Menagh pair helps beat Pad

Runcorn Town 4

Padiham 0 RUNCORN TOWN kept alive their outside hopes of winning promotion last Saturday afternoon as they saw off Padiham largely without fuss 4-0 in their final home game of the campaign.

Runcorn took the lead in the ninth minute when Jamie Menagh charged down a clearance from Padiham keeper Stuart Cross and reacted rapidly to slot home the loose ball.

A superb run from Menagh created a second goal for Runcorn in the 29th minute.

Cutting from the right touchline, his cross found Craig Cairns on the far post for the striker to set up fellow frontman Mark Reed who netted.

Referee Robert Wainwright awarded a penalty to Runcorn when Mike Morrison dragged Cairns back inside the area. The usuallt reliable Paul McManus had his spot kick brilliantly saved by Cross and the sides went into the interval with Town still holding a 2-0 advantage.

With news filtering through that Widnes FC held just a 1-0 advantage at Irlam, Runcorn fans began to hope that miracles do happen and a massive goal fest from both home outfits might see the team rise up to the second promotion place.

Runcorn duly increased their lead in the 55th minute when Cairns outfoxed Padiham Cross forcing the keeper into a mistake that allowed the striker to roll the ball back for Menagh to strike low into the open net from 12 yards.

Padiham were always dangerous with Spencer Jordan and Jay Hart always looking lively up front.

Hart struck the post from close-range when Aaron Fleming curled the ball behind the Runcorn back-four.

Cairns got the goal his display richly deserved in the final minute of the match.

A perfectly-lobbed ball from substitute Craig Jones put Runcorn’s leading goalscorer through and he made no mistake, this time hammering the ball into the bottom corner of the Padiham net.