Stalemate At The Galpharm

County will travel back to Stockport tonight with one more point under their belts after a superb defensive performance to deny Huddersfield at the Galpharm today.

In a game of little chances, the back 5 (or 6, including holding midfielder Liam Bridcutt), excelled in preventing a talented Huddersfield attack of any real chances in front of just shy of 15,000 people.

Boss Gary Ablett named the same eleven that beat Leyton Orient last Saturday, as Oli Johnson missed out with a floating bone in his ankle causing a bit of grief.

Anthony Pilkington was included in the Terriers line-up, while younger brother Danny was named on the County bench.

And in the very first minute, Nicholas Bignall could and maybe should have put County 1-0 up, as a high looping ball found it’s way to the on loan striker, but he couldn’t find the bottom corner of the goal after turning inside the full-back.

Town were also guilty of wasting chances, and they too could have grabbed themselves a goal soon after, striker Theo Robinson flashing a drilled effort wide of fon Williams’ goal.

I’m left with little to describe to you in all honesty, Anthony Pilkington was being kept very quiet by Michael Rose and both defences were coming out on top.

Chelsea loanee Liam Bridcutt was running the show in the centre of the pack, getting stuck in and protecting the back four at all costs.

County did try to play football, but as Ablett says, in games like this against top-quality opposition, three points is only a bonus, so the draw was very much on the Hatters minds.

One bright note was the cameo of Peter Thompson, who played well in his 10 minute or so role, setting up David Poole for what should have been the winner in the dying seconds, until Poole shanked his effort straight at keeper Alex Smithies.

So all in all, a point definitely gained against a very good side, though County may feel slightly disappointed that they couldn’t steal the three points in the very last minute.

Hartlepool at home on Tuesday, and the return of Chris Turner. With no disrespect to the Monkey Hangers, they aren’t Huddersfield!

‘Our bread and butter’ as Mr Ablett put it, and County will definitely be targeting three more points.

But for today, it’s thank you and good bye from County who will be delighted with a hard-fought scrappy point at the Galpharm.