Spirited Runcorn find themselves Edged out
RUNCORN I ................................................ 1 ALDERLEY EDGE IV ................................ 2 UNCORN Hockey Club’s men’s first-team returned to the home comforts of The Heath School as high-flying Alderley Edge fourths came into town.
Despite results going against the home side, confidence was high after some strong performances.
This confidence showed as Runcorn started strongly against opposition that came into the match on a 10-game run without defeat.
With playing conditions not at the best Runcorn moved the ball about sharply and strung together great passing moves.
Runcorn continued to dominate as midfield duo Gary Looker and Joe Cooper dictated the play to push the home outfir forward.
But despite controlling proceedings Runcorn did not create any clear goalscoring chances but they continued to keep Alderley away from their goal and as the midway point of the half approached, the opening goal arrived.
From a defensive situation, Runcorn threaded a couple of passes with the ball finding its way to forward Pete Jones.
As midfielder Joe Cooper overlapped, he was put through down the left wing. As Alderley tracked back, their defence got drawn to the top of the penalty circle allowing the midfielder to cross across the front of the goal for right winger Mike French to dive forward and score from close-range.
With a well-deserved lead, Runcorn continued to control things even when they lost right-back Andy Partridge for a few minutes in the sin-bin for an off-theball incident.
Once Runcorn returned to a full complement it was not long before they lost another player as centre-back Christian White was sin-binned for a foul.
However, things continued in the same pattern and as the half-time whistle approached Alderley had their first shot in the match but it was easily saved by goalkeeper Andy Townley.
At half-time the message for the home side was to continue as they had been, but be more clinical in front of goal.
As Runcorn pressed forward in the second period, half-chances started to appear but they struggled to work Alderley’s goalkeeper.
Despite the frustrations, forward players Jones and Ruan Pretorious contin-
R● ued to battle to get that chance to kill the game off.
Feeling so confident Runcorn had plenty of space and time to move the ball about but when captain Mike Wakefield got caught dawdling in possession, Alderley counterattacked.
As Alderley’s attacking midfielder drove into the penalty circle down the left hand channel, his shot turned into a high cross that was volleyed in at the back post by Alderley’s right winger above his head.
Having been out of the match to that point, Alderley upped the tempo and sensed an opportunity.
Their quest was boosted when Par- tridge was sin-binned for the second time for a robust challenge.
As Runcorn moved players about to cover the reduced numbers, Alderley gained a penalty corner.
However, it was superbly defended and cleared from a side-line hit.
Sadly for Runcorn as they tried to get set up, the ball was played to Alderley’s young left winger who ran across the pitch and entered at the top of the penalty circle.
With the Runcorn rearguard out of position, the winger had time and space to strike high at goal. His shot got a deflection off Townley’s hip and the ball flew into the net.
With time going against Runcorn they struggled to carve any clear openings and Alderley worked the time down with no further issues.
As the visitors gained a penalty corner, the final whistle went and Runcorn’s reaction said it all as the points had gone despite such a strong showing from every player.
Player-of-the-match honours went to winger Corey Kinsella for continued improvement in his play and his ability to keep things simple and efficient.
On Saturday Runcorn travel to relegation-threatened Bowdon with both teams in need of points to help with their league position.