Well, the positive is that main sponsors GT Law won’t be having to pay out £35k in refunds.
County were held to a draw by part-timers Ebbsfleet at Edgeley Park today, rendering County’s ‘No Win, No Fee’ promotion as dead in the water with SCFC having to lose for GT Law to pay out.
It was a difficult task for the home side to break down the visitors, who County may have expected to play for the draw, willing The Hatters to break them down – but it was a different story in the first half, and The Fleet looked dangerous going forward, and had a few chances to take the lead. ‘Keeper Matty Glennon kept the hosts level with a fine save from striker Callum Willock just before half-time after a brilliant cross by Ram Marwa resulted in an almighty scramble.
Ebbsfleet’s 60 or so visiting fans were making themselves heard and keeping their team going, and games like this may help manage expectations as far as SCFC go…every time we play a part-time or lowly club, we should not expect to hammer them.
Danny Rowe, in for the dropped Jon Miles, seemed most likely to unlock The Fleet defence with surging runs down the left in the first-half…but ironically, it was only after the man-of-the-match went off in place of Leicester City striker Elliott Chamberlain that County took the lead.
The loanee produced good work down the left and played in full-back Euan Holden who whipped in a cross for skipper Nick Chadwick to head home and relieve the growing stress in the Cheadle End.
It looked as if the floodgates would finally open, but the goal forced the away side into being more adventurous looking for the leveller, and they got it with just under 15 minutes to go when Michael West skilfully volleyed in Craig Stone’s ball from just outside the area to send the small army of travellers mental.
It was to be a frustrating day for County from then on, with the visitors having the best of the chances to take the lead in front of their supporters. Sub Ricky Shakes was denied by a brilliant palmed save by Glennon, and it was County in the end who were left unable to win two games back-to-back with that unwanted record dating back to February 2009.
But on the up-side, a point takes us into 8th place, still unbeaten, and on to Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday.
For ‘The Fleet’, their plucky fans socialised with the home fans in pubs around Edgeley after the match, and they picked up their first point of the season in a year in which they are tipped for relegation. Going off today’s performances, they may have enough in their tank to survive. They will do if their fans have anything to say about it.
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Disappointing to watch a draw really. We were by far the better team. Second-Half saw a dip in Holden and Halls was rubbish all game. Chadwick, how did he miss 3 times before scoring. We deserved more.
Danny Rowe deserved a say on his own however. Excellent performance from him, what a threat! O’Donnell and Piergianni also played well besides the goal and a few confusions. Glennon was my MOTM after Rowe who I thought was in good form and also back in good shape, as he looked a bit fat in the summer. Come on County!
Despite this 1-1 draw, sorry to post for a 3rd time in a row but I have heard that Keigan Parker has been given the go by Didi Hamann. Not sure if its true but if it is, then ok.
He has been.
I also hear Luke Ashworth has been released too. Unfortunate if he has, I would of liked him to of joined Stockport. I rate him as a CB.
Yes we should have won and definitely the better team but they (ebbsfleet) could easily have had two or three goals with a bit more luck, however, we have McConville back in midfield now so I expect we will be stronger in that department. Glad to hear that Lunch doesn’t appear to figure in Didi plans but his (Lynch) replacement Andy Hall’s seems to be as poor as always, I personally do not rate Hall’s as he seems to pass the ball either backwards osr sideways with frustrating consistency.
Enjoyable game. Fair result. Best player for me was Fleet’s West – sign him up! I suppose we will not know where we are as a team for another few games but I am getting the feeling we will finish above mid-table. Enjoying football again!
I thought we knocked the ball around brilliantly, everyone looks good on the ball (that is until it gets to the chadwick and gritton who can’t seem to hold on to the ball). The back 4 look petty confortable until set pieces and we struggle to clear our lines. Back to the forwards, we can’t afford to miss as many chances as we had yesterday. Good to see rowe get beyond the full back time and time again, unfortunately fraughan insisted on coming inside on his left foot, so we didn’t have the same threat down the right! The team is still gelling so it will come. As for their goal, we switched off because we were making a sub and then didi changed his mind, so we were not ready when the throw in was taken.
On a positive note, how refreshing is it to see the league table with County’s name without the relegation line —— above it!!! It’s been a while!
Gritton and Chadwick do not complement each other, too similar and dont play as a pair. Someone with pace and good finishing should play along side of one of them. Or alternatively Elliot who I think might turn out to be a very good aquisition if given a run in the team again though with a pacey finisher to play off him. For me both fullbacks are weak. I dont think we should expect too much too soon from McConville. Overall I’m quite pleased how things are going. Wish theyd bin the music when the teams come out we dont need it. the Cheadle End in full voice is all we need