Linnets finally fly off with a welcome win
RUNCORN LINNETS ................................. 4 IRLAM.......................................................... 1
MICHAEL ELLISON finally got the first managerial win his own endeavours – and the efforts of his new-look side – had deserved last Saturday afternoon while also bringing to an end a very impressive run of 22 games unbeaten for one of the Hallmark Security League Premier Division’s new sides, Irlam.
And it was a win that carried much style and flair!
Just before kick-off, the heavens opened up to unleash a torrential downpour on the Millbank Linnets Stadium that did not let up for most of the first half.
Yet again, ‘Ello’ was unable to name the same back four for two consecutive games. In six competitive matches so far this season, the back four has not been the same twice.
There were home debuts for Danny O’Brien and Tony Donaldson, who had both impressed in midfield against Cammell Laird 1907 earlier in the week.
As with the game at Lairds, Linnets dominated from the very start.
Mark Houghton led the attacking line and almost opened the scoring with a sublime chip from 18 yards but the Irlam goalkeeper Lee White did well to save.
Soon after, the home side looked set to take the lead when Paul Shanley was brought down in the box for what seemed to be a bit of a ‘soft’ penalty.
Up stepped skipper Kyle Hamid, but his spot-kick was saved by White low to his right, Linnets’ second missed penalty in two matches.
Houghton went close again when he was sent clean through by a ball from Donaldson but despite having time to set himself, his shot allowed White to save with his legs.
There was an air of inevitability after 25 minutes, when Irlam took the lead completely against the run of play, a theme that keeps rearing its ugly head in these early weeks of the campaign.
A quick and sharp passing move left the Linnets’ back four chasing shadows, the ball working its way to Christian Lawlor who finished well past Tom Hunt from eight yards out.
It looked like being another one of those days when Shanley went tearing up the left wing, cut inside and curled a shot past White only for the ball to can- non back off the far post and out to safety.
The task could have been made much more difficult for Runcorn, when Irlam midfielder Sean Sherwood crashed a dipping long-range effort off the bar with Hunt beaten.
However, he luck that had been missing for Linnets finally came just before half-time.
Shanley curled an in-swinging corner right into the heart of the penalty box and, with Irlam struggling to clear, viceskipper Houghton pounced to force a volley into the roof of the net, the perfect time to score and lift the atmosphere going into the second period.
Ellison’s men came out for the second half in much the same vein, looking to dominate proceedings and take the game to Irlam.
Linnets deservedly took the lead on 57 minutes with a fine passing move that included O’Brien, Hamid and Donaldson, the latter sliding a pinpoint ball through to pick up a run into the box by Shanley, who found a sublime first-time finish across White and into the bottom corner of the net.
Again akin to the game at Lairds, nerves began to play a part once Linnets had taken the lead. A few panicked passes and lunging tackles were thrown in by a side desperate to get their first win of the season.
However, the pressure valve was blown out of the MLS on 68 minutes when the ever-industrious Houghton, who hadn’t given the Irlam back four a minute’s peace all day, chased down a sloppy back pass to just beat White to it, knock the ball past him and finish from a tight angle to give the home side some breathing space at 3-1.
Latest signing Ronnie McCarthy was introduced for his Linnets debut and Steve Foster was given a home debut from the bench.
And it was ‘Fozzie’ who gave the scoreline a coat of gloss with 10 minutes to go.
The very impressive Jay Roberts glided past three Irlam players on a charging run down the right wing before sending a magnificent cross over the stranded White and right onto Foster’s head.
The experienced striker had only to make contact from three yards out to seal the game at 4-1 to the men in yellow-and-green.
There was a sour end to the contest with Roberts going down injured, and ultimately being carried off on a stretcher.
Runcorn fans have seen enough in his three games so far to know that the rightback is going to be an influential member of Ellison’s team, so hopefully for the club his injury does not turn out to be as bad as it looked.
The last action of the game was Linnets’ new keeper, Hunt making a great save, getting right across his goal at full stretch to tip a long-range effort around a post.
Full-time was met with a huge sense of satisfaction that this new-look team had finally got the win it has merited.
The defending was much better and that was the foundation for the performance. The whole side turned in a strong display, but in particular Shanley, Donaldson, Chris Lawton and Houghton really took the game by the scruff of the neck. Houghton looked fully at home in his central attacking berth, his natural position before being moved out wide by former manager Joey Dunn.
Shanley is starting to have a telling impact on matches, something that he has done time and time again for Linnets’ neighbours, Runcorn Town. CONGLETON TOWN ................................. 0 RUNCORN LINNETS ................................. 0 RUNCORN LINNETS bagged themselves a useful point on their travels at Congleton Town on Tuesday evening.
However, the result was marred somewhat in the closing stages of the match when captain Kyle Hamid was sent-off for a second yellow card offence.
Goalscoring chances were limited across the 90 minutes with both sets of defences having the upper hand.
Linnets’ best efforts in the opening period fell to Paul Shanley but Congleton goalkeeper Ross Heywood was equal to the striker’s efforts.
At the other end, Runcorn keeper Tom Hunt did well to contain anything threatening his goal.
It was more of the same in the second half with substitute Steve Foster having the best opportunity to net but he saw his goalbound strike cleared off the line by Town defender Jack Pritchard.
Late on Hamid was yellow-carded for a second time for kicking the ball away but Linnets held on with the 10 men to pick up a point that sees them up to 15th in the division after six matches of the new campaign.