Town’s nightmare at Silentnight Stadium
BARNOLDSWICK TOWN ......................... 5 RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 1
RUNCORN TOWN had an afternoon to forget as they had a man sent-off en route to crashing to a 5-1 defeat at Barnoldswick last Saturday.
A bright start by the visitors all came to nought in the end and they departed the Silentnight Stadium with plenty to ponder. It was a much-changed line-up for Chris Herbert’s men with three players making their debuts for the club.
Runcorn began the game on the front foot. Returning midfielder Harry Brazel hit a blistering shot that was blocked by Barlick defender Ethan Kershaw. The ball fell into the path of Liam Turner who from 25 yards hit a tremendous first-time volley that home goalkeeper Ryan Livesey tipped over the bar.
The visitors had a goal disallowed in the 10th minute when a shot from former Liverpool Youth player Craig Lindfield failed to be held by Livesey. The ball rebounded into the path of Brazel who side-footed home only to be ruled offside by an assistant referee.
A fierce strike by Stuart McDonald then tested Livesey who again failed to hold the ball but he recovered quickly to hang on at the second attempt.
Barlick’s first break came when Mark Threlfall played a good ball through the Runcorn defence but teammate Nathan Emery’s centre flew high over the bar.
The first goal arrived just before the quarter-hour mark when the home side were awarded a highly-contentious penalty. No Barlick player appealed for the spot-kick which was given following a corner-kick on the left. The ball found its way to Barlick midfielder Andrew Hill, who, facing away from goal, seemed to clip his own heels before tumbling over the ball. The ball was cleared away from danger by Runcorn full-back Turner only for the match referee, to the total disbelief of all the players and spectators, to point to the penalty spot. Jack Coop duly stepped up and drove the ball home from 12 yards.
The goal was perfectly timed for Barlick who now enjoyed their best spell of ● the game.
Threlfall brought a good save out of Adam Reid but the Runcorn keeper had no chance when James Crorken headed home a right touchline cross from Jake McEneaney in the 29th minute to double the home outfit’s lead.
Zack Dale then curled a shot from the corner of the penalty area narrowly wide of the post and crossbar angle with keeper Reid completely stranded.
Runcorn pulled themselves back into the game in the 24th minute. Brazel won the ball out on the right, cut inside before finding Ryan Cox on the edge of the penalty area. The Runcorn striker picked his spot perfectly firing past Livesey.
Barlick almost grabbed a third goal when Dale beat Reid to a through-ball but he was rescued by Turner who cleared the ball off the goalline.
Reid then denied Dale with a superb save, John Shaw on hand to complete the clearance.
At the other end, a corner from Paul McManus found Shaw unmarked on the edge of the penalty area but a wicked bounce of the ball resulted in the central defender’s shot flying high over the crossbar and clean out of the ground.
Five minutes before the interval the hosts netted for a third time. Poor marking by the Runcorn defence presented Rhain Hellawell with an opening that he exploited with a delicate chip over Reid.
Despite the Runcorn goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball, he was unable to stop it dropping into the net.
As the interval approached, a low cross from Lindfield was met with a diving header from Cox that Crorken cleared off the goalline.
Hoping to make a good start to the second period, Runcorn’s plan went awry when Barlick made it 4-1 in the 50th minute.
Brazel appeared to be felled from behind but the referee did not award a free-kick. From there, Barlick broke upfield and Threlfall slotted home.
Barlick kept the pressure on and a centre from Hellawell was tipped onto an upright by Reid.
A superb fifth goal from Dale on 56 minutes sealed Runcorn’s fate, the winger beating three defenders before finding the bottom corner of the net.
Runcorn to their credit never gave up and were denied a second goal when the ball came off a defender to Cox. He duly netted only to be flagged offside. Soon after, a cross from debutant Matty Waters found McDonald on the far post but the Runcorn striker headed the ball narrowly wide.
Goalkeeper Reid then did well to tip a Threlfall shot over his bar for an unproductive corner as the game flowed from end to end.
Barlick continued to threaten and a long-range shot from Kershaw took a deflection off McManus before hitting the top of the Runcorn crossbar.
Leon Wright then produced a low near post cross that Cox met perfectly, the ball hitting Barnick keeper Livesey before deflecting out for a flag-kick.
A late offside flag resulted in McDonald kicking the ball away resulting in a yellow card.
And within minutes McDonald was played through by Marcus James. A 50/50 ball resulted with Livesey reacting by thrusting his head into the Runcorn player’s face.
After consulting his assistant, the referee awarded Barlick a free-kick.
He then booked Livesey before showing a second yellow card to McDonald who subsequently departed the field.
Down to 10 men Runcorn continued to attack and were awarded three freekicks in quick succession with the Barlick defence three times kicking the ball away each time.
Strangely no yellow cards were shown by the referee this time and the game ended soon after with Runcorn more than happy to hear the final whistle.