Groundhop Day an Easter feast of goals
RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 4 BARNTON ................................................... 1 ATIONAL Groundhop Day proved to be a massive success at Pavilions the home of Runcorn Town and the large crowd in attendance on Easter Sunday evening were treated to goals galore in a hard-fought Hallmark Security League Premier Division derby fixture with local rivals Barnton.
The early downpour soon cleared and led to an excellent entertaining match for the supporters.
Barnton had an early opportunity when Jason McShane latched on to a loose ball in the Town penalty area but his volleyed shot flew high over the crossbar.
The visitors continued to press and Joe Heath did well to hack the ball away following a scramble inside the six-yard box.
Town took the lead in the 16th minute when they were awarded a penalty, and Craig Cairns hammered the ball home to put his team ahead from the spot.
Barnton were having the better of the play following the penalty and forced Town to defend in depth.
Runcorn goalkeeper Louie Mackin, however, was well covered by his back four.
Town were always dangerous on the break and a low drive from Joe Holt brought an excellent save from Matt Conkie in the visitors’ goal.
The Barnton keeper then produced a superb stop to deny Mark Reed as the ball broke loose on the goal line and teammate Jordan Stafford rescued his team with a last ditch clearance.
The game was well balanced at this point with both midfields creating plenty of openings for their forwards and the sides went into the interval with just the one goal between them.
Barnton had an early let-off at the start of the second half when a free-kick from Jack Pickering just cleared Daniel Meadowcroft.
Reed stole in behind the central defender to head goalwards but Conkie was well positioned to hold the ball in his six-yard area.
When Barnton attacked down the right, Ryan Malone’s dangerous low cross was cleared by Keiran Evans with no-one forward enough to take full advantage.
But just two minutes into the half, Town got a second goal.
Kevin Exell crossed the ball to Reed
N● ● who hit a shot that rebounded to Cairns. His strike was deflected back to Reed who picked his spot from 15 yards.
Town further increased their lead in the 55th minute. A through ball from Carl Rodgers put Cairns clear and he beat the advancing Conkie from 18 yards.
Barnton responded well and began to put the Town defence under pressure.
A free-kick on the edge of the area from Chris Smith was well held by Mackin on his goalline.
Town came back when Reed latched onto a loose ball, rounded Conkie only to see substitute Callum Richards clear to save a certain goal.
Barnton were eventually rewarded when former Town player Jason McShane pulled a goal back curling a superb shot into the top corner from 25 yards in the 73rd minute.
But just three minutes later, any jitters Town might have had vanished when a move down the right involving Josh Maguire and Craig Jones resulted in a cross from Phil Marsh that Reed met with a spectacular bicycle kick scoring the goal of the match.
Town played some of their best football at this point but Barnton never gave up adding to an entertaining game.
It was the best game of the weekend according to one happy ground-hopper – and with another three points banked, Runcorn would certainly not argue with that assessment too.