But, all in all, the early stages provided little to write home about - save for Karl Ledsham’s tussle with a Cheadle End advertising hoarding that was to require two successive changes of torn or bloodied shorts during the first half.
With twenty minutes on the clock, the visitors took the lead in a manner as bizarre as it was unexpected. An innocuous-looking free kick from the halfway line drew Henderson from his line - but, rather than finding its way into the young ‘keeper’s arms, the delivery was met by Rob Duffy, whose header looped over the County defence before trickling over the line and into an empty net.
Having gone behind against the general run of play, the Hatters made a concerted effort to get back on level terms. Marsden and Brewster both unleashed shots that led to corners, while Ledsham - by now onto his third pair of shorts for the afternoon - let rip (as it were) with a thunderbolt that narrowly cleared the bar... seemingly with the assistance of Jordan Smith’s fingertips, albeit without the award of a corner.
Ledsham tried his luck again moments later - firing wide of the right post - before Morton shot narrowly over after advancing down, and cutting in from, the right.
As half-time approached, Referee, Billy Khatib, was promptly to wave away claims for an infringement in each penalty-area: firstly, after Duffy went to ground in the process of shooting straight at Henderson; and, second, when the Hatters had to content themselves with a corner, rather than a dead-ball kick from twelve yards, following a suspicion of handball amid the packed visitors’ box.
HALF-TIME: County 0, Nuneaton 1 (Duffy, 20).
The Boro started the brighter side, in increasingly snowy conditions, as play resumed. Leading scorer, Aaron Williams, was the first visiting player to set his sights on goal after the break - only to fire high into Cheadle End orbit. And right back, James Clifton, in a move resembling Morton’s first-half foray, went close with a shot that just cleared the bar.
Back fought the Hatters, and they were to do so with the help of Kay Odejayi, who was introduced to proceedings with just over an hour of the contest gone. The big substitute soon linked up well with Ledsham to set up Brewster, who shot wide of the left post - having done likewise a little earlier, after being played through by Joe Garvin.
But for Brewster, it was a case of third time lucky. Running onto a delightful flick by Odejayi, the Everton youth-loanee showed a great turn of pace before rounding Smith and slotting home for his second goal in a County shirt.
The Hatters used added time to force two further corners, as well as earning a free kick which, from thirty yards out, was well struck around the wall by Garvin but could not escape the clutches of a diving Smith.
The County Faithful will have felt no little pleasure on having watched a spirited performance - and, without doubt, a great deal of relief on having seen the Hatters gain their first point at home since sharing the spoils with Tamworth in mid-November.
Oh - and, after a break of a week, and the upheaval in between, that eighth position (first gained, interestingly enough, following the draw against Tamworth) is ours once again!
Plus ça change...
FULL-TIME: County 1 (Brewster, 85), Nuneaton 1 (Duffy).
Team: Henderson, Morton, Garvin, Smalley, O’Hanlon, Montrose, Menagh (Odejayi, 64), Rule (Russell, 86), Brewster, Marsden, Ledsham (Evans, 86).
Unused Subs: Ormson, Tonge.
Man of the Match: O’Hanlon.
Attendance: 2,823 (90 away).
