High five for Linnets to stay in touch at the top
ON an afternoon when several Hallmark Security League fixtures succumbed to the weather, Runcorn Linnets overcame threatening downpours starting late on Saturday morning to not only play but also register three more points in their continuing quest to keep pressure on the Hallmark Security League Premier Division frontrunners.
Just short of 300 braved the wind and rain to see Linnets, for a second successive game, hit back from conceding the opening goal to secure a convincing win.
This game was never pretty because of the conditions but both teams gave everything to their respective cause and until running out of steam a little in the last 10 minutes, Congleton had done their utmost in the second half to get back into contention.
Congleton’s line-up featured striker Brian Matthews who had a spell at The Millbank either side of Christmas before eventually returning on his self-styled merry-go-round to Booth Street via Prestwich Heys from where he had arrived at Runcorn.
Matthews, having never really settled at Linnets during his brief sojourn, had the honour of getting the game under way but it was in the 29th minute that he had a real impact with an excellent cross into the box from the left.
It was converted by teammate Declan Fletcher to give Congleton the lead.
Although both teams had already threatened, the goal followed a long spell of home pressure but Runcorn did not let the setback deter them.
Indeed, three goals in the last eight minutes of the half completely transformed the match.
Firstly from a free-kick, Danny McK- ● enna curled a 30-yard left-foot special beyond Town goalkeeper Ross Heywood and high into the right corner. It was still being applauded as the teams lined up again to restart play.
A minute before the break, a Runcorn free-kick into the box from the right was recycled, initially by Freddie Potter, for Paul Shanley to strike home hard, low and true, right-footed from the edge of the ‘D’ to put the Linnets 2-1 up.
With virtually the last kick of the half, Kris Holt then popped up on the periphery of the area to rifle in a powerful shot after Runcorn had worked the ball infield from the left.
Unfortunately for Congleton, it hit defender Ben Alston and took a big deflection to completely wrong-foot Heywood, the Linnets’ scoring burst putting a totally different complexion on proceedings.
Michael Ellison’s team probably did not want the half to end and there were signs at the start of the second period of them finding it difficult to pick up their momentum again.
A Congleton goal soon after the restart would have made it ‘game on’ again but for all their efforts, the away side could not find another way past goalkeeper Matty Holmes, who again looked calm, assured and decisive between the sticks.
Linnets almost added to their tally just before the hour mark but it would have been a bizarre effort. Antony Hickey, fresh from his 100th Runcorn appearance, charged down an attempted clearance off the floor by Heywood, who was no doubt relieved to see the rebound just miss the target.
The issue was put beyond any doubt in the 71st minute with right-back Danny O’Brien this time showing McKenna that he did not have sole ownership of freekicks in Kyle Hamid’s absence.
This time, the offence was committed near the left corner of the penalty box and O’Brien, who had already had the confidence to try his luck from distance in the first half, albeit over the bar, found the ammunition to shoot right-footed, high over the leaping Heywood for a three-goal cushion.
That was soon deflated slightly in the 81st minute when sloppy defending by Linnets saw substitute Callum Gardner find consolation with a well-taken Congleton goal.
However, the final word went to Linnets through Stuart Wellstead, who made light of Runcorn’s poor record from penalties this season by calmly slotting home an 85th-minute spot-kick after the excellent Shanley had been brought down.
Victory kept Linnets in second place in the table, two points behind leaders Atherton Collieries, who snatched a stoppage-time winner at Maine Road.
Runcorn have played at least three games more than the other top five sides, entering this midweek, but will visit Collieries and third-placed Bootle in their next two fixtures.
So nearing the end of a season which began in such disarray, there is still much for Linnets to play for.