Town make progress in FA Cup and League
RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 1 HEMSWORTH MINERS WELFARE ........ 0
RUNCORN TOWN booked their place in the preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory over Hemsworth Miners Welfare in a replay at the Viridor Community Stadium last Wednesday night.
The home side started the game strongly putting immediate pressure on the Hemsworth defence.
And just eight minutes into the replay, Steve Lewis gave Town the lead their strong opening deserved with a controlled powerful drive from 20 yards.
Hemsworth responded and from a corner, Runcorn defender Liam Turner was forced to head the ball away under pressure from two strikers.
Soon after, a low cross from Rich Collier was safely gathered by Runcorn goalkeeper Adam Reid holding on to the ball in a crowded goalmouth.
As Runcorn counterattacked, a tremendous goalbound volley from Carl Richards struck Harry Viggars and rebounded safely for an unproductive corner.
Runcorn continued to look dangerous, and when a long throw-in by Turner was headed on by Simon Thelwell to Mark Reed, the striker nodded the ball just over the angle of post and crossbar from six yards.
At the other end, fine run from Hemworth’s Brad Docherty took him through the Runcorn defence and it was only a superbly-timed tackle from Turner that ended the danger.
Marcus James was next to tackle the ever-dangerous Docherty as he probed for an equaliser.
The visitors were looking threatening but Runcorn’s defence was continuing to remain watertight.
Luke Danville had an opening but his hurried lob over Reid was well over the crossbar, much to the Hemsworth man’s dismay. ●
Collier then crossed the ball from the left touchline but Reid came to gather the ball and the danger had passed.
Despite the increasing pressure, Runcorn always looked dangerous as they counterattacked and from a Paul McManus corner, James headed the ball powerfully just inches wide of the target.
Into the second period, a Runcorn attack saw Jack Sheppard swing in a cross. Hemsworth’s Danny Rusling dropped the ball but Rodgers and Reed were unable to take advantage and the goalkeeper recovered to quickly grab the loose ball.
Lewis then powered his way through the Hemsworth backline but his final touch let him down, and pressured by defender Sam Leach, the ball rolled harmlessly out for a goal-kick.
Runcorn continued to attack, and from a Rodgers free-kick, Reed headed the ball towards the top corner of the net only for Rusling to make what was a difficult save look very easy.
A Thelwell cross-shot was then tipped over the crossbar by Rusling.
Thelwell then crossed from the right finding teammate Reed unmarked, but the striker headed the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
In added-on time, Town keeper Reid produced a superb save to tip Nash Connelly’s shot out for a corner as the visitors threw caution to the wind and laid siege on the Runcorn goal but they could not find an equaliser. RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 5 WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON............ 0 A BRILLIANT hat-trick from striker Mark Reed highlighted an excellent 5-0 victory by Runcorn Town last Saturday afternoon as they made it three wins out of three to start their season in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges and Town goalkeeper Adam Reid had to be alert to keep the scoreline blank as the Manchester side pushed forward.
Runcorn gradually got a foothold in the match and went ahead midway through the opening period, Reed firing a low shot from 20 yards beyond West keeper Marcus Burgess and into the net.
Town doubled their lead just before the hour, Reed the man again on target after neat play between Steve Lewis and Simon Thelwell.
The scoreline became 3-0 on 71 minutes when Lewis fired home a penalty after the player himself was felled inside the area.
Seven minutes from time, Reed completed his treble, heading home a cross from Liam Turner.
And the scoring was wrapped up two minutes later, Lewis nodding in a centre provided by Michael Carberry. RUNCORN TOWN secured their fourth League scalp of the season on Monday evening edging a tight clash at Winsford United 2-1.
After an opening half that witnessed chances at both ends of the field, the visitors got their noses in front seconds before the interval.
A cross from Paul McManus wide on the right found Simon Thelwell who nodded the ball across goalkeeper Mike Langley and into the net.
Town made it 2-0 early in the second half when the in-form Mark Reed outjumped the opposition defenders inside a packed six-yard box to head the ball home.
United cut the deficit in half on 73 minutes when Will Foster nodded in from a corner.
Winsford pressed for a late leveller from that point but Town’s rearguard would not be breached again and they held on for the three points.