Last-Minute Equaliser Breaks County Hearts

Brighton midfielder Andrew Crofts struck a last-minute equaliser to break County’s hearts and deny a first league win since October at Edgeley Park last night.

Danny Pilkington looked to have won the game for The Hatters half-way through the second half in front of his watching brother Anthony Pilkington, striking an unstoppable 25-yard swerving effort that Pilks Senior would have been proud to claim.

The Cheadle End responded vibrantly and kept up the singing for the last half-hour, willing Owain fon Williams to claw away anything that came his way.

Liam Dickinson was thrown on as a late substitute but was mostly ineffective.

It got to the 89th minute when Crofts picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and weakly shot on goal. Fon Williams set himself and looked to have it covered, but the ball took a bounce off a divot on our **** pitch (!) and that was that. Nicky Forster could have even won it for Albion but his shot on an empty goal was brilliantly cleared off the line by Griffin, pedalling backwards and leaping to head away the danger.

Gary Ablett put his head in his hands and it was a reaction shared by the 3500 County fans. Denied by the weakest of efforts, and it will feel like a defeat to every one of those players. It certainly did to every one of us in the stands.

Dicko gave the Cheadle End a clap before Ablett waved them off as the departing fans returned the applause after a gallant effort from the youngsters.

The Hatters boss was upbeat after the match though, saying ‘he will take heart from a heroic performance.’

‘ ‘I’m so disappointed for Owain. He looked to have the shot covered but the ball bobbled up in front of him and it’s gone over him. Our pitch is notorious for its condition, and that was a body blow for us.’

‘Brighton changed it to three up front in the second half and put us under some real pressure. But we held our own and battled heroically once again.’

‘There’s plenty to build on here still. We try to get the ball down and play football so I’ve got to stay optimistic. I can take great heart from another good performance.

Danny’s goal was a quality effort. He has shown time and time again in training that he has bags of ability. That goal was definitely coming.’

Come on County.