Late McConville Strike Earns Draw

Sean McConville struck in the 92nd minute as County earned a late, late draw with Luton Town at Edgeley Park on Friday.

With County somewhat outplayed for the majority, former Accrington man McConville was left in space on the edge of the area, and his curling effort took a huge deflection before looping over Town ‘keeper Mark Tyler.

Luton, the other Hatters, had taken the lead in the televised match after just five minutes when midfielder Alex Lawless fired home from 25 yards with ‘keeper Matty Glennon helpless.

Nick Chadwick partnered new boy Antonio German up front, and it was Chadwick who missed a great chance to level the scores.

Left-back Euan Holden raced to keep a loose ball in play before whipping in a high cross which found former Everton man Chadwick in space.

The striker’s header was mistimed and was in no danger of threatening Tyler.

Chadwick almost made amends three minutes later, but Danny Rowe’s cross was plucked off the top of the captain’s head by Tyler.

Danny Rowe himself had earlier gone close with a thirty yard fizzing effort which the increasingly busy Tyler palmed away.

As the second half progressed, County piled towards the Cheadle End in spells, and debutant German had one of the biggest chances as he struck the outside of the post from a matter of three yards out after defender Carl Piergianni’s header flew wide of the goal.

Jon Routledge was next in line as he smashed McConville’s pull-back into Lawless and out for a corner.

Substitute Tom Elliott was the instigator of the late goal though, as he flew into a 50-50 challenge (and came off worse for it) and poked the ball out to fellow sub Jon Nolan.

Nolan pinged a cross-field ball over to McConville, and the winger controlled before smashing his effort goalwards and over Tyler, via the defender.

It was only just a point salvaged for The (Real) Hatters though, as in the final fifth minute of injury time, regular thorn in County’s side Stuart Fleetwood, signed last week fro £45k from Hereford Utd, got clear of full-back Rowe and one-on-one with Glennon.

Glennon made himself big, and with around 3400 County fans holding their heads in their hands, Fleetwood pulled the trigger – and his fierce effort hammered the inside of the post and rolled into Matty Glennon’s hands.

And that was it.

A point gained for County in the end – and only just.