County started with an unchanged eleven for the third time in a week and came away from the match with no injuries to report.  

The first half lacked major incident and was notable for the number of fouls, and whistles of derision from the crowd aimed at referee Andy Newell, rather than entertainment value. Julian Alsop came closest to scoring for the home side but Mickey Warner headed his goal-bound chip off the line with the keeper Shane Gore stranded. Jamie Collins shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box for the Hawks in a half in which both sides gave an indifferent performance and failed to press the initiative. The Hawks irritated the home crowd with late challenges and their general physical approach, but looked the more dangerous of the two sides when in possession.  

The second half was a completely different affair and within three minutes of the restart County were ahead. Julian Alsop was again on hand to hammer the ball home from close range following a determined run and a short pass from the livewire 'supplier' Craig Hughes had set him up with the simplest of chances. Hughes should have added to the scoreline minutes later but blasted the ball over the bar from eight yards from Ian Hillier’s knock-down from a Jason Bowen cross.          

The game then swung the way of the Hawks. Mark Ovendale made two first class saves from Jamie Collins and Mo Harkin before making the save of the match. From a cross by Rocky Baptiste on the overlap Tony Taggart’s point blank header was miraculously saved and held by the flying keeper on the goal line. County could not retain possession when breaking out of defence and were put under intense pressure by a reshaped Hawks’ side. Despite a series of late corners and free kicks around the home penalty area the encamped Hawks could not break through the home defences and County held on much to the relief of another sizeable home crowd.