County were once again the architects of their own downfall as more defensive misakes cost them a share of the spoils in a tight contest at the Priestfield stadium.
The Gills rushed into a 2-0 lead during the first period of the match after Cody McDonald managed to get goal side of Robbie Williams and head home a Chris Palmer corner inside the opening three minutes.
That early goal stunned Paul Simpson’s men and from that moment on, County looked nervous and despondent.
After 20 minutes, David Poole was forced to clear an Adebayo Akinfenwa header off the goaline as the home side continued to power forward looking for a killer second.
That crucial second goal arrived eight minutes before the half-time interval when the away side failed to deal with yet another Palmer cross and teenager Jack Payne was allowed to tap in from close range, despite the best efforts of Matt Glennon in the Hatters goal.
That goal for Payne, was the first of his career.
Paul Simpson changed County’s formation in the second-half when he made the decision to bring on Tom Fisher.
It was Fisher himself who provided that extra spark for County in the second 45 minutes, as well as being involved in County’s consolation goal.
Fisher provided the cross for George Donnelly who had the intelligence to lay the ball off to Anthony Pulis, on loan from Southampton, who simply stroked the ball into the back of the net with nine minutes of normal time remaining.
County rallied in the time that was remaining but not even seven minutes of injury time could save them this time.
County now face what will already be built as a six-pointer next week when they entertain Barnet at Edgeley Park.
Share this article
Related Articles
7 comments
Comments are closed.
Barnet, Hereford. I know its early days still but anyone else think that 6 points from these two games may be the difference between League or Conference status next season? The powers that be must drum up what support we can muster for these two games!
Another game and another game lost due ton playing the right tactics. Why oh Why do we play with only one player up front. We got nothing from this game because we didn’t deserve it. We need to start attacking teams more which inturn releaves the pressure on this leaking defence. Why are we not playing Rose? The lad has not had a chance, and I am sure that he may just stop the goals leaking in. Lets hope that for the next home game we see a more attacking formation.
Spot on – Simpson is tactically inept and the complete lack of goals proves it! But then again whats the point of playing more strikers up front when we dont even have the midfield capable of providing the balls for them. Hereford Barnet and County for the drop without a shadow of a doubt – its Conference next year.
Missed the commentary today. Was on standby and got called out at 2, didn’t get back till 5. Sounds like it was as inept as last week, saw the goals on the league show, that’s some defence we’ve got (not). Nice to see young Pulis get his first though, let’s hope he can tie up with Donnelly and bulge a few opposition nets. Onward to EP and Barnet.
Dont know yet if we will be conference next season though I do know that with the squad we have we will struggle in the conference right now!!!
We have a chance of staying in league two because many of the teams in league two are really no better than we are but maybe have slightly better quality in midfield..this is the area we are struggling in, Turnbull has surprised me a little in the last few games though he isnt good enough, Tansey is horrendous. We need a quality striker to partner Donnelly but strikers as we all know are hard to find.
Excellent Albert, is that the first Why oh Why of the season? Simpson doesn’t come across that well to me, always quick to blame someone or something else when things goes wrong, but it is still early days so won’t call for his head just yet!
Where has our ‘competitive budget’ gone? THats what we were told before the season kicked off. Have 2015 budgeted for 4,200 crowds when we are not I think going to average a little under 4000? Have folk heard this interview with Simpson after the Gills game? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/9077411.stm – in for a dogfight. Is he laying the ground for a ‘not my fault’ type of excuse?