‘We’ve a massive five weeks now’
RUNCORN TOWN boss Chris Herbert has told his players the next five weeks will define their season after losing 5-1 to Barnoldswick Town last weekend.
Town suffered their second defeat of the campaign at the Silentnight Stadium on Saturday after a positive start to the campaign. Herbert’s side have won seven of their opening nine games after narrowly missing out on promotion to the Evo-Stik League West last term but collapsed at Barnoldswick with two debutants included in the starting line-up.
Young defender Matty Waters and former Liverpool Youth team striker Craig Lindfield both made their first appearance for Runcorn, but Herbert explained that the changes were forced after their 2-1 win over 1874 Northwich a week previous.
“We had problems before the game,” the manager said.
“We had five away on stag-do’s and that killed us, really. I had two new signings – two very good signings – [in the team] but we had to throw everyone in at the deep-end against a very good Barnoldswick side away from home, which is never easy.
“It cost us. I was named as the third sub! I get that people have holidays, it’s semi-professional football, but it killed us on Saturday. We couldn’t do anything we wanted.”
Runcorn take on an Abbey Hey side this Saturday who are confined to the relegation zone following one win from their opening nine games.
Fixtures against Congleton Town and Silsden – who are both currently above Town in the table – follow before clashes with Bootle and Charnock Richard.
“I said before the game on Saturday we’re going into a massive ● Striker Ryan Cox nets for Runcorn Town in their clash against Barnoldswick Town at the Silentnight Stadium last Saturday. five weeks,” Herbert reflected.
“By the end of that five weeks you’re going to know if we’re going to challenge for the title or not. That’s as simple as it is for me. We’re playing all the top sides apart from City of Liverpool and Barnoldswick who we’ve already been beaten by.
“We’ve got to stand up and win those games. It’s that simple for me now. If not, all we’ll be is upsetters, and I don’t want that.
“I’m a manager to be a winner, not to upset other teams.
“I think the lads are disappointed and down and I’m pretty sure we’ll get a reaction from them against Abbey Hey. We’ll be fine.”
Herbert also revealed striker Ste Lewis has rejoined Cymru Alliance outfit Holywell Town just three months after arriving at the Viridor Community Stadium.
Lewis had scored six goals in six appearances – including one strike from the halfway line in the opening day win over Padiham – but had not been a regular in Herbert’s side in recent weeks.
The striker’s last appearance came in the 3-1 FA Cup victory over Penistone Church in August but Herbert believes he has enough firepower to replace the target man following the arrivals of both Ryan Cox and Lindfield in recent weeks.
“Steve has rejoined Holywell Town,” the manager confirmed.
“He wants to play every minute of every game and we can’t guarantee him that. He’s gone to Holywell so maybe they’ve guaranteed him that. That’s football.
“He did well for us in his short spell here but we play a slightly different way to what Ste plays and that’s the way things go.
“We both parted amicably and he moves on back to Holywell.” secretary@runcorngolfclub.co.uk www.runcorngolfclub.co.uk
Despite losing one forward, the manager is content with his options – but hopes to have a full contingent to choose from this weekend for the encounter against Abbey Hey.
“We’ve got [Ryan] Cox, Craig Lindfield, Mark Reed and Simon Thelwell so our options up front are very, very strong but the problem is I’ve never had it once where I can pick from all of them,” Herbert added.
“Hopefully I’ll have that choice on Saturday but that means lads are left out. It’s gone from a very small squad to a very strong squad with the lads we’ve brought in and they’ve got to perform.”
Saturday’s home game against Abbey Hey kicks-off at 3pm.
Town also have home advantage next Wednesday evening when they play host to Congleton Town. That game has a 7.45pm kick-off time.