County fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Rochdale in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Saturday, due to a second half header at Carrington.
The first chance of the game fell to County as Dallas Omoruyi latched onto a loose pass at the back, but the defender did well to recover and block his goal-bound effort.
Another loose pass, this time by the Rochdale goalkeeper, presented Omoruyi with another chance to give County the lead. Much like the first opportunity, his effort was blocked by the defender and cleared away from danger.
Some excellent link-up play by Omoruyi, Joe Hillary and Kingston Fligg on the left wing saw Hillary whip a fantastic cross into the path of Trialist, but he mistimed his header and the ball sailed wide.
County continued to push for the opener and could’ve found the breakthrough through Trialist. Luke Partington floated a fantastic cross into the box, but Trialist couldn’t quite direct his header towards goal and the ball floated just wide of the target.
The visitors’ first foray forward nearly resulted in a goal. A curling free kick forced Kane Bove into a fantastic double save. The initial effort forced the goalkeeper into an acrobatic save, before producing a fantastic stop with his foot on the follow up.
Another chance came and went for County. Harry Johnson drifted into the box, unmarked, where Luke Partington found the midfielder with a floated cross, but his effort was gathered by the goalkeeper.
Trialist attempted an audacious effort from distance, which nearly found the net. A looping pass over the Rochdale defence by Johnson found Trialist, where his first-time volley almost caught the goalkeeper off-guard, but the ball was tipped wide.
Rochdale could, and should, have taken the lead. A perfect cross to the back post found the visiting forward unmarked with the goal at his mercy, but his header from close range somehow cleared the crossbar.
The visitors had another chance at goal from a free kick, in a similar position to the last. Bove matched the effort once again and made an acrobatic save to push the ball away from danger, keeping the scores level.
HALF-TIME: County 0-0 Rochdale
Despite County’s hard work in the first half, Rochdale took the lead early in the second. A short corner worked space for a whipped cross into the six yard box, where a Rochdale head was waiting to glance a header into the far corner.
Hillary could’ve brought the scores level immediately. Che Gardner did well to hold onto the ball and release the left back, as he raced through on goal, but his effort was saved by the goalkeeper and turned behind for a corner.
The visitors almost doubled their lead as County were caught out at the back. The Rochdale press took the ball off County just outside of the box and a low, left-footed strike hit the outside of the post and bounced out for a goal kick.
Rochdale looked to kill the game off and raced through on goal, but Bove stood his ground and made an excellent save down to his left, and pushed the ball behind for a corner.
FULL-TIME: County 0-1 Rochdale
County XI: Bove; Scruton, Kenny, McMahon; Partington, Fligg, Barry, Johnson, Hillary; Omoruyi, Trialist
