A win at Winsford but Town held at Ashton
WINSFORD UNITED ................................. 0 RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 1
ASOLITARY goal from skipper Simon Thelwell secured maximum spoils for Runcorn Town over Winsford United last Saturday afternoon and kept alive their outside hopes of snatching the Hallmark Security League Premier Division crown.
Runcorn had an early opportunity when Phil Marsh headed a cross from Keiran Evans high into the air. Kevin Exell was quickly onto the loose ball and as Winsford keeper Matthew Green advanced into no man’s land the Town man nodded the ball inches wide of an unguarded net.
Winsford had an opening when Sam Howell swung in a free-kick for teammate Chris Middleton to glance a header past the target.
Runcorn’s Josh Maguire then set up Joe Holt who fired a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.
The game’s pivotal moment came just before the half-hour.
From a free-kick just outside the penalty area, Evans brought a diving save from goalkeeper Green who could only push the ball away into the path of Town captain Thelwell who lashed the loose ball high into the top corner of the net.
Winsford’s Jordan Johnson had an opportunity to equalise within a minute but his shot flew wide of the far post.
Shortly after, Maguire put Exell through on goal. The striker outpaced defender William Foster but goalkeeper Green was quickly off his line to clear the danger.
Exell then set up Paul McManus but the midfielder’s volley from 20 yards flew high over the crossbar.
The pitch looked in excellent condition from the touchline but the uneven bounce of the ball was causing problems to both teams and clearly affecting the flow of the game as the second half kicked-off.
Craig Jones and Joe Kearns were introduced off the bench for Runcorn, and when the former played Holt through the ball bobbled as he hit it causing it to fly wide of the target.
Winsford captain Kyle Riley tried his luck from 25 yards but the shot flew harmlessly over Louie Mackin’s bar.
When Thelwell dispossessed Foster on the touchline, the Town skipper tried a cheeky curling shot that Green turned away one-handed. ●
Winsford looked dangerous when they attacked and a cross from the impressive Ryan Steele brought a full length dive from Mackin to hold the ball then clear the danger.
Late on, Runcorn nearly added a second goal when a superb dribble from Holt took him past a couple of defenders his pass to Thelwell was then intercepted by Foster in the penalty area.
It mattered little as Runcorn held on to bag the points registering their fourth successive victory, each win secured without conceding a goal. ASHTON ATHLETIC.................................. 1 RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 1 RUNCORN TOWN’S title quest was dealt a massive blow on Tuesday night when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ashton Athletic.
Heading into the clash at Brocstedes Park, Runcorn had gone four matches without conceding a goal with their watertight defence giving them a great chance of staying in the mix for the title.
And they went ahead against Athletic just after the half-hour mark when Kevin Exell latched on to a superb pass from teammate Joe Holt to fire the ball past goalkeeper Martin Pearson and into the net .
However, three minutes before the interval the home side levelled when from a centre to the back post, Lee Vaughan was on hand to poke the ball beyond Louie Mackin in the Town goal.
On the hour Runcorn were handed a great chance to restore their lead when a foul on Exell inside the box saw them awarded a penalty.
However, Holt could not oblige from 12 yards striking his effort wide of the target.
Soon after, Ashton were reduced to 10 men when Sam Bailey was sent-off for a second yellow card offence.
Runcorn could not make the numerical advantage count and in the end had to settle for a point in a game they really had to take maximum spoils from.
Chris Herbert’s team are now fourth in the table, eight points behind leaders Atherton Collieries with both sides having played 37 matches. ●