Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 2, 2016 14:59:13 GMT
Slight delay with this, due to my having to deal with a malfunctioning fridge-freezer after returning to Macc Towers last night!
A nice, happy read for all that, though! Enjoy... 
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COUNTY v HEDNESFORD TOWN: MATCH REPORT (01/03/2016)
By Hatter in Macc
Hatters Mine Rich Seam Of Form To Sink Pitmen
County began a new month as they had seen out the old, just three days earlier: with another victory at Edgeley Park.
In beating Hednesford, however, the Hatters looked even more convincing and won with still greater confidence than against Gainsborough over the weekend.
Winning is certainly becoming a habit once again. And last night’s three-goal salvo without reply saw Jim Gannon’s team chalk up a third consecutive maximum-points haul, as well as its fourth game in a row without conceding. (Not one… erm, leek to be found in this defence - or our bach-four, if you will - on St David’s Day!)
The day had begun in a similar vein, weather-wise, to that in early February for which the fixture had been scheduled originally - with heavy overnight and morning downpours necessitating another pitch inspection.
Happily, there were no issues with the playing surface on this occasion - albeit a touch of nervousness about the potential for an abandonment in the event of the rain’s return later… given that Referee Jonathan Hunt had also been in charge for County’s match last season at Hyde, which failed to see out monsoon conditions in its closing stages!
County’s starting line-up, as first announced, was unchanged from the 4-4-2 diamond formation that had begun the Gainsborough match. But a late change was required after Paul Connolly suffered a groin injury in the warm-up - with Jamie Menagh taking to the field, Danny Morton moving to the right back position, and Charlie Russell replacing Menagh in the dugout, ahead of kick-off.
The Hatters’ bench also included Joe Garvin, who was called up to a League-match squad for the first time since Gannon’s return - and replacing George West, following the young striker’s senior debut and award of a permanent contract last Saturday.
Hednesford’s squad included two former Hatters: Danny Glover, who, earlier in the season, had faced County while plying his trade at Telford, was named to start; and Paul ‘Charlie’ Ennis was named as a substitute.
Visiting Manager, Frank Sinclair, was also pitting himself against the Hatters on a second occasion in the campaign, and for a different club - having been in charge of Brackley, when visiting SK3, back in September. Before the night had ended, the prospect of him doing so for a third outfit before the season’s conclusion could not be completely discounted, as an announcement came through that he and by-then-bottom-placed Hednesford had gone their separate ways.
County had got off to a flyer at the weekend by taking the lead after just five minutes. And the Hatters only needed sixty seconds longer before doing likewise against their latest opponents.
What a move it was, too - featuring no fewer than five different players, and without giving the Pitmen so much as a sniff of the ball after Lewis Montrose had won it deep inside the County half. He duly passed upfield to John Marsden, who in turn found Karl Ledsham - before the latter fed Gareth Roberts, overlapping on the left flank. The Welshman’s subsequent cross was pin-point perfect for Obi Anoruo to head in, unmarked, from the edge of the six-yard box.
The County Faithful roared and purred in equal measure. Think Brazil 1970, and you’re getting at least part of the way there…
Roberts was already having a national day to remember, but he had far from finished - instigating County’s next attack, as he played the ball out to Richard Brodie on the left. Brodie’s delivery flew across the area to Menagh, whose hooked-back shot from beyond the far post was headed away from the goalmouth by George Cleet.
Ian Ormson, whose heroics with the gloves played such a key part in helping to preserve a clean sheet, and ensure victory, against Gainsborough, had, by contrast, been rather under-employed for the first quarter of an hour under the Edgeley floodlights. But he was called into action as Shelton Payne advanced on goal, and shot at an acute angle, from the left - forcing County’s Number One into a low dive to parry the effort against the near upright.
As the action reverted to Hednesford’s area, Brodie went close - connecting with a Morton free kick from the right to head goal-wards. But Dan Crane soared to clutch the ball at full stretch.
Crane was soon to have a more sustained attack on his hands, as five County attempts were thwarted in as many seconds. The visiting goalkeeper saved another header by Brodie, followed by shots from Anoruo and Marsden, before Marsden had a second effort blocked and Roberts fired over the crossbar.
Individual Hatters within sight of goal were lining up to try their luck - and next up was Montrose, whose punt from distance fizzed wide of the right post.
As the interval drew near, it seemed as if County would have to settle for going in with a one-goal lead. But, just ahead of the announcement for time added on, Morton found Brodie thirty yards out - and, with a turn and a swivel, the latter let rip with a left-footed pile-driver that hit the back of the net via the bar’s underside for his third County goal in all competitions.
By this time the rain was returning, but, among the Twelfth Man representatives, not a dampened spirit was to be found at the break. Just a touch of nervousness that conditions would not become TOO wet…
HALF-TIME: County 2 (Anoruo, 6; Brodie, 44), Hednesford 0.
The Pitmen introduced their Chester loanee, Tom Peers, upon the resumption of proceedings, and the young striker looked lively in the early stages of the second half - winning the evening’s first corner, courtesy of a low drive that Ormson deflected past the right post.
From the corner, Hednesford went closer still - as a goal-bound header from Captain, Ben Bailey, was cleared off the line by Roberts… by this stage becoming a serious contender for Welsh sainthood.
Payne skied a shot into Cheadle End orbit, before refocusing his aim with a free kick which, from thirty yards out, found its way past the County wall but only straight into Ormson’s safe clutches.
As the contest entered its closing stages, County were, for all this, looking comfortable with a two-goal cushion. And, most reassuringly, the rain had stopped, too!
The Hatters had, by coincidence, last won by three clear goals at home when entertaining the Pitmen for the previous season’s corresponding fixture, in mid-November 2014. And, with seven minutes left on the clock, they duly replicated the scoreline.
Menagh, who had performed impressively following his late call-up to the starting eleven, was the provider - delivering a free kick from the left, which Kay Odejayi, having entered the fray just four minutes earlier, headed home by the far post.
Another of the substitutes, Garvin, almost marked his return with an addition to the team’s tally in added time - but the renowned left foot directed a shot just a little too high and wide of goal.
The win takes County into tenth place. And with ten games to go, whisper it… but we could quite enjoy them!
FULL-TIME: County 3 (Anoruo, 6; Brodie, 44; Odejayi, 83), Hednesford 0.
Team: Ormson, Menagh, Roberts (Joyce, 86), Montrose, O’Hanlon, Smalley, Morton, Anoruo (Garvin, 64), Brodie (Odejayi, 79), Marsden, Ledsham.
Unused Subs: D Smith, Russell.
Man of the Match: Menagh.
Attendance: 2,289 (25 away).