The Great Escape?

Full-time at Burslem and County have shocked hosts Port Vale and claimed a precious 2-1 win to keep alive our hopes of surviving.

After Anthony Elding had given Ray Mathias’ side a 20th-minute lead with a powerful header from Matty Mainwaring’s cross, The Hatters were on the front foot and piling forward in what Mathias had labelled a must-win match.

The half-time break saw the boys in blue and white hold the one goal advantage, but news soon filtered through that struggling Barnet had gone 2-1 at Gillingham in a blow to County.

Barnet went on to win 4-2, along with Burton Albion who all-but sealed their Football League status with a 2-1 win at Aldershot. But it was events at Vale Park which mattered, and we were soon pegged back to a 1-1 scoreline when Mani Assoumani, in his daily role as worst footballer ever, slipped and allowed Rob Taylor’s cross to be nodded in by Sean Rigg to equalise for the Valiants in the 55th minute.

And from then on it was the home side who ploughed towards Matty Glennon time after time in the second half – Marc Richards wasting two glorious chances to put Mark Grew’s troubled side in front.

With time running out and our Football League status slipping away, Elding popped up again in the 88th minute to rifle home skipper James Wallace’s free-kick and give County a vital, vital three points.

We now play host to Northampton Town this Monday at Edgeley Park in what COULD be one of the most important matches of our history if the great escape is to be done.

Get down there. A massive match.

And y’know what, even if we are to go down, at least we’re showing an ounce of pride about it now.

Animo Et Fide.