A negative Bloods test once more for Linnets
RUNCORN LINNETS ................................. 0 DROYLSDEN............................................... 4
DROYLSDEN became the first EvoStik League West Division club to complete a home and away double over Runcorn Linnets with a thumping 4-0 victory at the Millbank Linnets Stadium last Saturday, making their tally against the club eight goals scored in two games.
The Greater Manchester club also claimed the accolade of ending Runcorn’s unbeaten home league record this season.
A first half hat-trick from Liam Caddick put the match out of the Linnets’ reach, but the highly-impressive and imposing striker Sefton Gonzales was the outstanding performer for the Bloods.
There had been a great deal of surprise to see Ryan Gibson and Kurt Sherlock in the Linnets’ starting XI, both players having ended up in hospital after the previous week’s bludgeoning affair at Chasetown.
It was also a likely indicator of the difficulty that Runcorn manager Michael Ellison is facing at the moment with a squad struggling badly with injuries.
Linnets never got off the ground in this game and found themselves 2-0 down after only 10 minutes.
Ellison will be asking some questions of his defence as the opening two goals could not have been simpler for Caddick, who twice found himself unmarked at the far post with time to control the ball and score from close-range.
Droylsden were in full control of the opening half-hour and scored their third goal with 31 minutes played.
A ball into the box was aimed towards Gonzales and his downward header fell perfectly into the path of Caddick, who hit a first-time volley through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner of the net to stun most of the almost 400-strong crowd.
Linnets did finally find some rhythm towards the end of the first half, with the most likely threat coming from the pace of Gibson. Kyle Hamid almost got a goal back just before half-time after being set up by Gibson but his shot from outside the box was deflected inches wide of the top corner.
The second period was better for Runcorn, who came out on the front foot, trying desperately to get themselves back into the game. ●
But no matter what was thrown at Droylsden, a combination of resolute defending by the away side and some bad luck for Linnets kept the hosts at bay.
Louis Corrigan almost gave his team a lifeline on 49 minutes when a swirling free-kick drew an acrobatic save out of Bloods goalkeeper Chris Thompson, despite him looking beaten by the flight of the ball. The rebound was headed wide with the goal gaping.
Freddie Potter did manage to get the ball into the Droylsden net with a very good finish but an offside flag resulting from a tight call, added further frustration to proceedings.
A six-minute spell midway through the second half threatened to make the scoreline embarrassing for Runcorn, but Dylan Forth pulled off three outstanding saves when left totally exposed by his defence to keep his side in with the faint- est of shouts.
Caddick will have been particularly disappointed as he should have scored a rare fourth goal in a match when a quick passing move carved the Linnets’ rearguard wide open. This left Caddick with a clear run at goal from 18 yards out, but Forth’s block was excellent.
In the 65th minute, a crazy goalmouth scramble ensued on the Droylsden goalline. A combination of save, crossbar, goalline block one and goalline block two (before a sliced clearance) rammed home the feeling that this just was not going to be Linnets’ day.
With four minutes remaining, and Runcorn resigned to the rare taste of a home defeat, Droylsden scored a fourth, and what a goal it was.
Domaine Rouse picked up the ball with his back to goal outside the Linnets penalty area, and on the turn fired in a strike that flew over the stranded Forth and nestled snugly into the top corner to seal a very impressive performance from Droylsden.
Many Runcorn fans were scratching their heads as to how the team they were watching tear the Linnets wide open find themselves towards the bottom end of the league table.
However, it has been said several times already this season, and most recently after the previous home game against Glossop North End, but league table positions mean very little about the quality of any side on any given day at this level.
Anyone can and will turn you over if you are not at your very best week, in week out.