Spirited Town triumph
RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 2 1874 NORTHWICH .................................... 1 UNCORN TOWN showed they mean business once again in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division with a battling 2-1 triumph over 1874 Northwich last Saturday afternoon, their seventh victory in eight league matches played to date.
Manager Chris Herbert was forced to shuffle his pack with Carl Rodgers still unavailable and both Danny Jarrett and Mark Reed sidelined for the clash. But the response from the Town team was tremendous as they went on to secure the spoils and thrill their supporters at a vibrant Viridor Community Stadium.
1874 started the game well dominating the opening 20 minutes and Runcorn had to thank their goalkeeper Adam Reid for keeping them in the game at this point.
Marcus James also had to be alert to thwart an attack from the visitors as they almost reaped the benefits from taking a throw-in from the wrong position.
The visitors continued to threaten and from a Taylor Kennerley centre from out wide on the left touchline, Michael Carberry did well to head the ball clear with Joe Woolley waiting behind him for any scrap to fall his way.
Runcorn’s first clear opportunity came after 12 minutes. When striker Ryan Cox was fouled 25 yards from goal, Simon Thelwell’s free-kick was diverted for an unproductive corner by 1874 defender Matthew Russell.
Soon after, the visitors were denied by Runcorn keeper Reid who produced a brilliant reaction save to turn Kennerley’s goalbound shot out for a corner.
However it came as no surprise when 1874 took the lead in the 16th minute.
From a corner on the left, the ball broke loose in the penalty area for the unmarked Danny Thomas to sidefoot home from eight yards.
R●
1874 quickly went searching for a second goal and when Scott McGowan broke through, it took another excellent save by Reid, diving to his left to hold the goalbound shot and deny the striker.
Kennerley then hit a fierce strike from 20 yards that Reid held at the second attempt.
Runcorn then began to claw their way back into the game. Jamie Menagh sent a free-kick into the penalty area where Cox had a clear chance but his glancing header flew inches wide of the target.
Town continued to mount pressure on the 1874 defence and their efforts were rewarded in the 33rd minute when from a Paul McManus flag-kick, John Shaw headed the ball home.
Soon after, visiting goalkeeper James Coates produced an impressive onehanded save to tip Shaun Weaver’s 25-yard volley out for a corner.
Town pair Stuart McDonald and Menagh were now beginning to cause major problems to the 1874 defence.
However, when McDonald fed the ball into the path of Menagh his hurried shot failed to test Coates. Weaver was next to have a go but he saw his fierce 20-yard volley blocked by Jack Pritchard.
Runcorn had certainly finished the opening period far better than they had started it.
1874 made a substitution at the start of the second half when Callum Gardner replaced Joe Woolley.
An early scare for Runcorn followed when Kennerley broke down the left. His accurate cross found McGowan in space but his shot from the edge of the penalty area flew high over the angle.
McDonald and Menagh had struck up a fine understanding and their combined play began to pay dividends for Runcorn.
Some excellent work by Thelwell created an opening for full-back Carberry , and from his centre, Cox controlled the ball and turned to have his shot deflect away to Menagh who fired the rebound narrowly wide of the upright.
Gardner looked to be a good substitution for 1874 and when he cut in from the right, his powerful shot hit the side-netting. The same player then brought a reaction save out of Reid the ball falling in to the path of McGowan who fired it wide of the target, much to Town’s relief.
Thirteen minutes from time, Runcorn were awarded a penalty. McDonald beat Russell and as raced on to the ball inside the area he was pushed to the ground by Mark Jones.
McManus duly stepped up to hammer the resultant spot-kick home, despite a valiant attempt by Coates to keep the ball out.
Runcorn then brought on Steve Wainwright and Leon Wright as substitutes with 1874 also introducing Josh Winthrop and Kazim Waite-Jackson all in the final 10 minutes of the game.
The nearest 1874 came to equalising was when the always-dangerous and tricky Kennerley struck a low shot from 20 yards that goalkeeper Reid covered as the ball flew wide of his left-hand post.