Town cruise past Bay while Irlam stays on
Widnes’ lead.
Lewis Codling got a goal back before the hour for The Yellows but Widnes’ defending saw Danny Meadowcroft and Brian Pritchard’s side hold on.
Warrington controlled large parts and took an early lead. RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 5 COLWYN BAY ............................................. 1
RUNCORN TOWN cruised to a 5-1 victory in their latest pre-season game against Colwyn Bay last Saturday, with the Evo-Stik League First Division North side sending a mainly reserve team to Pavilions.
Nontheless it was an excellent display from Chris Herbert’s men, with the squad looking more and more comfortable with each other with the Hallmark Security League season just around the corner.
Town had an early chance to open the scoring when the lively Craig Cairns hit the post from close range after a scramble in the box.
The opening goal came after 26 minutes with a lovely passing move that has come to symbolise the Herbert way of playing so far.
The ball was quickly moved from the back down the left hand side with Dave Forbes’s clever run keeping him onside and he slotted past the Bay goalkeeper.
On the half-hour a free-kick from the left was floated to the back post where Mark McGregor’s shot was saved. Jack Irlam picked up the loose ball and curled an effort just wide of the post.
Five minutes later, Town hit the woodwork once more with Tom Rowlands playing in Cairns with the keeper getting a touch and tipping it onto the bar.
The second goal eventually arrived on 38 minutes with Matty Woodward putting in a pinpont cross to Forbes whose excellent volley found the net.
And a minute before half-time it was 3-0, Cairns getting away on the right and hitting a low cross for Forbes to stab home his second of the afternoon.
The second half continued in much the same vein with Phil Doran winning possession in midfield and hitting a delightful shot that the keeper did well to nudge over.
Town then hit the bar for the third time from a free-kick before the Bay keeper was once again called upon to deny Rowlands on the hour, his powerful shot parried well.
Colwyn Bay did pull one goal back on 63 minutes, the right winger getting away behind Town’s back line and keeping his composure well before slotting past Louie Makin.
Two minutes later it should have been 4-1 with Neil Harvey conjuring a chance for Aaron Rey who somehow hit over from a couple of yards out.
The fourth goal arrived with 10 min- utes remaining.
It was another lovely passing move which ended with Simon Thelwall’s curled effort flying into the net, bringing appreciative applause from supporters.
The scoring was completed two minutes from time when Harvey drew a foul in the box, the striker getting up himself to successfully find the net from 12 yards.
Town officially announced this week that they had re-signed central midfielder Jack Irlam for the season ahead.
Irlam, who first came to the club as a 17-year-old in February 2014, has played almost 100 games for the club since signing, and manager Chris Herbert was delighted to get the signature of a player he believes can go far in the game.
Of the signing, boss Herbert said: “It’s great to finally have Jack commit to Runcorn Town.
“I watched him on many occasions last season, and he was always someone I thought I could take to the next level in football.
“Having joined the club at a young age, it’s easy to forget that he is only 19, and he has impressed massively in preseason.
“He has teamed up well with Joe Holt and they have formed a very good partnership. Jack isn’t the finished article yet, and we expect him to get better and better as the season goes on.
“He will get the right coaching to help him progress, and as long as he takes it on board, I’m sure Jack has a chance to move on to bigger and better things.”