One-sided battle
TORQUAY United comfortably won the battle of the Champions at Edgeley Park, storming past outof-form County 4-0 in the National League on Saturday.
A first-half brace by impressive forward Jamie Reid coupled with two disastrous Hatters own goals handed Gary Johnson’s VNL South title winners all three points on the day, with the visitors racing into their unassailable four-goal lead before half-time.
It meant a fifth defeat out of five for County, with just one goal scored and fifteen conceded in that time.
After some torrential downpours throughout the borough over the weekend, a precautionary pitch inspection was passed thanks to intermittent sunshine and some impressive work on the surface - and boss Jim Gannon sent his Hatters side out into the fray showing two changes from the starting line-up at Solihull Moors four days prior.
Elliot Osborne was recalled to replace the suspended Sam Walker, with youngster Osborne dropping into a deeper role alongside club captain Paul Turnbull.
Debutant Adam Hammill replaced Connor Dimaio, who dropped back to the bench.
There was a tinge of excitement about new boy Hammill after his surprise loan move from Scunthorpe Utd two days earlier - and the attacking midfielder showed promising early touches as he sought to link up with his new teammates.
Hammill demonstrated his ability to carve out the first chance of the game, cleverly backheeling into the path of fellow loanee Joe Leesley, who couldn’t grab his first Hatters goal since a temporary move from Harrogate.
From there, it was over to the visitors - and the National League South champions blew their Northern counterparts away with a salvo of attacks culminating in a shock four goal lead before the break.
With 18 minutes played, the Hatters were trailing after conceding their third penalty in as many matches.
Striker Frank Mulhern needlessly tugged the shirt of attacker Robbie Cundy following Jake Andrews’ lofted free-kick into the area a and referee James Bell pointed to the spot without hesitation, before the Gulls’ leading scorer Reid calmly slotted his kick past Ben Hinchliffe.
The opener illustrated County’s recent woes, with a soft foul conceded which seemed very unlike The Hatters, who’s manager Gannon has long drilled into his side a need to not concede free-kicks.
County did respond positively in the immediate aftermath, with the energetic Sam Minihan forcing two corners in succession down the right - but the Gulls batted away any incoming deliveries.
And shortly afterwards, the stuffing was knocked out of the Hatters for the second successive tie by a second goal - Man of the Match Festus Arthur, a rare bright spot in this current barren run for County, slid in ahead of Reid to cut out a Whitfield cross from the right bit succeeded only in prodding the ball over his own line.
It seemed that every time Torquay attacked, they were likely to score as The Hatters struggled to stay in shape and cope with their visitors’ attacking play - just after the impressive Kalvin Kalala had strode through the entire County defence only to see his shot saved, the third was scored when Jordan Keane could only swipe a cross over Hinchliffe for a second own goal.
And, just as the 4,000 County fans inside a wet Edgeley Park were thinking that things could