Our showing the best yet – Town chief McManus hails first clean sheet in six matches
PAUL McManus believes the 3-0 victory at Hanley Town on Saturday was Runcorn Town’s ‘best footballing performance’ of the campaign.
Goals from Declan McGivern, Kevin Exell and Kieran Holsgrove extended their side’s unbeaten stretch to 10 matches in all competitions and McManus was pleased to record a first shutout in six.
“It was a great result for us today as it extends our unbeaten run to 10 games so it’s pleasing to stay on the run for as long as possible,” McManus said.
“Today was, for me, our best footballing performance all season. We moved them about and played in between the lines with a purpose and it really could have been more than the 3-0.
“I’m also extremely happy with the clean sheet as we haven’t had one for a while now so that was much needed.”
Town will also face AFC Liverpool in the semi-final of the Macron Challenge Cup next month.
The two North-West representatives have a chance to book themselves a place in the final of the competition, which is scheduled to be played on Saturday May 2 at Altrincham FC’s ground (1pm kick-off ).
Chris Anderson’s AFC Liverpool overcome Litherland REMYCA 5-1 in their quarterfinal while McManus watched his side beat Ashton Athletic on penalties in a rearranged tie last week.
The semi-final is due to be played over two legs with the first taking place at AFC Liverpool on Saturday, March 28 and the reverse fixture set for Saturday, April 4.
The victor will face either NWCFL First Division North outfit Shelley or Premier Division leaders 1874 Northwich in the final.
1874 beat Maine Road 4-0 in Manchester earlier this month to continue their defence of the crown.
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MICHAEL Ellison believes Michael Emery’s transfer to Rylands ‘could have been done a little better’ and admitted the goalkeeper left Runcorn Linnets for a ‘fantastic’ financial deal.
Emery returned to Rylands in January – a move initially described as due to ‘personal circumstances’ on Linnets’ official club website – after arriving from the NWCFL Premier
Division high-fliers in November.
The shot-stopper’s time at Runcorn coincided with their climb up the BetVictor North West Division but they have since been forced to recruit Craig Ellison as their new number one.
Rylands manager David McNabb last week claimed he had ‘persuaded’ Emery to return but Ellison offered a conflicting account of the deal.
“Listen, don’t say persuade,” he said. “[Emery] went for money. Look, the lad was a great keeper for us.
“I don’t blame the lad for going. He’s been offered a fantastic deal and a deal that’s ridiculous if I’m being honest with you.
“He’s offered it to him and I don’t blame the lad. I just think it could have been done a little better.
“He left us that week and I could have dug my heels in and prevented him from going and put seven days in but I think if someone wants to go you have the move them on if you can.
“He’s done really, really well for us, Mikey, and he was excellent for us so I am disappointed to lose him at this stage of the season, but it’s football, isn’t it?
“They’re chasing promotion and they made an offer he couldn’t refuse and he took it. That’s football. No hard feelings.”
Linnets’ past three matches have been postponed due to adverse weather conditions.
Runcorn are four points outside the BetVictor North West Division play-off places following eight victories from their last 11 matches.