The Hatters’ second home match of the week produced another win, after a thrilling second-half comeback saw them overcome mid-table Wealdstone.
Two first-half goals for the North-West London visitors put them in control, before three in six minutes from Paddy Madden, Ryan Johnson and Ash Palmer shortly after the interval turned the contest on its head in County’s favour – with Antoni Sarcevic adding a fourth late on to assist the goal difference.
The victory stretched the Hatters’ unbeaten National League run to 15 (and to 20 in all competitions – including the Cheshire Senior Cup), earned them a seventh ‘double’ of the campaign, and, most importantly, kept them seven points clear at the top of the table.
The Hatters took to the field on a splendid Spring afternoon, and with an unchanged starting line-up from the victorious one at Edgeley Park against Notts County four days earlier. They began as impressively as they had left off then, too, earning three corners, and twice going close through Madden, before five minutes were on the clock.
The County skipper first saw a goal-bound shot blocked by full-back David Sesay, after goalkeeper George Wickens had parried an effort from the right by Sarcevic. And, following one of the early corners, Madden volleyed just shy of the right post.
Myles Hippolyte was next to try his luck – cutting in from the left, before unleashing a low shot that Wickens turned past the near upright. The Hatters looked rampant, as they chalked up another couple of corners – and yet were about to become undone as the ‘Stones’ earned the first of theirs.
It was a case of ‘unlucky for some’ in the 13th minute, as the visitors, having the previous weekend effectively banished any fears they might have had of relegation, ventured upfield for the first time. Aaron Henry’s in-swinging dead-ball delivery from the left found central defender Jack Cook, who headed home to give his side the lead.
The Stones, you might say, were on a roll. A dozen minutes later, they and Cook almost had a second, as a cross from the right by Antigua & Barbuda international Rhys Browne found the goal-scorer who headed wide of the far post. And another Henry corner from the left was flicked over the Railway End crossbar by captain Jerome Okimo.
But just after the half-hour mark, the visitors did double their advantage – courtesy of a curling free-kick by Henry into the top-left corner of the net. And although the Hatters brought on Scott Quigley shortly afterwards in an attempt to beef up the attack, they struggled to regain any momentum of note before going in at the break.
HALF-TIME: County 0, Wealdstone 2 (Cook, 13; Henry, 33).
County began the second half with the necessary attacking intent, as Hippolyte’s cross from the left was headed towards goal by Quigley – with Wickens scrambling the ball behind before the onrushing Will Collar could follow up at the near post.
There then followed half a dozen or so incredible minutes that saw the Hatters initially halve the arrears, then get back on level terms before the hour, and finally get their noses in front immediately after it.
County’s first goal came from the penalty spot – put away by Madden with his usual aplomb, after Charles Clayden had handled a ball into the box from the right by Will Collar. And two minutes later, Madden turned provider – sending over a low delivery from the left that was converted by Johnson.
Wealdstone went close to regaining the lead, following a Henry corner from the right with which Cook once again connected – only for Ben Hinchliffe to arch his back and tip the ball over.
And a minute after the hour, the Hatters earned a corner of their own – delivered by Sarcevic on the right – that Palmer headed in to complete the turnaround.
As the Hatters went in search of more goals, Madden saw a shot saved by Wickens, Collar – after latching on to Hippolyte’s through-ball – fired narrowly wide of the right post, and Wickens also kept out attempts from Quigley and Palmer, before Sarcevic fired home an angled effort from the left to make it four after Collar had struck the near upright.
FULL-TIME: County 4 (Madden (penalty), 55; Johnson, 57; Palmer, 61; Sarcevic, 90), Wealdstone 2 (Cook, 13; Henry, 33).
Team (4-3-3): Hinchliffe; Southam-Hales (Hogan, 46), Palmer, Johnson, Kitching (Quigley, 38); Collar, Croasdale, Sarcevic; Crankshaw (Minihan, 83), Madden (Capt.), Hippolyte.
Unused Subs: Ashby-Hammond, Newby.
Man of the Match: Hippolyte.
Attendance: 7,453 (195 away).
Reporter: Gareth Evans.
Photographer: Mike Petch.
