Tired-looking Linnets fail to keep Gate shut
SQUIRES GATE .......................................... 3 RUNCORN LINNETS ................................. 2
FOLLOWING Easter Monday’s controversial draw at Hanley Town, further points were dropped on the road on Saturday afternoon in the penultimate fixture of the 2016-17 Hallmark Security League Premier Division campaign.
The Runcorn starting XI had been unchanged from that at Hanley, perhaps surprising with Linnets manager Michael Ellison previously hinting that he planned to make changes to the team for the last couple of games, giving thought to players and tactics with next season in mind.
The visitors set about taking the initiative from the off, completely dominating proceedings in the first half.
Gate were reduced to chasing down long clearances to try to carve out openings, something that they did with great endeavour.
Linnets took a deserved lead midway through the first half when the devastating left foot of Danny McKenna yet again wreaked havoc from a set-piece.
His in-swinging corner evaded everyone before nestling in the back of the Squires Gate net.
The overall outcome of the match could well have been different had it not been for a magnificent save from Gate goalkeeper Joe Griffith, throwing an arm at a point-blank strike from Kris Holt, following a lovely move between Holt and Antony Hickey.
Shortly after this, Gate found their ● equaliser with their first foray into the Linnets penalty area. A ball forward from defence drew Adam Caunce off his goal line and once Tarren Moxon had beaten him to it, there was only going to be one outcome.
There was still time for Tom Hardwick to crash a header against the bar from a corner before half-time, Linnets’ faithful heading to the clubhouse wondering how this game was not out of sight of the hosts.
The second half was a different affair with Linnets threatening little and Gate taking control of the game. They wasted a couple of glorious chances before taking the lead with 15 minutes remaining.
A cross from the left found Brett Dawson unmarked six yards from goal and he had the simple task of nodding the home side ahead.
The response from Runcorn was immediate. Paul Shanley and Stuart Wellstead had already been introduced and it was the latter once again, who made an impact after coming on from the substitutes’ bench.
He had his back to goal when taking control of Zac Aley’s long throw and turned sublimely to roll the ball into the far corner of the net, Gate’s rearguard totally unexpectant.
You could have been guilty of feeling that a Linnets winner would follow the equaliser, and the visitors did start to control the proceedings again.
But a series of mistakes in Linnets half of the pitch gifted Squires Gate a winning goal in stoppage time, a goal that secured their position in the top flight following a relegation scrap.
Hardwick won a tackle and advanced towards the halfway line, shrugging off an attempted challenge along the way. However, the match official decided against the advantage and awarded the visitors a free-kick.
The forward momentum was lost when the set-piece was played backwards to Caunce in the Linnets goal, and a momentary lack of concentration by the goalkeeper cost him dearly as he rolled a pass straight to Dawson.
From 25 yards out, he was then able to charge at goal without the inconvenience of a defence in front of him before wrongfooting Caunce to spark jubilant scenes of celebration and relief among everyone connected to Squires Gate.
A dumbfounded and tired-looking Linnets left the pitch to uplifting applause from the sizeable away following, recognising that while this result and performance will soon be forgotten, the season as a whole has been truly remarkable given the huge changes that have taken place at the club.
The players and coaching staff have worked wonders to take a title challenge that nobody believed was possible to the final fortnight of the season while frankly looking disappointed that it wasn’t taken even closer.
Much has been learned by fledgling manager Michael Ellison, who will already be considering how he can improve things further next season.