Seven-up for Runcorn in a dramatic opener
RUNCORN I ................................................ 7 COLWYN BAY II ......................................... 4
AFTER a long summer, league hockey returned to The Heath School as the men’s first-team started the new campaign in a higher division after promotion last season.
With both teams looking to start strongly it became a midfield battle as neither side wanted to give the initiative to the opposition in the opening exchanges.
It looked likely that a mistake would lead to the first goal and when Runcorn’s midfield did not react quickly enough to a clearance, Colwyn Bay pounced.
With an overload of attacking players Colwyn Bay’s captain neatly finished under the body of goalkeeper Roger Watt the ball going into the net off the inside of an upright.
Soon after, the visitors extended their lead when from a powerful penalty corner strike at the top of the penalty circle, goalkeeper Roger Watt slightly committed himself to his right, only for the strike to go more central and into the goal.
Now chasing the game Runcorn slowly forced themselves into the contest. And after some pressure they cut the lead in half. As Joe Cooper received the ball in a more central position, he played the pass to forward Ruan Pretoruis.
With his back to goal and a Colwyn Bay defender marking tightly, he moved to the left of the goal. With the angle disappearing, Pretoruis produced his trademark reserve stick scoop and fired the ball into the goal.
Within minutes the scores were level. The ball found its way into Colwyn Bay’s penalty circle.
As midfielder Scott Crimes collected the ball, he turned to create a striking chance. With pressure being applied his snapshot appeared to be going wide but winger Corey Kinsella delicately tipped the ball into the goal.
As half-time approached, Colwyn Bay ● had the chance to re-take the lead when they gained a penalty stroke when another penalty corner strike was stopped on the line illegally by left-back Ben Cooper.
But despite the great opportunity the penalty stroke was easily saved meaning it was all-square at half-time.
The half-time team-talk was focused on Runcorn waking up to take control of the game. And with holding midfielder Allan Watt showing a variety of passes, the hosts attacked from the whistle. With such a quick start, Runcorn not only took the lead but extended it within minutes.
First it was forward Pete Jones who struck after a fine threaded pass from Joe Cooper. And the latter was soon in the thick of things again when his shot was tipped into the net by the diving Mike French.
Now in full command, Runcorn looked to finish Colwyn Bay off.
They gained a penalty corner and when the initial strike from Jones was blocked, the ball fell nicely to Pretoruis. With a bit of time he calmly slapped the ball high into the net for his second goal on the match.
With nothing to lose Colwyn Bay pushed men forward and soon reduced the deficit with another powerful penalty corner strike.
Soon, Runcorn’s rearguard was being asked a lot of questions but they stood firm. Ben Cooper then regained the ball and sent a pass down the left wing to release Pretorius behind the visitors’ back line. With plenty of support, Pretorius fired a pass into the penalty circle to the unmarked Jones, who drew the goalkeeper and placed the ball past him.
Once again, though, Colwyn Bay came back and when a right wing cross was sent into the Runcorn penalty circle, the returning Andy Partridge looked to deflect the ball away. However, he got too much of a solid touch on the ball and Bay’s captain fired the loose ball home.
Colwyn Bay sensed they could score again but with them pushing men forward Runcorn broke quickly as Crimes and French combined to send Christian White down the right wing.
With plenty of willing runners, White switched play to the left wing. As play entered the penalty circle, a shot was well saved by the visitors’ goalkeeper. But French was on hand to collect the ball and after composing himself he found the net via the goalkeeper’s pads.
With less than eight minutes left Colwyn Bay lost a man to the sin-bin for an over-the-top tackle with the minutes off the pitch extended for the rest of the game to outspoken comments.
This gave Runcorn the extra man advantage to run the clock down and claim the three points.
Player-of-the-match honours went to Corey Kinsella for making an impact off the bench and claiming his first goal for the first-team.
This Saturday, Runcorn take to the road with a game at Oxton.