Town book quarter-final with emphatic West Didsbury defeat
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON ............................ 1 RUNCORN TOWN ..................... 4 the left, but the defence cleared the danger.
Runcorn Town went on the counter attack, Rio Gill crossed the ball from the right and Kieran Holsgrove had a shot which went towards the left post, but Jones again was able to make the save.
In the fourth minute, Runcorn won a corner, taken from the right by Kieran Holsgrove. This did not amount to anything and West Didsbury cleared the danger.
There was a chance for Town in the fifth minute; Dave Forbes had a shot which he could not get enough power on, the ball rolling to Andrew Jones who collected easily.
In the 10th minute, Runcorn Town were awarded a free kick for a foul on Rio Gill, which the referee, Mr Ryder brought back after there was no advantage. The ball was crossed in from the right, towards Shaun Weaver with Andrew Jones in pursuit of the loose ball, but Shaun Weaver got to the ball first and headed it wide for a goal kick.
Dave Forbes had a chance after the 11th minute, but the shot was straight to Andrew Jones to collect.
The deadlock was broken
● in the 16th minute against the run of play. Matthew Argent-Barnes crossed in from the left and James Cottee slotted the ball past Adam Reid and into the goal.
Runcorn Town were awarded a free kick in the 17th minute, which was in the left of the centre, taken by Kieran Holsgrove and crossed into the box. Dave Forbes headed but Andrew Jones was able to save.
West Didsbury were awarded a free kick in the 24th minute, which formed part of a counter-attacking move, but the Runcorn Town defenders made the necessary clearance for a corner on the right, and the danger passed thanks to a clearance from Shaun Weaver.
Runcorn’s patience had finally paid off in the 34th minute. Rio Gill crossed the ball from the right, into the six-yard box and Dave Forbes fired it home to level the scores.
Town were awarded a free kick in the 40th minute of the game, taken by Kieran Holsgrove, and crossed into the area, but the West Didsbury defenders headed it clear for a throw in. That was quickly taken to Joe Holt who had a shot from distance but Andrew Jones made the save, diving towards his right-hand post.
West Didsbury won a free kick just outside the area in a dangerous position, but it gave Adam Reid nothing to worry about as it sailed well over the crossbar.
In injury time, West Didsbury had a shot cleared for a throw-in and they began to press Runcorn’s goal. Matthew Boland had a fierce shot from the edge of the area, but Adam Reid made the save diving to the right.
There was a cross from the right to Dave Forbes, who headed the ball towards goal, but it was deflected for a corner. Kieran Holsgrove curled the ball but it beat everyone in the box and went out for a goal kick.
With that Mr Ryder brought the first half to a close.
West Didsbury had a chance to retake the lead after the 48th minute, Dylan Moloney’s shot was wide past the right post.
They were awarded a free kick during the 55th minute, following a foul by Simon Thelwell pulling back Ashley Woods, which resulted in Thelwell quite rightly being given a yellow card.
Town took the lead during the 61st minute with Rio Gill scoring his first goal for the club, breaking clear before slotting the ball beyond Jones into the bottom coner.
Runcorn had another chance to put the game to bed just two minutes later as Liam Turner had a shot from the right, but it went across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick.
In the 64th minute West Didsbury were down to 10 men, due to Ash Woods going off injured, and they had already used their substitutes.
In the 73rd minute Liam
Turner had a shot from the right, Andrew Jones made the save diving to the right and Runcorn Town were awarded a corner, which was taken by Kieran Holsgrove. Marcus James headed the ball in to increase the lead.
The score should have been 4-1 just two minutes later. Thelwell’s cross was volleyed by Holsgrove but Andrew Jones made a great save, Kevin Exell got the rebound and cut the ball back to Forbes, but his shot went over the crossbar.
The game was firmly put to bed in the second minute of stoppage time when Kieran Holsgrove had a powerful shot saved by Andrew Jones. The rebound came to Liam Ward on the edge of the area who cleverly chipped the ball over the crowded goal area into the empty net.
West Didsbury had a shot from distance straight from the kick-off, but Adam Reid was alert and managed to stop the shot.
Mr Ryder brought the game to a close and Runcorn Town had booked their place in the Macron Cup quarter finals.
● TUESDAY’S NW Counties Premier League match with Longridge Town was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.