Runcorn leave it late as they extend superb run
AFTER missing the weekend before due to poor weather, Runcorn Hockey Club’s men’s firstteam returned to the hallowed turf at The Heath School as high-flying Llandudno arrived in town.
With the opposition playing the previous weekend and on a six-game winning streak they came into the match full of confidence.
But the hosts also had an impressive unbeaten seven-game run so they also felt confident – and it showed as Runcorn dominated possession from the start of the match.
Runcorn continued to press with space aplenty down the wings but when they tried to force the pass through the middle, Llandudno had the players to continue to defuse the opportunities.
With continued dominance Runcorn had to be on their toes with the visitors’ counterattacks, but all they could generate were penalty corners.
From one of Llandudno’s penalty corners, goalkeeper Roger Watt found himself flat-footed to a drag-flick, but was grateful to left-back Jon Garfield who tipped the ball over the crossbar.
With such limited goalscoring opportunities, it was important that Runcorn took any that arrived – and there was a glorious one.
Runcorn passed the ball swiftly with Allan Watt finding left winger Scott Crimes unmarked in the penalty circle but his first-time slap across the goal went inches wide of the target.
For the rest of the half Runcorn could only create half-chances meaning at the interval it was still goalless.
As the second period started it became apparent the contest would go the same way as the opening half, with the visitors ● continuing to play deep and nullify any chances that were created.
As the half went on the match slowly became stretched and Runcorn created another opportunity.
Forward Pete Jones moved deep to collect the ball.
As he turned, he had runners in space and he superbly found Ruan Pretorius with a reserve stick pass. With a clear run on goal, Pretorius weighed up the best option as the Llandudno goalkeeper advanced, but the ball became stuck under his feet and the chance went.
With 15 minutes remaining, Runcorn finally opened the scoring. From a penalty corner, Jones drew the runner and squared a pass to Pretorius in space.
Pretorius sent off a drag flick that hit the goalkeeper’s shoulder and dropped over the line.
With a deserved lead Runcorn settled things down and got a helping hand as the visitors lost a man with their right midfielder sin-binned for dissent.
Going into the final 10 minutes, Llandudno’s right midfielder returned to the pitch, but it was for only 30 seconds as he was shown a yellow card for the rest of the match for a late challenge on Runcorn captain Mike Wakefield.
With minutes to go the visitors lost another man to the sin-bin for running straight through Christian White at the top of the penalty circle after a penalty corner strike.
From the retaken penalty corner, Runcorn scored an insurance goal.
Jones created space to strike his shot. It was charged down but the ball deflected to left winger Mike French who calmly slapped it past the goalkeeper and secure the deserved three points.
Player-of-the-match honours went to centre-back Christian White for an outstanding display of defending after several well-timed challenges that stopped counterattacks, providing the perfect platform for Runcorn to attack.
On Saturday Runcorn take to the road for the final match of the year against current league leaders Knustford in what is sure to be another tight affair. ● Ladies’ first-team report on page 53.