Brackley Town 0 County 1 ( Conference North ) 28 February 2015
County
delighted their following at St James` Park, with a well crafted performance
that saw them come away with all the points against a Brackley Town team
containing Frank Sinclair.....someone not unknown to County fans!
The score
line, at 1-0, probably hints at a close run thing, but concluding that would be
an error, as County controlled matters pretty much throughout- reverting to
five at the back with noticeable success.
For the blues, Lees and
O`Halloran ,were joined by Connor
Hancock in a back three, with Jacobs and Todd pushed slightly forward on the
flanks, and back in a 5, when required. With Hancock continuing his impressive
form when called on for a first team game, and Lees and O`Halloran as solid as ever
, a good basis for survival at least was
established. Add to this, lively showings from the two wing backs, especially
Jacobs, who looked 100% restored to form and fitness, and County were quids in,
especially once the goal went in, and Town started to press the panic button
rather more than once.
Ryan`s goal
was a curious affair, but as the man said....` a goal is a goal....is a
goal...’, and Glover was unlucky not to get one himself late on, denied only by heroics by keeper
Dean Snedker, and the cross bar. All this was particularly gratifying as within
the County following, was the oldest surviving County player, 99 year old
George Haigh, who was enjoying seeing his beloved team again, after recovering from
a recent operation to replace his hip.
It was a joy to see him there, and
Brackley are to be thanked for hosting George`s day so generously!
The start
saw 2 changes in the County line up as Connor Hancock and Kyle Jacobs came in
for Duxbury and Lofthouse. Todd switched flanks taking up position on the left
flank, and it was from that wing that County`s first push came.....from
O`Halloran.....it was blocked via good work by Roddy Collins, but it was an
encouraging start!
Brackley`s
response to this was to push on themselves, largely through Ebby Nelson-Addy,
who for me was Town`s danger man throughout. Thankfully however Toddy stuck
with him tenaciously, doing well, but on this occasion, with throw becoming
corner, it was Hurst to the fore with a confident catch.
Both teams
were trying to play football in the early minutes, but it was noticeable that
Town were conceding a rash of free kicks, the latest one, at the 13 minute
mark, sent Brackley Manager John Brady AS. He need not have got so
upset......his keeper did well and claimed the ball as the kick bounced over
Sinclair`s head.
If both
Brackley and County were working hard, it was all of 22 minutes before any real
excitement came about. Before this David Moyo had a shot charged down, and
Hancock had tidied up nicely as Sinclair tried unsuccessfully to apply a finish
to Nelson-Addy`s free kick. The aforesaid 22nd minute saw County
gain another free kick. I failed to note the demeanour of the home Manager at this point, but he cannot have been 100%
delighted to see Glover carve a hole in his side`s defences before blasting a
decent effort no more than an inch or two over the bar!
Brackley
were clearly struggling to hold County, who were equally clearly making an
effort to see that passes went to blue shirts today, thus the number of free
kicks the home team inevitably gave away under the cosh, only served to
increase their angst. Town did look like they might be able to hit us on the
break, and in this respect Nelson-Addy was their best bet, but although Todd
tracked him diligently as he darted clear, it took a decisive intervention by Lees to eventually
stop the rot on this occasion. More followed from Town.....Hancock doing well
to see the danger off as Ryan Rowe darted clear through the middle, and Hurst
in position to grab the ball when a free kick to Brackley came his way.
I was
beginning to get slightly alarmed however.....suddenly passes started going
astray....Wilkinson twice feeding men in red/ white shirts – this was just not
what was required! Todd, by way of contrast, showed us what was- his energetic
run being only just snuffed out by an excellent sliding tackle from Collins.
That was
inspirational stuff, and within a couple of minutes County had the lead , and
what a curious goal it was ! It started with the ball finding its way to
Wilkinson wide on the left, where he promptly checked back before lifting the
ball across to just outside the box
where Jack Ryan lurked with a defender for company.
Immediately....... as the
ball bounced in front of him, Ryan swung a foot at it, the result being that
the ball spiralled upwards, coming down in front of goal where Glover and the
keeper were stationed. Both these moved to get a touch....both failed.....thus
the ball bounced on into the net beating a defender on the line on the way.
There was no contact whatsoever twixt Glover and Snedker, and no obstruction,
thus it was a valid goal in every respect, but my paranoia told me ` the b****y
ref will rule it out!’....I was wrong, and County did indeed have the lead, and
suddenly everyone in the vicinity was smiling broadly!
Rowe won a
corner after this for Brackley, and Sinclair missed out with a header, but
generally the home side looked to be struggling more and more- Sam Whittall
being booked for a heavy tackle on Glover. Lees and Sinclair went head to head
when the kick came over, but the referee had seen `something’ and gave Town the
lifeline of a free kick. That said.....Brackley did have something approaching
a chance, with 4 minutes left of the half. It was set up by Nelson-Addy who
glided inside beyond Todd, to slip the ball to Moyo, who really should have
done better than lifting it high into the crowd!
