Runcorn Edged out in tight Alderley clash
ALDERLEY EDGE IV ................................ 4 RUNCORN I ................................................ 2 FTER such a resounding win the weekend before, Runcorn Hockey Club’s men’s first-team took to the road in buoyant mood as they travelled to play Alderley Edge’s fourths.
Sadly due to Runcorn players arriving late for the meet, the visitors did not have the ideal preparation as they only had a few minutes to get ready before the game started.
This showed in Runcorn’s play as the home outfit dominated possession as the visitors struggled to get into any flow or rhythm.
With such a poor start Runcorn did not want to make mistakes and when holding midfielder Gary Looker misplaced a pass, Alderley had higher numbers upfield.
When the original shot on goal hit right-back Andy Partridge’s foot, the ball fell perfectly to another Alderley player who scored right in front of goal.
As Runcorn pushed forward and applied pressure on the ball, the home side enjoyed a lucky deflection to counterattack at pace. With better numbers again, Alderley capitalised on the space to attack down the right wing and provide another simple finish inside Runcorn’s penalty circle.
After a frustrating opening period Runcorn started to find their feet and push Alderley back with central midfielder Ben Cooper getting in behind their defence.
But when Runcorn had created the perfect attacking position their final pass
A● kept on missing the target.
In the end it was the trusted long ball that reduced the deficit. From a simple free hit near Runcorn’s penalty circle, centre-back Ben McKay found forward Christian White.
As he collected the ball, he passed to his strike partner Ruan Pretoruis.
With runners piling forward, Pretorius kept on running straight into the home side’s penalty circle and with no pressure he powered a shot high past the goalkeeper and into the Alderley net.
Runcorn were now in the ascendancy and asked more questions. When they gained a penalty corner it seemed the ideal time to score.
As the ball was pushed out, White gathered it and had so much time and space that his low, hard flick found the bottom corner of the net to level things up on the stroke of half-time.
As the second half started you could sense that the next goal would be key to the result and it was Runcorn who looked the more threatening.
They created a perfect chance but it was missed at the back post by forward Adam Dykes.
Despite the disappointment of the miss, Runcorn stayed upbeat and kept on going. They made an even better chance as Looker collected the ball in the penalty circle. He had so much time but his shot lacked power and direction to really test the Alderley goalkeeper.
Midway through the second half Alderley gained a penalty corner and when Partridge broke early, Runcorn had to defend it with one less man.
As the push came out, Alderley’s young player rode the first challenge and as he went to strike the ball it took a deflection off Mike Wakefield’s stick which wronged-footed Runcorn goalkeeper Roger Watt and deflected through the legs off McKay on the line to make it 3-2.
Not long after, Watt was picking the ball out of the goal from another penalty corner after it was powerfully struck home into the bottom corner of the net.
As the visitors changed formation, midfielders Allan Watt and Chris Maher tried to increase the tempo but Alderley held on to gain their first points of the season.
Player of the match for Runcorn went to young midfielder Corey Kinsella who is showing more maturity in his game and taking on responsibility when asked of him in a more central role in the side.
This Saturday Runcorn return to The Heath School with a home clash against Bowdon.