Vase dreams smashed after a nine-goal epic
NEWCASTLE BENFIELD ......................... 5 RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 4
RUNCORN TOWN’S involvement in this season’s FA Vase ended at the third round stage last Saturday afternoon – but not after they had played their part to the full in what was an extraordinary nine-goal extravaganza at Newcastle Benfield.
Chris Herbert’s team were left simply devastated at the final whistle paying a high price for conceding critical goals in stoppage-time at the end of each half.
It had been a long journey up to a wet and murky-looking Newcastle on Saturday with the floodlights needed early on to lift the gloom.
The pitch, however, was in remarkable condition considering the recent poor weather. Indeed, there had been the possibility of the game being in doubt earlier in the week.
Runcorn started the game well. From a Simon Thelwell cross, Harry Brazel headed the ball just wide of the target.
The visitors were rewarded for their early endeavors in the fifth minute.
Dale Jennings controlled well and then cleverly chipped the ball over Benfield goalkeeper Andy Grainger from 20 yards.
The home side were level just five minutes later.
Following some neat play from Dean Holmes wide on the right, he played the ball inside to Dennis Knight who cut inside to hit a tremendous shot from 25 yards that moved in flight to deceive Town goalkeeper Adam Reid.
Runcorn responded and a Craig Lindfield shot took a deflection on its way for an unproductive corner.
Then, from a free-kick, Jennings lifted the ball high over the crossbar.
Soon after, a through-ball from Liam Turner found Thelwell but Grainger was quickly off his line to block the shot.
Lindfield then swung a corner into the Benfield goalmouth where Marcus James powered a header, the ball just clearing the crossbar.
Benfield countered and when Dale Pearson crossed from the left, teammate ● Paul Brayson on the far post fired wide of the open goal.
From a Benfield flag-kick, a header from Mark Turnbull was well held by Reid under his crossbar.
Runcorn regained the lead in the 35th minute. When a Lindfield cross was cleared, the ball fell to Joe Heath.
The Town defender hit a perfect shot low shot into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards that left Grainger stranded.
Runcorn were pressing now and when Thelwell played in Paul McManus, the Town midfielder completely missed the ball as he attempted to volley his shot goalwards.
A cross from Jennings was headed on by Shaun Weaver to Thelwell who brought a good save out of Grainger who conceded a corner. From Lindfield’s flag-kick, John Shaw headed the ball powerfully just inches over the crossbar.
Town were on top until in added-on time Benfield were awarded a free-kick just outside the Runcorn penalty area.
The ball was driven low into the crowded goalmouth for Pearson to stab home from six yards.
The referee immediately blew his whistle to signal half-time with the scoreline all square at 2-2.
Benfield started the second period strongly, and when centre-forward Brayson cut inside his rising drive just cleared the crossbar.
At the other end, some superb footwork shown by Jennings on the corner of the penalty area created space from which he curled a shot narrowly wide of the far upright.
Eight minutes into the half, Benfield took the lead. Following some good play down the left, the ball was crossed to Brayson. He cut inside to send a shot across Reid and into the far corner of the goal.
Benfield looked to build on the goal and when Pearson crossed the ball, Reid needed to be at full length to concede a flag-kick which came to nothing.
Runcorn responded and when Weaver found Brazel on the edge of the 18-yard box, the Town player’s final shot flew well wide.
Town introduced Danny Byrnes for the limping Jennings soon after.
From a Lindfield cross, the header from Weaver lacked power before another nodded effort by the same player via a Brazel centre flew over.
Brayson was causing problems every time he received the ball for Benfield.
From one of his moves, there was a big penalty appeal from the home team but the referee waved it away.
The game seemed to be over when Pearson netted a fourth goal for Benfield in the 81st minute.
Byrnes made an impressive debut linking up well with Turner down the right and the two began to create problems for the home defence.
On 83 minutes, from a Shaw free-kick, Thelwell headed the ball across the goalmouth. It fell to Lindfield who picked his spot to pull Town to within a goal of the home side.
And just two minutes later, Runcorn were level. The goal came via a right wing cross from Lindfield. The ball was headed down and Byrnes fired it home to make it 4-4.
Benfield keeper Grainger then did well to block a Weaver effort, the ball going out for a corner.
The home side, to their credit, responded well to Runcorn’s remarkable fightback forcing the visitors to defend.
Reid was almost caught out when a free-kick from the halfway line by Joe Robson forced the Town keeper to adjust to tip the ball out for a corner.
The pressure from the home team was constant and when a cross was headed clear two minutes into stoppage-time, minute, the ball fell to Richard Slaughter.
He curled a shot into the far top corner of the Runcorn net from the edge of the penalty area, breaking the visitors’ collective hearts.