Coca Cola League 2

THE cries of ‘Jim Gannon’s Blue and White Army’ rang out loud and true after County secured a morale-boosting victory at neighbours Rochdale on Saturday.

A wonderful early strike from Jermaine Easter - his 11th of the season - helped the Hatters close the gap at the bottom of League Two - and skipper Matt Hamshaw missed a penalty.

The second ‘Greater Manchester’ derby in town saw County field an unchanged side, but it was the home side who carved out the first chance when Gary Jones fired a couple of feet over from 20 yards.

However, once again the Hatters’ massive travelling army were in superb voice, and every single one of them was rewarded with a magical goal from Easter on seven minutes.

The influential Hamshaw played the ball into the box, but Easter, with his back to goal, chested it down before swivelling and firing home a memorable overhead kick which beat the despairing dive of goalkeeper Matthew Gilks.

That spark of brilliance remained the highlight of a dour opening half-hour, but from County’s point of view they were at least comfortably holding Steve Parkin’s side at bay.

Controversy reined on 32 minutes when John Boardman hauled Easter down as he raced towards goal, only for referee Mr Swarbrick to only brandish a yellow card. With County players and fans looking for a red, Hamshaw went on to curl the free-kick from the edge of the box over the ‘Dale crossbar.

At the other end Paul Tait saw a deflected shot drift inches wide, but County responded in kind with a Danny Boshell shot which Gilks gathered well.

After the break Rochdale’s County old boy Rickie Lambert was the first to show when he fired a low drive narrowly wide, but the Hatters came agonisingly close to a second on 50 minutes. Hamshaw floated in a tantalising cross to the far post but Keith Briggs’ looping header was superbly palmed away for a corner by Gilks.

The home side were still offering little as the hour mark came and passed, but Gannon did see fit to make a double switch with youngster Liam Dickinson and Mickael Wolski entering the fray at the expense of Easter and Harpal Singh.

The game suddenly came to life on 74 minutes though, firstly when James Spencer produced a breath-taking save to keep out an Alan Goodall header, then seconds later the Hatters were awarded a penalty when the marauding Hamshaw was felled close to goal by Boardman. The drama didn’t end there, however, as Hamshaw disappointingly blasted the spot-kick over the crossbar.

So the lead was still a slender one-goal, but again it could have been added to as Boshell fired a shot straight at Gilks from just 15 yards.

COUNTY: Spencer, Clare, Robinson, Allen, Raynes, Williams A, Hamshaw (Le Fondre, 90), Briggs, Easter (Dickinson, 63), Singh (Wolski, 63), Boshell. Subs not used: Crowe, Howarth. Booked: Liam Dickinson. Star man: Ashley Williams.

ROCHDALE: Gilks, Goodhind (Cartwright, 45), Boardman, Gallimore, Goodall, Cooksey, Jones, Warner (Sturrock, 76), Lambert, Tait (Dagnall, 65), Moyo-Modise. Subs not used: Griffiths, Brisco. Booked: Goodhind, Boardman.

Att: 3,520.

Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancs).

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