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More hard work is on County's agenda.

24/10/2007

COUNTY boss Jim Gannon admitted that he still has great faith in his players despite Saturday’s fourth straight League Two reverse at home to Chester City.

The Hatters’ Cheshire neighbours surged into second place in the table thanks to their three points, but they were secured after Bobby Williamson’s side came from behind at half-time thanks to a pair of quality strikes from Richie Partridge.

Gannon said: "I’m concerned, but I’m more disappointed after the preparations we put in ahead of this game.

"We’ll plough on though, and hopefully we’ll have a few more bodies available for next weekend’s game.

"We’ll work hard in training again. I just want the lads to be strong for us now.

"We’ll keep working with the players we’ve got, and I’ve still got great faith in all of them.

"It has been a difficult phase for us, but it doesn’t take much for fortunes to take a turn for the better."

Gannon praised Partridge, a player who seemingly has attracted his attention previously.

The County boss added: "I have been aware of Richie Partridge for a while, and that was a match-winning display from him today.

"He is a quality player and he took his goals really well today."

Chester boss Williamson saluted his players as they propelled themselves into the League Two automatic promotion places.

He said: "That’s another great three points for us today.

"I was very disappointed to go in at the break a goal down, but we knuckled down in the second half, we got the two goals, and we fully deserved to win.

"I thought we controlled the games in spells, they didn’t really trouble all that much.

"We didn’t deserve to be a goal down, but these players are a hard-working bunch.

"I’m really pleased to have got the three points in the end."

SATURDAY’S first Cheshire derby went County’s way as the Hatters’ youth team beat Tranmere Rovers 3-1 to reach the League Cup second round.

James Vincent fired County in front on 30 minutes, before Craig Madden’s kids had Jason Astbury to thank for keeping their lead intact when he made a brilliant penalty save to deny Terry Gornell just before the break.

Rovers levelled five minutes after the interval, but Richard Ratcliffe headed home to make it 2-1 to County.

It was 3-1 when Vincent converted a late spot-kick.