Linnets hit a Barn draw
RUNCORN LINNETS .......................1 BARNOLDSWICK TOWN ...............1
I● T was a frustrating afternoon for the majority inside the Millbank Linnets Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Linnets never got going in a game against mid-table Barnoldswick Town.
While no game is easy in this league, Runcorn have now already drawn three home games which manager Michael Ellison would have been looking to win to keep the pressure on neighbours Runcorn Town in top spot.
However, this draw was in the end a point gained rather than two dropped as it took a goalkeeping masterclass from Matt Holmes to prevent the Lancashire side from heading home with a win.
Mitch Bryant had replaced Adam Jones while Stuart Wellstead came in for Kris Holt, the latter returning to duty with first-claim club Atherton Collieriess as the starting XI showed two changes from the midweek FA Vase win.
Ellison seems to finally be getting back some of his longer-term injured for consideration with Freddie Potter and Kieran Nolan both named as substitutes on Saturday.
But after being injured in his first game on returning to the club, Chris Lawton is facing a lengthy lay-off with an arm injury while Zac Aley has suffered a further seback on his long road to recovery.
New signing from Trafford, Rio Gill, was also on the bench.
The howling wind played a major factor throughout this game and was a considerable advantage to each side when kicking away from the clubhouse end.
It made for a very scrappy affair where control of the ball was diffi- cult. But it helped the Linnets take the lead on the half-hour mark in slightly fortunate fashion. Danny O’Brien’s in-swinging corner kick caught the wind perfectly and curled beyond the reach of the Barlick goalkeeper to nestle into the top corner of the net, giving rightback O’Brien his second goal in as many games.
A good spell followed for the hosts and a second goal may well have closed the game out, but the ball refused to cross the line. Paul Shanley hit the post, Matty Atherton sent a rasping shot just wide before Kyle Hamid stung g the g goalkeeper’s p fingertips with a low shot.
Similar to last Tuesday against Team Northumbria, the second half would be a different animal with the Linnets having to defend their way through to full-time.
Holmes came to Aaron Morris’s rescue as the ball was pinched from the centre-back’s control in the six-yard box then he punched a wicked free-kick, which was destined for the top corner, over the crossbar.
Next up was a last-ditch blocking tackle by Jimmy Moore with Barlick about to equalise but the Linnets had a g great chance to put p the game g to bed when Mitch Bryant found the ball at his feet with space on the edge of the 18-yard area but he took too many touches and allowed the keeper to make a save.
It was to be the home side’s solitary second-half attempt on goal.
O’Brien and Bryant made way for Nolan and Gill as Ellison looked to try to retake a foothold in a game that was edging away from his men.
But within minutes of entering the fray, Nolan gave away a penalty. It was likely a rush of blood to the head of a usually faultless py player, who has missed a lot of game time this season with injuries.
The danger had seemed only mild as Barlick attacked close to the left edge of the 18-yard box, but Nolan threw out an arm to block the run and gave the referee little option but to point to the spot.
Holmes guessed the right way but it was a well-taken penalty by Andrew Hill and found the bottom corner to level the scores.
The Linnets just could not get any fluidity to their play and never looked likely to restore the advantage.
Ellison made the bold decision to surrender full-back Matty Atherton for Freddie Potter in trying to force the issue, but this gamble almost ended in catastrophe in injury time when Barlick found themselves with two unmarked players on the edge of the Linnets six-yard box – but Holmes was able to cover the length of his goal and pull off a truly astonishing save. ●