Town’s cup crackers seal the Church fate
PENISTONE CHURCH ........................ 1 RUNCORN TOWN ................................ 3
RUNCORN Town set up a first qualifying round FA Cup tie at home to Irlam following their 3-1 success at Penistone Church on Saturday.
They host their fellow Hallmark Security League Premier Division rivals on Saturday, Septrember 8.
An injury to Carl Rodgers forced Chris Herbert to shuffle his starting 11 for the preliminary round clash, Jack Sheppard again proving his value by moving into a central midfield role, with Simon Thelwell moving to fullback, with latest signing Ryan Cox making his debut.
Runcorn were under early pressure from the quick Church forwards but the nearest Church came was when Scrivens cut in from the right and curled his shot just wide of the far upright.
Runcorn took the lead in the 13th minute, a well worked corner routine resulting in the ball from McManus being hammered home from 25 yards by John Shaw’s trusty left foot into the far top corner of the net.
Church came back but Runcorn looked dangerous every time they attacked after a good run by Lewis, he turned the home defence leaving two defenders in his wake before seemingly being brought down. The referee was right up with play but awarded Church a free-kick instead of a penalty to Town.
But Runcorn were rewarded for their adventurous play when they got a second goal in the 23rd minute. Shaw found Lewis deep in midfield, the striker then clipped the ball over the Church defence for Cox to race clear, chipping the ball over the advancing Oxley into the empty net.
As expected, Church came back and some good play from Keightley set up Firth who fired the ball wide of the target.
The best chance of the first half for Church came when Keightley flicked the ball through to Ryan who lobbed it over Reid’s crossbar as the keeper advanced. Sam Scrivens was causing all sorts of problems to the Runcorn defence and when he turned inside James his fierce shot was well held by Reid at the foot of his near post.
Church came out for the second half determined to get back into this game with Scrivens looking their most dangerous player.
McManus, Weaver and Sheppard in the Runcorn midfield were being made to cover a lot of ground as the pressure on their defence began to mount. When Scrivens cut inside Thelwell his shot brought an excellent save out of Reid.
But Church got the goal they deserved in the 53rd minute and it was the dangerous Scrivens who placed the ball into the bottom corner from 18 yards, giving Reid no chance to save.
Runcorn responded well but whenScrivens played the ball to Ryan, his shot deflected off Thelwell for a corner. Ryan then had a clear opportunity but his attempted lob was palmed away by Reid on the edge of his penalty area.
Herbert made substitutions that in hindsight won his team the game. Carberry came on at full-back and the danger from Scrivens was subdued. Thelwell moved forward and Irlam and Wright, making his debut, joined the match. ●
Runcorn then got the vital third goal in the 74th minute when from Thelwell’s free-kick wide on the left the ball curled to the far post where Shaun Weaver rose to outjump the keeper Oxley and head the ball home. ● TOWN had a special mascot for Monday’s match with Ashton Athletic – 11-year-old Ethan Campbell who led out both teams.
Ethan is a local lad and a big football fan and the club held a collection to help and support him as he continues his brave battle with cerebral palsy.
In July, his family were told that to help Ethan with his walking that he is required to have two procedures. Whilst the second is funded by the NHS, the first procedure called SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) is not due to Ethan’s age.
The family have to therefore fund this procedure themselves at a cost of £21,000, yet the Runcorn community have rallied together and in just over a month, with more than £15,000 being raised.
A fundraising football match and funday will be held on Sunday between an Ethan Select XI and Ethan’s Warriors at the Viridor Community Stadium, kick-off at 2pm. Admission just £2 at the turnstiles.
If you would like to donate anything to Ethan’s fund, visit the Just Giving page at www.gofundme.com/sdr-surgery-for-ethan-campbell.