County fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Weymouth in National League action, as The Hatters’ dominance in possession proved not enough to overcome The Terras’ early strike.
Boss Simon Rusk named a side showing two changes to the side which earned a 2-0 win over Chesterfield on Saturday, with Will Collar and Elliot Newby replacing Harvey Gilmour and the injured John Rooney.
The hosts got off to a flying start inside the opening five minutes, when a ricochet inside the area fell kindly for striker Andy Dallas to clip high past a helpless Ben Hinchliffe and put The Terras in front.
County looked to respond in rapid fashion, with Watford loanee Sam Dalby seeing his looping header nodded off the goalline five minutes later.
Alex Reid tested Ethan Ross with a first-time effort which the home ‘keeper tipped over following an Elliot Newby knockdown, but goalmouth action was hard to come by for the remainder of a quiet first half.
Chorley loanee Harry Cardwell replaced Dalby for the resumption of proceedings, and The Hatters looked livelier following the Scot’s arrival.
James Jennings saw a close-range effort superbly saved onto the post by Ethan Ross in the Terras goal, before Cardwell came agonisingly close to capping a well-worked County move when he backheeled Reid’s cut-back goalwards only to see his effort hacked off the line.
The lively Newby saw two efforts from distance saved as time ran out for County, while James Jennings cannoned a last minute free-kick into the big Weymouth wall.
After holding onto their lead for 86 mins, the hosts successfully saw out three minutes of stoppage time to claim the three points on a frustrating afternoon for The Hatters.
County line-up (4-4-2): Hinchliffe; Minihan, Palmer (Bennett, 76), Hogan ©, J. Jennings; Newby, Croasdale, Collar, Walker (Keane, 57); Reid, Dalby (Cardwell, 46).
Subs not used: Barnes, Maynard.
