Onward and upward on back of win, says Ellison
MICHAEL Ellison is hoping to use Runcorn Linnets’ thrilling 5-3 midweek FA Trophy victory over Pontefract Collieries as a springboard for progress in the BetVictor North West Division.
Kurt Sherlock, Tom Owens, Peter Wylie, Zac Aley and Louis Corrigan helped secure a win against league rivals Collieries in what was the pick of the first qualifying round ties.
“I thought we were well worth the win,” manager Ellison said afterwards.
“I thought first-half there wasn’t much in the game and was disappointed with their goals to concede from two set-pieces which were avoidable.
“But we created good opportunities and then one before half-time Owens’ equaliser at 2-2 was a massive goal for us and it changes your team talk.
“I thought we came out after half-time and there was a massive improvement and we were the better side second-half.”
Ellison also credited Collieries for a well-worked set-piece routine
● for their second goal but believes it could have been stopped with a defender on the goal-line.
“You’re expecting them to put it in the box, they’re good in the air and they’ve got lads who can attack the ball really, really well,” he explained.
“They’ve mixed it up, he’s come off the back, he’s spun round and they’ve played it along the floor but it’s gone in at the near post and we’ve got a man on the post.
“I think it was waist-high. If it goes the other side of Louis I can understand but it’s gone post-side and he should deal with it. He didn’t, but we showed great character.”
Ellison added: “It would have been nice to get a clean sheet and their two set-piece goals were avoidable but all our goals were real, real quality.
“I’m just delighted to be in the next round and it’s the first time we’ve put back-to-back wins together this season so hopefully we can kick-on and take some form into the league.”