Town hit five to start cup campaign in fine style
RUNCORN TOWN ................................. 5 ATHERTON ............................................ 0
RUNCORN Town’s campaign in the Macron Cup got under way in what was a dull and wet Saturday afternoon at the Viridor Community Stadium.
Player-manager Paul McManus shuffled the starting line-up for the game. Aidan Roxburgh, Owen Dursley, Richard McQuade, Craig Cairns return; Liam Turner, Ste Wainwright were on the bench, and Mark Haslam and Simon Thelwell were unavailable.
The deadlock was broken after just four minutes of the game elapsed; the loose ball was collected by Kai Wallis who then sprinted down the middle of the pitch and fired the ball in the top left corner.
Runcorn Town were on top, playing plenty of Tiki-taka style of football and keeping the ball well.
Atherton’s first chance of the game came after nine minutes, with Connor Combes’s shot from the 18-yard box was hit with pace, straight down Adam Reid’s throat and he made the easy catch.
Runcorn Town should have doubled the lead after 13 minutes, with Shaun Weaver’s shot hitting the arm of an Atherton LR defender, the referee Mr Raper, pointed to the penalty spot, Craig Cairns stepped up and the penalty smashed the crossbar in the middle of the goal.
Atherton had a chance to equalise after 18 minutes, after a defensive mix-up saw Adam Reid dispossessed, but Paul McManus was able to get back and stopped the shot and cleared the ball from danger.
Runcorn Town made it 2-0 after 40 minutes, from the second successive corner, which was taken by Roxburgh on the right and Marcus James headed the ball into the goal from the near post.
The score was 3-0 on the 44th minute, as Kai Wallis was fouled in the box and Mr Raper had little option to award Runcorn Town a second penalty, this time Dave Forbes stepped up and made no mistake, placing the ball in the bottom right corner, sending Ryan Garner the wrong way.
Runcorn Town made it 4-0 after 50 minutes, the ball was played in towards Craig Cairns on the left of the goal and slotted the ball past the oncoming Ryan Garner and into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Runcorn Town were awarded a free kick in a central position about 30 yards from the goal line during the 72nd minute of the game.
The free kick was floated into the box and the loose ball was pinging around the area, Richard McQuade struck a sweet volley from 10 yards and deflected into the back of the net to make it 5-0.
Runcorn Town should have made it six after 79 minutes, the ball went to Liam Ward who was just two yards away from goal, but his shot ballooned over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
Atherton LR had a couple of chances near the end of the match, but both were nowhere near the goal and did not trouble Adam Reid.
Mr Raper brought the game to a close Runcorn Town dominating and picking up a third clean sheet in a row and then booked ourselves into the second round of the Macron Cup, which will be taking place at Northwich Victoria on November 9.
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