Points are dropped on an off-day at Nelson
NELSON....................................................... 1 RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 1
LOOKING to build on their impressive midweek victory over Maine Road last Wednesday evening – see report below – Runcorn Town were ultimately to end Saturday’s game with just a point and a player short against one of the teams battling to avoid relegation.
It was a poor display by Town on a heavy pitch on which both teams struggled to accurately pass the ball.
The match produced eight bookings and a sending-off for Runcorn defender Joe Heath and included yellow cards for two Nelson defenders that on another occasion could easily have been red.
Town had a clear opportunity to take the lead within 15 seconds of the first whistle. Paul McManus had just the Nelson goalkeeper to beat but hit the ball straight at the grateful Luke Raybould.
Nelson responded well and midfielder Billy McKenna hit a powerful shot that Runcorn goalkeeper Louie Mackin claimed at the second attempt.
At the other end, a superb run by Heath took him past three defenders before he played in McManus who had his shot saved by Raybould.
Kevin Exell then went through the Nelson defence only to be outnumbered by three defenders and the goalkeeper.
Nelson then missed a clear opening when Sebastian Julien put Jason Hart clear. With Mackin advancing towardss him, the Nelson striker hit his shot inches wide of the target.
Nelson threatened again when Edward O’Neill found Hart who hit a low shot that Mackin turned for an unproductive corner.
With 15 minutes on the watch, Exell broke through on the Nelson goal and was hauled down by O’Neill who received a yellow card.
Justice prevailed, however, when from the free-kick on the edge of the penalty area McManus cleverly stepped over the ball leaving Joe Kearns to pick his spot and leave Raybould stranded.
Nelson almost equalised three minutes later when McKenna’s shot was cleared off the goalline by Kearns.
Town missed another opportunity when Jack Pickering was played through. Raybould, though, did well to block the ball at the feet of the Town midfielder.
Nelson’s Julien then had a shot blocked by Marcus James and from the ● rebound the Nelson player then hit the side netting with his strike.
As the half neared its conclusion, Chris Anderson hurriedly blasted the ball wide from 10 yards from a corner taken by teammate McKenna.
A free-kick from Kearns hit the defensive wall while at the other end of the pitch a clever lob from McKenna just went over Mackin’s crossbar.
At the start of the second period both teams constantly gave the ball away resulting in an open attacking game.
The game changed just before the hour mark when Hart broke forward and was brought down by Kearns inside the penalty area. Hart picked himself up to score Nelson’s equaliser from 12 yards.
Hart was creating chances but fortunately for Town his shooting was well off target. He did, however, remain a constant threat.
Town were also creating goalscoring chances and Joe Holt fired a shot from the corner of the penalty over the bar.
Heath then opened up the Nelson defence to find Simon Thelwell who played the ball to teammate Holt who hit the upright from six yards.
Town substitute Phil Marsh then turned in the area but his shot lacked power and was easily saved by Raybould.
Hart broke on the right but his shot flew well wide of the far post.
Shortly after, a late tackle by Heath earned him a straight red card giving Town something of a problem with still around 15 minutes left in the contest.
Town, though, kept attacking and when Carl Rodgers played the ball over the Nelson defence, Thelwell controlled it on the edge of the penalty area but was then flattened by keeper Raybould.
The referee gave the goalkeeper a yellow card and then awarded Town a freekick which McManus wasted firing the ball over the crossbar.
Numerous yellow cards followed in the closing stages with both teams clearly frustrated and both looking for a winner but poor finishing and resolute defending meant there were no further goals in the encounter.