Changes are for the better
● Match referee Michael Ainsworth makes a point to Runcorn Town players ( Danny Jarrett and Kevin Exell along with Burscough goalkeeper Josh Samberg and teammate Prince Expolo during the sides’ clash at Victoria Park last Saturday which the visitors won 5-2. Turn to page 51 for full report and more pictures from the game.
RUNCORN TOWN manager Chris Herbert praised striker Craig Cairns after his hat-trick inspired the promotion-chasers to a 5-2 victory over Burscough last Saturday.
Harry Brazel’s brace – taking his tally to four goals in three games – rounded off the win.
And despite not matching Herbert’s standards in the first half, the manager reckons his side have tweaked their playing style successfully after a winter blip.
“I don’t think we deserved to win 5-2,” Herbert admitted.
“Burscough played really well and made some good chances.
“We were awful in the first half and somehow were leading 3-0 at half-time. They were the things that weren’t going for us and I said we’d get the luck back and it would all even itself out in the end and I think it did that in the first period on Saturday.”
And with 10 points from their last four games leaving them eight points behind secondplaced Widnes FC – but with four games in hand – Herbert says he would back his men against anyone in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division.
“We’ve changed the way we play,” he said, referencing the struggle Town faced over the festive period, losing six out of nine games.
“We’re more aggressive in the press and we try and get at teams early.
“Attacking-wise I fancy us against anyone going forward. It’s just how we keep things out.
“If teams take a chance against us and get lucky, they can win the game. But it’s just if teams are brave enough to do that.”
With frontman Cairns in such brilliant form, however, most teams will fear coming up against a reinvigorated Runcorn.
“He’s the best striker in the league. I don’t think there’s anyone close to him,” Herbert said.
“He’s averaging two goals a game when he’s played this season. He’s played 15 times this season and has scored two in almost all of them.”
With Saturday’s trip to Hanley Town being Runcorn’s third game in seven days following last night’s scheduled home clash with Squires Gate, the manager reckons the squad could be changed.
“It’s how the legs are. We’ve got a few experienced lads and we set up the team for each individual game,” he said.
“If we feel someone can make a difference in that particular game, we’ll change it for that reason. Craig Cairns scored a hattrick but if we feel someone else would suit the game, he’d make way. That’s how we set up.”
Saturday’s match at Hanley Town’s Potteries Park kicks-off at 3pm. Runcorn are without a midweek game next week. RUNCORN LINNETS boss Michael Ellison admitted he was disappointed as his side’s fixture with Ashton Athletic was cancelled last Saturday but reckons his team will pick up where they left off in their push for promotion.
“It’s gutting, especially when you get off the back of a defeat, you just want the next game as soon as possible,” he said.
“I suppose there’s people worse off than us but you prepare all week to play and the game doesn’t come. It’s not good. We had that momentum a couple of weeks ago where the wins kept coming, but I’m confident.
“It was tough to lose but when you come away from it the performance was there so it’s important to take the positives. I’m looking forward to Saturday.”
Paul Shanley was voted not only the club’s player of the month for February – he has picked up eight individual man-of-the-match awards this season – but the Hallmark Security League also acknowledged the productive winger as their monthly choice.
Shanley is the fourth Linnets player to win the award this season – following in the footsteps of Stuart Wellstead, Danny O’Brien and Freddie Potter – and his manager was keen to praise him.
“It’s well deserved for Paul. He’s been excellent for us and it’s not just his assists and his goals. It’s his work-rate and defensive play that sets him apart from the other top players,” the Runcorn boss said.
With Linnets currently seven points clear at the top of the table and with two games in hand on second-place Widnes FC, Ellison would be forgiven for looking ahead to a busy summer.
But the manager is keeping his feet firmly on the ground until promotion is definitely secured.
He continued: “It’s been some season and we have played well but there’s a long way to go.
“We’ve not actually won anything and it’s important to stay on our toes and continue what we’re doing. It may have came up for the board in some of their meetings or for some of the lads but certainly not from me.
“We won’t be counting any chickens until we’ve been there and actually done it and then we can start having those discussions.”
Linnets continue their quest to gain promotion on Saturday when they play host to City of Liverpool FC at the Millbank Linnets Stadium. The match kicks-off at 3pm. Ellison’s team also have a game next Tuesday evening when they go to Congleton Town. The game at the Richborough Estates Stadium kicks-off at 7.45pm. ●