Town’s title bid suffers blow after epic match
RUNCORN TOWN’S mission for the Hallmark Security League Premier Division crown sustained another hammer blow last Friday night when they were on the losing end of a thrilling seven-goal feast with Barnoldswick Town at Pavilions.
The 4-3 defeat capped a dreadful week for Chris Herbert’s men after their 2-1 reverse to Irlam Town just three nights before.
The weather was shocking and got worse during the game but the fans who braved the elements were treated to an end-to-end match with seven goals and plenty of goalmouth action.
Barnoldswick took the lead in the 13th minute when from a John Beckwith corner, Jonathan Hodgkinson headed home from six yards.
Runcorn goalkeeper Louie Mackin made a good save to foil Zack Dale before Mark Reed equalised with a superb turn and shot into the corner from a Phil Marsh cross in the 17th minute.
Runcorn continued to press forward and from a corner, Craig Jones blasted the ball over the angle. Teammate Paul McManus then forced Barnoldswick goalkeeper Jordan Gidley to concede an unproductive corner from his snap-shot.
At the other end, Beckwith broke forward with intent.
The bounce of the ball deceived defender Mark McGregor but fellow rearguard man Joe Kearns saved a certain goal with a superb tackle.
However, Barnoldswick regained the lead five minutes before the interval when from Beckwith’s corner, Aaron Hollingdrake blasted the ball into the roof of the net. ●
Barnoldswick had an early chance to increase their lead in the second half when goalkeeper Mackin advanced to partly clear the ball only for it to find the feet of Jake Lloyd who fired wide of an unguarded net from fully 35 yards.
Reed then broke down the right flank but no-one was up to meet his low cross into the penalty area.
Runcorn still kept up the pressure and Gidley did well to hang on to a McManus shot with Reed waiting for a loose ball..
Soon after, Simon Thelwell broke through and it took a timely tackle from Hodgkinson to clear the danger.
The home fans were cheered when Town equalised on 55 minutes. From a McManus free-kick, centre-back McGregor headed the ball home.
Two minutes later, Marsh had a goal disallowed when the referee blew for a foul on Reed in the area.
But from the resulting penalty, McManus converted to put Town ahead for the first time in the match.
The surface water was increasing as the rain poured down but this added to the game rather than spoilt it.
Barnoldswick levelled proceedings in the 71st minute when Hollingdrake fired home a cross from the left.
And they turned things around in their favour when Dale hammered in a low hard cross that the luckless Jones could only deflect past Mackin.
With the clock running down, Runcorn substitute Craig Cairns broke through on the Barnoldswick goal but another timely tackle from Hodgkinson ensured a deserved victory for his team leaving Town to reflect with great disappointment on two big defeats in two matches.