Town manage to avoid a Road block with help via an early own goal
Runcorn Town 4
Maine Road 1 RUNCORN TOWN bagged themselves three excellent points with a comfortable 4-1 triumph over Maine Road at Pavilions last Wednesday evening.
The home side got off to a great start when Maine Road central defender Louis Edwards headed a Craig Cairns cross into his own net with just three minutes gone.
Cairns almost made it two when his powerful shot flew inches over the crossbar to the relief of Maine Road goalkeeper Jake Howarth.
Town were dealt a blow when Maine Road equalised in the 10th minute.
Some clever footwork by Joshua Tinker in the Runcorn penalty area drew a late challenge from Joe Kearns that resulted in a penalty being awarded.
Connor Hughes duly hammered the spot-kick low into the Town net despite a valiant effort from Louie Mackin to keep it out.
Two evenly-matched teams then cancelled each other out until a 24th-minute corner from Paul McManus found teammate Marcus James on the penalty spot, the Runcorn central defender heading the ball home.
Soon after, a long throw-in by Simon Thelwell was headed on by Kevin Exell to McManus who hit a half-volley that flew narrowly wide of the Maine Road goal.
The half ended in some controversy when a long ball from Mackin found Cairns one-on-one with Maine Road keeper Howarth who handled the ball outside the penalty area.
The referee showed a yellow card to the goalkeeper with the crowd expecting an automatic red.
The resulting free-kick from McManus rebounded off the defensive wall as half-time ● was signalled.
With Maine Road always looking dangerous going forward, Runcorn needed another goal – and it came in the 53rd minute. Joe Holt played the ball through for Kevin Exell to lob the advancing Howarth for a well-taken third goal.
A goalbound blast from Holt brought an excellent save from Howarth who then recovered quickly to beat Exell to the loose ball.
Runcorn got their fourth and final goal in the 71st minute. Exell broke down the right before crossing low into the path of Kearns who completely missed the ball. However, it ran kindly to Holt who side-footed home from six yards.
Runcorn looked for more goals and McManus hit a half-volley over the crossbar from fully 25 yards.
Late in the proceedings, a free-kick by Kearns was swung into the penalty area where substitute Ollie Nugent hit his shot on target but Howarth produced a superb full-length save to turn the ball away.