Runcorn finally back on the winning trail
RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 5 BARNTON ................................................... 0 UNCORN TOWN made it two successive wins in the Hallmark Security League after a 5-0 win over struggling Barnton, with Craig Cairns hitting top form as he claimed a hat-trick in a 5-0 triumph.
Chris Herbert’s side started the game well attacking the visitors from the first whistle.
Joe Holt skied the ball over the bar within 30 seconds but Mark Reed made no mistake in the second minute by side-footing home an inch-perfect pass from Harry Brazel.
Barnton responded when Chris Bandell hit a powerful shot that flew narrowly wide of the target.
At the other end, Kevin Exell found himself in space at the back post but his shot went the wrong side of an upright as far as Town were concerned.
Runcorn’s captain for the day, Cairns, put his team 2-0 up midway through the half when he latched onto a Paul McManus lob over the Barnton defence to place his shot in to the top corner of the net.
Barnton responded and when Bandell beat Danny Jarrett, his goalbound shot brought a good save out of Runcorn goalkeeper Adam Reid.
Runcorn got a third goal in the 26th minute when Reed’s shot was blocked the ball fell into the path of Brazel who hammered it low into the bottom corner of the net from 18 yards.
The home side went in search of a fourth goal, and when Cairns laid the ball on for Brazel, his shot brought a superb save from Barnton goalkeeper
R● Craig Cairns tucks away his late penalty completing his hat-trick to cap a 5-0 victory over Barnton at Pavilions last Saturday. Callum Shuttlewood.
As the half drew to a close, from a Cairns free-kick Jarrett had a header deflected for a corner from which Reed drove the ball wide from a good position at the back post.
Runcorn continued to press the Barnton defence at the start of the second period, the visitors doing particularly well to keep clear goalscoring chances to a minimum.
Reed hit a shot that was heading for the top corner of the net that was well saved by Shuttlewood.
Soon after, some good play from McManus resulted in a precision ball to Reed who hit a fierce volley that flew straight into the arms of Shuttlewood who did well to hang on to the ball.
When Barnton attacked, a first time shot from former Town player Sam Houghton drifted wide of the target.
Cairns was then on target with his shot but Shuttlewood was well positioned to deal with the danger.
However, the goalkeeper had no chance in the 70th minute when from a superb pass from Brazel, the striker curled the ball beyond his left hand into the far corner of the net.
New Runcorn signing Sean Sherwood made his debut when coming on as a substitute and almost scored with his first touch, only George Riley’s outstrected boot deflecting the ball out for a corner preventing a certain goal.
Town continued to press forward, and when Liam Turner’s free-kick found Reed in space his first time volley resulted in a corner when the ball deflected off Josh Kavanagh.
Six minutes from time, Runcorn wrapped up the scoring when Riley brought Holt down in the penalty area, Cairns completed his treble from the resultant spot-kick. RUNCORN TOWN’S four-match losing streak came to an end last Wednesday night as they emerged victorious in a five-goal thriller with West Didsbury & Chorlton at Pavilions.
The hosts started slowly and were duly punished as the visitors raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 15 minutes, Chris Middleton grabbing both goals.
However, Middleton was red-carded just after the half-hour for a foul on Kevin Exell inside the penalty area.
Paul McManus put away the resultant spot-kick. Soon after, Runcorn were awarded another penalty for a push on Craig Cairns by Josh Tinker.
In a melee that ensued, Town’s Marcus James was sent-off. McManus then levelled from 12 yards with his second successful penalty of the match.
The game stayed that way until late in the second half when Michael Carberry scored direct from a corner to win the points for Runcorn.