Town pay for failing to keep Gate closed
● RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 1 SQUIRES GATE .......................................... 1
RUNCORN TOWN’S quest for the Hallmark Security League’s Premier Division crown suffered a setback on the final day of 2016 as visitors Squires Gate netted a late equaliser denying the hosts all three points.
Saturday afternoon’s match was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Peter Murphy, a former striker with the club, who died just before Christmas at the tragically young age of 34.
Peter was the leading marksman in the 2007-08 season with 25 goals and made more than 50 appearances during his time at the club. Many of Peter’s former teammates attended the game to pay their respects to him.
Runcorn started well, forward Isaac Kusaloka showing a neat turn before chipping a shot straight at Joseph Griffith in the Squires Gate goal.
Soon after, strike partner Craig Cairns side-footed the ball over the crossbar following some excellent play by Kusaloka.
Gate reacted and Marcus James made a timely block to deny striker Brett Dawson inside the box with Gate players screaming for a penalty.
At the other end, Griffith did well to push an effort from Cairns out for a corner. Then, Paul McManus crossed and full-back Joe Heath who was well up with play fired the ball over the bar from 10 yards.
An error from Runcorn right-back Matty Woodward created an opening for Gate’s Jacob Higham, but Town goalkeeper Louie Mackin saved the situation smothering the ball at the forward’s feet.
Back at the other end, a long cross from Heath was mis-punched onto his own crossbar by Griffith in what was a lucky escape for Gate. Then, a corner by McManus found Simon Thelwell but he headed wide from six yards.
Gate still pressed forward and some excellent play by Benjamin Seear was eventually halted by Woodward with a timely tackle.
Runcorn’s attacking continued, and ● ● when Kusaloka went through on goal he pulled the ball inches wide of the target, much to the relief of goalkeeper Griffith.
Gate then missed a clear opening when a fierce volley from Andrew Richards flashed wide of the far post.
Some nice football from Runcorn followed with McManus and Cairns combining to create an opening that Thelwell fired straight at Griffith.
A long diagonal free-kick from Woodward was headed down by Thelwell to Heath who volleyed wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.
The breakthrough that Runcorn sought finally came a minute before the interval when a poor tackle inside the area on Cairns resulted in a penalty.
Cairns duly got up and drove the ball into the net to give his team a hardearned lead at the break.
It was the striker’s 41st goal of the campaign.
Runcorn started the second half well. A McManus corner fell to Kevin Exell who volleyed over the crossbar.
Soon after, a McManus cross found Liam Hollitt whose goalbound header was well held by Griffith.
When Cairns broke upfield, he chipped the ball over Gate marker Dan Penswick before being denied by a point-blank save by the goalkeeper.
The Lancashire visitors still threatened and a cross by Dawson was well taken by Mackin before a shot from the same Gate man took a deflection off Hollitt for an unproductive flag-kick.
Runcorn were certainly creating plenty of chances themselves but failing to take advantage, and Gate hung on with keeper Griffith in good form.
The home side had a lucky escape when Thelwell headed the ball onto his own crossbar. The ball was eventually cleared away, but when it was returned high into the Town box, Penswick nodded it narrowly wide.
Gate were now beginning to force the pace and Michael Hall went close with a header that was only inches wide.
Teammate Seydou Bamba was pushed forward from his defensive duties and he had two clear opportunities as Runcorn were being forced to defend more deeply into their own half.
On the break, however, Runcorn did look dangerous and when Cairns played Thelwell in, Runcorn’s captain made space well only to fire the ball high over the bar.
A header from Joe Kearns was well held by Griffith.
Then, when Cairns played Thelwell in on goal, the final shot was poor and failed to trouble Griffith.
A superb volley from Bamba brought an equally good save from Mackin to deny Gate.
A header from Thelwell was held by Griffith who was behind his line but he held the ball forward.
It was a vital stop as in the fifth minute of stoppage-time Gate equalised.
A fierce long-range shot from Higham flew across the Town goal before striking the far post and rebounding for Dawson to simply tap home to the dismay of Runcorn’s players and supporters.