‘We’ve had a hiding, and rightly so’ Linnets boss lambasts ‘pathetic’ performance after a 6-1 thumping
MICHAEL Ellison slammed Runcorn Linnets’ ‘pathetic’ defensive showing following their heavy 6-1 reversal at Marske last weekend.
Linnets trailed by two goals at half-time but found themselves six down before Zac Aley netted a late consolation.
“It was poor to say the least,” Ellison reflected afterwards. “They’re a good side and we knew that coming up here. They’ve got a capability of scoring goals and have a really good front-line.
“It’s tough enough coming up here but we made it easy for them. I think the goals are pathetic to be honest with you and it’s on the back of two really, really positive performances and two good results.
“I expected more and the lads were poor. It was one of those days where it felt like everything they hit went in.”
Ellison believes all six of Marske’s strikes were ‘avoidable’ and was disappointed by the lack of fight Linnets showed after the break.
The manager, who guided Runcorn to promotion from the NWCFL Premier Division in 2017/18, also promised supporters a response on Saturday when Prescot Cables visit the Millbank Stadium in the FA Trophy second qualifying round.
“The goals are poor,” he continued.
“There’s too much space between the back four. It’s not like us to be honest with you. It’s stuff we work on every single week.
“They were avoidable, the goals. You go in at half-time and usually you get a reaction and the lads put a shift in but I thought they were worse second-half.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve had a hiding, and rightly so.
“If I’m being honest with you it could have been more.
“We’ll have to dust ourselves off and go again Saturday. We have to, we can’t feel sorry for ourselves and we’ll be ready come Saturday.”
●● Match report: page 47
● WARNING MUST CREDIT James Eastup. Manager Michael Ellison reciprocating the applause of the fans
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PAUL McManus believes Runcorn Town are edging towards a return to form after their 2-2 draw with Avro last weekend.
Town have drawn their last two NWCFL Premier Division matches but have lost just one of their last six games in the league.
Runcorn twice led through Craig Cairns against Avro but conceded an injury-time equaliser to leave the pre-season promotion favourites ten points outside the top-three.
“I’m frustrated with Saturday,” McManus admitted. “The lads were fantastic in the first-half and we passed our opponents off the pitch for the majority of the 45 minutes.
“We should have been more than 1-0 up at half-time which came back to bite us as they changed their approach and were by far the better side second-half and deserved a point from the game.
“But it’s hard to take at end of game due to being three or four minutes away from a vital three points but there were plenty of positives to take.
“100% we just need a little slice of luck. We are not very far away from being exactly what we set out to be at the start of the season and I feel a win will push us on into the coming months.”
Town are one game into a gruelling stretch of six consecutive away matches but playermanager McManus believes it could benefit his side.
Runcorn head to Northwich Victoria on Saturday looking to progress to the Macron Cup third round.
“We’re relishing being away from home for the next period of games due to playing an awful lot at home already this season,” McManus explained.
“It will give our pitch the chance to recover and hopefully give us a chance to express ourselves with less pressure, being the away side.”
●● Match report: page 46