Dicko Goal Gives County Late Win

Liam Dickinson was once again County’s hero as County scored a late winner against Bury last night at Gigg Lane.

Yet again County took a huge following and outnumbered the home fans once again. Bury gave the County crowd as 1347, but after seeing the pictures I can’t believe that is right.

The match was given the go ahead at 4:30pm by the referee, and as you arrived in Bury and saw the pitch it looked as if it would be a mud bath by the end of the night.

County brought Tes Bramble back into the starting line up in place of Michael Raynes who had a hamstring injury.

It looked as if County would be going with 3-4-3, with a back 3 of Clare, Williams & Robinson, a midfield of Briggs, Allen, Beharall & Griffin and a front 3 of Hamshaw, Dickinson & Bramble.

County had a few chances in the first 20 minutes of the game, Bramble went close with a header, as did Matty Hamshaw with a shot from the edge of the area.

A lively Tes Bramble broke free from the Bury defence (Dave Challinor!) and went close to scoring but the keeper caught his legs on a worsening pitch.

Liam Dickinson had a chance when he broke free from the defence, and in truth he should have scored but he hit his shot wide of the post.

Bury also had there chances, and Tom Young was unlucky not to score when his effort hit the post and Keith Briggs was the quickest to react to clear the ball for County.

County stringed some good play of possession together from a corner, and it finished with Adam Griffin having a shot from the edge of the area which was well saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

Bury could have again took the lead, when a good ball came in from the left hand side and the ball was heading goalwards but for a Mark Robinson block on the line to save County.

County went in 0-0 at half time with every chance of taking a win at a now soaking Gigg Lane.

County came out and looked much more attacking in the second half. Hamshaw’s cross found Bramble in the box, his shot just went over the diving Schmeichel.

County then made a couple of substitutions, Matty Hamshaw went off for the new loanee Jamie Ward and Tes Bramble was replaced by Adam Le Fondre. Both Bramble and Hamshaw went off to standing ovations from the magnificent County following.

Tes Bramble had a good chance well saved by Schmeichel, when a cross from Ward (who was playing on the right wing) fell to Bramble, he kept the ball for a while before getting his shot away, which was well saved by Schmeichel.

Adam Griffin also had a good chance, when he hit a low shot from the edge of the area, that was also well saved by Schmeichel.

It was County who would grab the late winner, when Ward who stole the ball from Challinor and passed it to Le Fondre, who made the through ball for Dickinson who coolly slotted the ball home to send the County fans mental.

Bury thought they had grabbed a late equaliser, when Matthew Tipton scored but the referee had judged that a Bury player had pushed a County player and the goal was disallowed.

When County got the ball, it went straight towards the corner flag and as time was played out the County fans kept on singing as they had done for the previous 90 minutes.

When the referee blew the whistle, it brought a massive cheer from the County fans, who I’m sure carried on singing all the way to their coach, car’s, pubs, trains etc?

On a new player view ? Jamie Ward ? he looked very quick, not afraid of going in for a tackle, not afraid to take players on and looked to link up well with Le Fondre and Dickinson. Albeit for only 25 minutes, but hopefully Ward can play a longer part on Saturday and have more chance to change a game ? he certainly did last night with that tackle!