Goals flow as Town extend flawless start
RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 5 CONGLETON TOWN ................................. 2
TWO goals from Mark Reed helped Runcorn Town make it a perfect 10 wins out of 10 in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division last Saturday as they got the better of Congleton in a seven-goal feast at Pavilions.
A torrential downpour an hour before kick-off helped provide an exciting game with plenty of goals and numerous goalmouth incidents.
Craig Cairns missed a golden opportunity for the hosts in the second minute when he flashed the ball wide of the target following excellent play from Kieran Evans and Reed.
At the other end, Congleton had a chance when Neil Chappell cut inside but his shot flew wide of the far post.
The visitors’ attacking play bore fruit in the ninth minute when centre-back Josh Heaton headed a Jamie Tandy corner powerfully into the net to give them the lead.
Soon after, Steve Foster was inches from connecting with a misplaced ball into the Runcorn penalty area as the Bears pressed the home side’s defence.
Congleton doubled their lead in the 16th minute, a dipping shot from the corner of the 18-yard box by Will HaslerCregg hitting the underside of the crossbar giving Runcorn goalkeeper Reece Airey no chance to save.
Reed brought Chris Herbert’s team back into the match in the 18th minute with a fierce shot from 20 yards that deflected off Jonah O’Reilly past Congleton goalkeeper Andy Jones.
Ex-Runcorn striker Jason Carey then had a couple of shots blocked in quick succession as the visitors threatened to restore their two-goal advantage.
As it transpired, though, it was Town who equalised in the 21st minute when Paul McManus played Cairns in on goal. The striker rounded keeper Jones then stroked the ball home.
Joe Holt then created an opening for ● Reed who turned on the edge of the area before firing his shot high over the bar.
A shot from Evans was then well held by Jones as Runcorn began to press the Bears’ rearguard.
Runcorn continued to press and Holt opened up the visitors’ defence to find Simon Thelwell whose side-footed effort struck Matthew Farnworth, the ball deflecting out for a corner.
From the flag-kick, Runcorn took the lead, Thelwell on the back post turning to fire the ball home into the bottom corner after spotting the goalkeeper off his near post.
As the half drew to a close, a cross from Reed found Cairns at the far post but the header from the Runcorn striker was just wide of the goal with Jones stranded.
An incident-filled first half was superseded by an even more incident-packed second period.
Town increased their lead in the 48th minute when following some good play by Cairns on the dead-ball line, his centre was met by Evans who side-footed the ball home.
Cairns was unlucky when he chipped the goalkeeper from fully 30-yards only to see the ball hit the top of the crossbar.
Soon after, the striker must have thought he had scored when he rounded Jones and rolled the ball towards the unguarded net only to see Heaton clear off the goalline.
But Runcorn would not be denied a fifth goal and just before the hour it duly arrived. A superb pass from Thelwell found Cairns who unselfishly played in Reed who netted.
Cairns tried another chipped effort and once again managed to strike the crossbar. This time the ball rebounded to Evans who volleyed it high over the goal.
The Congleton defence were doing well to repel the now constant attacking play from the home side.
Goalkeeper Jones made a full-length save to deny Cairns then did well to block Reed at point blank range.
Thelwell then had a header from a McManus corner cleared off the line.
A long range shot from Hasler-Clegg brought a good save out of Airey as Con- gleton looked to play themselves back onto the game.
Town were, however, creating chances and when the ball was only half cleared McManus hit a tremendous shot that flew narrowly wide of the post. Shaun Dowling’s pinpoint pass then put Cairns through and once again it was Jones who rescued his team with a fine save.
Congleton had a golden opportunity to pull a goal back when from Oliver Ford’s cross, substitute Ryan Hibbert headed the ball narrowly wide before the same player later struck the foot of an upright but Town’s defence would not be breached again. RUNCORN TOWN secured win number 11 on Monday evening with a 4-2 triumph at Winsford United.
The victory also broke yet another club record as it was their 13th successive win in the league dating back to the last campaign – runs of 12 matches had previously been set in 2007 and 2012.
Simon Thelwell set Runcorn on their way to the points netting via a superb direct free-kick on 24 minutes.
Craig Cairns doubled the lead soon after capitalising on a defensive mistake before teammate Mark Reed continued his rich vein of form nodding home a third goal from close-range.
Winsford hit back with a pair of goals early in the second period from playermanager Lee Duckworth and Perry Bircumshaw. But Runcorn’s nerves were settled and the points secured when Reed headed in his second goal and his side’s fourth 20 minutes from time.