County secure vital 3 points
With Justin Edinburgh looking to freshen up the team ahead of the visit of Wycombe Wanderers, the County line-up included several changes. There were places in the starting eleven for Christian Jolley and Andy Sandell, who had only featured as substitutes in recent weeks.
The first half started with both teams trying to utilise their attacking flair. Wycombe thought they had taken an early lead, as a Nick Arnold shot beat Ian McLoughlin, only to be acrobatically blocked en route to goal by defender Darcy Blake.
County tried to respond with Ryan Jackson and Chris Zebroski both looking to run at the visitors defence, but neither were able to create any clear-cut opportunities.
Wycombe had another chance in the 34th minute as a Matt McClure header forced McLoughlin into making a fine save down low to the keeper’s left. The first half then petered out with both teams lacking the clinical touch in front of goal to open the scoring.
Half Time: 0-0
As the second half began it was evident that County had been told at half-time to place more intent on attacking play. Andy Sandell put in a number of dangerous crosses that the visitors defence had to deal with and Lee Minshull saw a volley from the edge of the area just clear the crossbar.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 71st minute, when a Ryan Jackson long throw pin-balled around the Chairboy’s box before being poked home by Christian Jolley. It was the striker’s first goal since the opening game of the season and the majority of County players joined in his celebrations in front of the Hazel stand.
County didn’t have to wait long to double their lead. A long, lofted through ball by the County defence was flicked on by Rene Howe and found its way onto the run of Chris Zebroski in the 74th minute. The striker took a couple of touches that saw him advance into the area and he unleashed a powerful finish into the net past Matt Ingram in the Wycombe goal.
The second goal lifted both crowd and players and the confidence boost was evident, as the players passed the ball around with nice interchanges and expression of skill. County were able to see out the remainder of the game without allowing the visitors any sight of goal.
Full Time: 2-0
County: McLoughlin, Porter, Minshull, Zebroski, Sandell, Blake, Flynn, Jackson, Feely, Howe (Willmott 87)
Subs: Pipe, Hughes, Willmott, Jeffers, Burge, Naylor, Pidgeley
Goals: Jolley, Zebroski
Att: 2,838
Referee: Stuart Attwell