Runcorn given fright but stay undefeated
AFC DARWEN ............................................ 2 RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 2
FOR only the second time this season, Runcorn Town dropped points in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division as they shared an entertaining 2-2 draw with AFC Darwen last Saturday afternoon.
Darwen started the game well coping far better with the atrocious condition of the pitch at the WEC Group Anchor Ground. High-quality football proved to be impossible and the game became a battle from the very first whistle.
Nevertheless, both teams did well to provide the large crowd with a game containing plenty of goalmouth incidents in an end-to-end attacking encounter for the full 90 minutes.
Darwen took the lead in the sixth minute when a 20-yard pile-driver from Kiel Lonsdale completely deceived Runcorn goalkeeper Danny Eccles who, despite managing to get his hands to the ball, was unable to prevent it dropping into the net.
Soon after, a dangerous cross from Darwen’s Luke Cassidy fortunately for Runcorn eluded Lonsdale and Kieran Evans was on hand to hack the ball away to safety.
Another centre from Cassidy found striker Ryan McKenna who headed the ball straight at Eccles.
A right wing corner by Darwen was then cleared off the goal line by Joe Holt before a low powerful drive from Tony Hodges brought a superb save from Eccles who recovered well to gather the loose ball.
Darwen continued to press and a freekick from Cassidy led to a header from Lonsdale that went inches wide of the target.
Runcorn needed to get hold of the ball and not give it away cheaply as Darwen were threatening to run away with the game but after 20 minutes the visitors imposed themselves with Paul McManus and Holt starting to pull the strings in the middle of the park.
Holt found Kevin Exell wide on the right and his cross was perfect to Mark Reed who laid the ball for Craig Cairns to fire narrowly wide.
Then McManus split the Darwen defence with a great pass to pick out Exell whose cross was just a touch too high for Cairns.
Darwen were always dangerous though, and when McKenna crossed the ● ball, Lonsdale shot high over the crossbar from 10 yards out.
Runcorn went straight up the other end in an attempt to level matters up. Holt put Cairns through and his cross was pulled back to Exell who hammered the ball high over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
As the half drew to a close, Danny Jarrett and Evans combined setting up Cairns who was denied by a superb save from Darwen goalkeeper Steven James who tipped the ball away for a corner.
In added-on time, McKenna struck the Town crossbar from six yards following a corner from Cassidy who had been a thorn in the Runcorn side for the entire opening period.
Darwen started the second half as they had the first.
Eccles produced a good save to deny an Adam Douglas header.
However, following two successive corners when Runcorn had failed to clear the ball, McKenna struck a low shot into the bottom corner of the Runcorn net to double Darwen’s lead. Runcorn’s response was rapid. Exell crossed to Cairns. His pass to Holt resulted in the Town player being pushed over in the penalty area for a spot-kick.
As he had done against Hanley Town, McManus obliged from 12 yards to reduce the arrears with more than 35 minutes remaining in the game.
Runcorn began to pressurise the home defence, and from a McManus corner, an unmarked Tom Crawford headed the ball straight at James from six yards.
Runcorn introduced new signing Zach Adekoya for the injured Exell and the youngster was immediately involved winning a corner following some good footwork.
Runcorn restored parity just after the hour when a pinpoint cross from rightback Shaun Dowling found Cairns free to head the ball firmly past James from eight yards.
Both teams created chances in an attempt to win the game.
Darwen’s McKenna had a shot blocked by a desperate intervention from Dowling, Jarrett intercepted a through ball meant for Sidi Fofana before producing a superbly-timed tackle to deny Jamie Edwards.
At the other end, from Reed’s pass, Holt had a shot deflected for a corner.
McManus then put Adekoya through on goal but centre-back Douglas recovered quickly to clear the ball from the striker’s feet.
In the final minute Runcorn were awarded a free-kick following a foul on Reed. Holt hit a tremendous shot from 30 yards that was only narrowly wide as James went full length trying to cover his upright.
A stoppage-time corner to Runcorn was cleared from a crowded six-yard box by the Darwen defence as referee Richard Aspinall finally blew his whistle for full-time.
It would have been harsh for either side to have lost this game and a draw was a fair result in the end. ●