Kane’s double earns leaders Linnets victory
WARRINGTON RYLANDS ....... 2 RUNCORN LINNETS ................. 0
RUNCORN were caught in a road block as their visit to the Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division leaders ended in defeat, thanks to a goal in each half from Rylands striker Kane Drummond.
Linnets made the short journey to Gorsey Lane, Warrington, for a game that carried huge implications for the promotion hopes of both sides. At kick-off, Runcorn needed eight points from their final five games to secure a place in the play-offs.
Their hosts topped the table, with four fixtures remaining, and Workington four points behind them with two games in hand. Marine were one point further back, with five to play.
A game based on neither side giving a second on the ball for the other, was always going to swing on a momentary lapse of vigilence. It did so after 36 minutes, when Declan Walker was allowed enough space to find Drummond in even more, six yards from goal in the right side of the area. He was allowed too much of the target to aim at, and found it with ease.
Linnets heads didn’t drop, though, and Joe Lynch in particular plugged away to find an opening for team-mates ahead of him. But Rylands’ closing down limited Runcorn attacks to high balls from wide or deep, and every one was repelled by the height and strength of the home defence.
The second half proceeded as the first had, with entertainment in short supply. That isn’t a criticism, but a compliment to two sides determined to prevent the other from reproducing pass and move football honed on the training ground.
Rylands attacked up the left, a cross headed on goal by Andy Scarisbrick, but Owen Mooney held on to it with ease.
With the game an hour old, Rylands were exerting a measure of control. Scarisbrick and Stephen Irwin both carved out chances that were repelled, but then Scott Bakkor found the space to pass into the area and Drummond stroked a low shot across Mooney and into the net.
In added time, Joe Lynch got forward again and played in a great ball for Ryan Brooke to head on target.
He got plenty of power on it, but Graeme McCall reacted quickly to get down low and make a good one-handed save.