First-half collapse sees Blues crash out in play-off semi-final
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LEEK Town’s promotion hopes were cruelly dashed last night as they lost heavily in their play-off semi-final against Runcorn Linnets.
The Blues had earned themselves home advantage in the end-of-season play-offs with victory over fellow highflyers Marine on Saturday, but even a 1,381-strong Harrison Park crowd could not roar them to victory as they fell at the next hurdle in a 4-1 defeat.
Leek were behind after a minute of last night’s game, 2-0 down inside four, and out of the running by half-time thanks to goals from Iwan Murray, Ryan Brooke and Lloyd Marsh-hughes.
Tim Grice pulled a goal back with just over 15 minutes to
play, but there was never a sniff of a comeback from the Blues and the Linnets made it four through Brooke with 10 minutes to go.
The Linnets have proved something of a bogey side for Neil Baker’s men this season, having beaten the Blues home and away in the regular season.
And it goes down as a major disappointment for Leek, who were top of the table and eyeing automatic promotion in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 season before both campaigns were curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
They will have to regroup this summer and make a fourth attempt at promotion next season.
Leek lined up in the same 5-3-2 formation that comfortably dispatched Marine at the weekend, but were behind with fewer than 60 seconds on the clock.
Marsh-hughes put the ball into the box, and with the hosts unable to clear, Murray drilled it past Danny Roberts.
Brooke shot over and then forced a save from Roberts after a mistake from Scott Wara shortly afterwards as the Blues found themselves facing an early onslaught.
And from the ensuing corner, the ball came in low to the edge of the area, and Brooke ghosted in to sweep home. Grice had a half-chance soon after, before Leek had their best opportunity on 25 minutes. Runcorn goalkeeper Owen Mooney came to deal with a loose ball, yet rather than gather it into his arms, attempted to head it clear, but only as far as Dan Trickettsmith, whose shot from 25 yards out was not far wide of the empty net.
Louis Keenan headed over for the Blues as Leek got themselves into the game.
However, all their work was undone as a defensive mixup saw Marsh-hughes score the Linnets’ third with 10 minutes still to play in the first half.
Leek needed to make a quick start to the second half, but instead they stood off Brooke as he advanced and unselfishly played in Murray, who shot wide.
And the Blues continued to find it hard to build up any momentum as the Linnets did not let up the pressure.
After another goalmouth scramble in the Leek box, Ammar Dyer broke at pace before being brought down by Joe Lynch.
Manager Baker then made a change 15 minutes into the second period, with defender Wara replaced by the more attacking presence of Will Saxon.
And after play was briefly held up when Runcorn fans lobbed a green flare onto the pitch, with his first touch, Saxon set up Grice to pull a goal back with a scrappy finish.
Trickett-smith got between two defenders to meet Tom Edge’s cross but could not beat Mooney.
But late on, Brooke converted Murray’s cross to secure a result that had been decided long before.
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