Jacobs was
unlucky not to reach Ryan as he pulled the ball back from the by-line -
Sinclair instead.....conceded a corner with danger in evidence, and the ball
was quickly in the net from this as Baker whipped the ball home from 10 yards
out. “ Goal” thinks I.......it wasn`t and the kick was taken again –Ryan and
Glover doing their best to force the ball home, but being denied by good work
from Whittall.
It went on
with Baker a whisker away from getting to Todd`s ball in the box, then Brackley
hit back through Moyo, who found Lees too good for him. The Town momentum, for
a moment or so, looked to be building, until an intervention from Hancock
curtailed the attack. Hancock then turned defence to attack with a lovely ball
for Ryan to chase, but the young forward hesitated, possibly thinking he was
offside...he wasn`t, but when he realised this.....it was too late , and the
chance was gone.
The second half opened with Brackley winning a
couple of fairly cheap free kicks, but both were wasted as the ball was lifted
high into the box. As the half developed, Town who had looked to play it about
a bit, elected more and more for the ` lift it’ option, and with Hancock, Lees
and O`Halloran in imperious form this always looked and eventually was proved
to be, a losing strategy, with County`s forwards getting ever bolder. Glover
was typical of this boldness, giving Ryan Austin nightmares, forcing him to
test his own keeper severely with a back pass under pressure! This was
encouraging, as was the response of Hancock and Jacobs who were quick to react
when faced with a break by Rowe moments later.
To their
credit, Brackley kept plugging away, and whilst the blue back line never looked
in trouble, neither could they fully relax- a fact underlined with jingly brass
knobs on when Nelson-Addy fell to earth completely unaided just outside the
box. `Free-kick’ the liner`s flag told us, but I was not alone in treating this
decision to a hearty belly laugh! Glover did good defensive work to see the
kick off, and a subsequent corner, but I could have done without the liner
induced tension that had gone before!
A neat catch
from Hurst, and it was back onto the front foot for County next as Glover,
Baker and Churchman took turns trying to prise open the home defences. At one
point it began to look like they had, as Sinclair laid Austin out in his attempts
to clear his lines. Mayhem was abroad in the home penalty box, but Ryan sent
his effort inches wide to end the angst a tad.
If Brackley
were still in it, as technically we were on Tuesday against Barrow, being only
one down, as the game progressed, County moves started to get cooler and more
measured than before, and this ,to some extent was down to Jacobs who looked
back to his best with some probing runs and teasing passes. Substitute Will
Green did get one chance , with about 15 minutes left, but his hurried effort
sailed harmlessly over the bar ,to again bolster the thought that today was
County`s day!
Jacobs won
possession before sending Ryan clear ,shortly after, but the shot was charged
down, as was a County free kick that followed not long after, ushering in a
rally from Town that saw Hurst in action keeping a decent shot by Moyo out.
That was a good....probably vital save, and was a clear warning against
complacency!
County
re-doubled their attacking efforts after this – urged on by Jacobs who was
still firing on all cylinders into the last 5 minutes. The raid needed
Sinclair`s head to be on the right way around for it to fail, and despite
looking pressured, it was, and he managed somehow to keep it at 1-0.
It looked
likely to stay so to the end, as we
reached the 90 minute mark, but Glover had other ideas ,surging through heading
towards the box. He had Austin for company and twice.... three times he tugged
at Glovers shirt....shorts...arm, but the County man couldn`t be stopped
instead he turned to see a fierce shot beaten out by the keeper. Still Glover
wasn`t done, and another shot followed, this one smashing into the bar with
Snedker a helpless spectator! That was so....so...unlucky!
Brackley
kept plugging away, but it was a losing battle- Hurst getting a burst of
applause for a fine catch right at the death.
A blast of
the referee`s whistle, and the game was over, and the points were ours.....all
ours.... a nice feeling after recent results.
Well done
County, onward and upwards!
The next
away game is the long journey to Lowestoft on 14 March.
The Flyer
will get you there, and Lou has asked me to say that he has 23 booked on so
far. The coach picks up at the Telescope Shop on Mercian Way at 07.30, moving
on promptly to pick up at the Fingerpost. Please ring Lou on 0789 6536757 to book.
County line
up:
Hurst,
Jacobs, Lees, Hancock, O`Halloran, Todd, Churchman, Baker, Ryan, Glover,
Wilkinson.
Subs not
used;
Ormson,
Russell, Moses, Sharp Spencer.
Brackley
Town line up:
Snedker,
Collins( Built 80), Carruthers, Odhiambo, Sinclair, Austin, Nelson-Addy,
Whittall, Rowe, Moyo, Mendes( Turley 45).
Subs not
used:
Sharpe,
Pierpoint, Green.
Attendance :
395.
Ian Brown
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