Runcorn’s wheelies come off at Chorlton
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON............ 3 RUNCORN TOWN ...................................... 1
RUNCORN TOWN drew the curtain on matches in 2018 going down to a disappointing 3-1 loss to West Didsbury & Chorlton in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division last Saturday afternoon.
If ever there was a game of two halves then this clash at Brookburn Road was it.
Runcorn dominated the opening 45 minutes and should have gone into the interval with more than the one goal lead they had earned.
But what a change followed in the second period with a resurgent display from West Didsbury that ultimately gave them a deserved three points on the day.
Runcorn started the game well and when Kevin Exell cut inside the penalty area he seemed to be impeded by a West player but the referee waved away appeals for a spot-kick.
Soon after, a Luke Edwards cross from the left found Harry Brazel but his goalbound header was held on the goalline by West goalkeeper Marcus Burgess.
At the other end, Ashley Leather broke through the Runcorn defence and goalkeeper Jack Cookson did well to block his shot for an unproductive corner.
Runcorn took the lead in the 17th minute. The goal followed some excellent passing between Liam Turner and Shaun Weaver that resulted with a ball to Simon Thelwell in the penalty area. The Runcorn captain turned to place a shot into the far bottom corner of the net.
Runcorn continued to attack and from a cross by Paul McManus, a Weaver header took a late deflection for a corner. ●
From the flag-kick taken by Edwards, Brazel who was unmarked at the back post headed the ball narrowly wide with the goal at his mercy.
Brazel was causing all sorts of problems for the home side, and when he cut in from the left, his shot hit a defender before going for yet another corner-kick.
A long throw-in from Turner created another opportunity for Runcorn but Carl Rodgers’s header flew straight at a grateful Burgess who held the ball firmly on his goalline.
West countered and a cross from Leather was headed high over the crossbar by Matt Eckersley.
Leather broke through again shortly after, and keeper Cookson was well positioned to block his shot.
The game was end to end as the half drew to a close.
Marksman Thelwell headed an Exell cross straight at Burgess before West’s Lee Gavin volleyed a 25-yard effort high over the crossbar.
The period ended when Brazel cut in beating two defenders before hitting a 20-yard effort just wide of the target.
West got off to a flier in the second half when a pinpoint cross from Leather wide on the right was headed home by Stephen Hall inside the six-yard area to level proceedings.
Things gut worse for Runcorn when they conceded a penalty in the 51st minute, Marcus James bringing down goalscorer Hall as both players clashed.
The foul could have gone either way but the referee was close enough to the incident to award a penalty.
Joe Shaw duly stepped up to put his team into the lead from 12 yards.
Runcorn responded and Thelwell had a shot deflected for corner.
However, the impetus was certainly with West and when Turner cleared the ball off his own goalline following a corner-kick, the home side were adamant that it had crossed the line.
Again the referee was well positioned to make his decision.
Leather was in excellent form for West and was creating major problems for the Runcorn rearguard with his speed and skill down the right hand side.
The game was scrappy at this point but Runcorn had a clear opportunity to draw level when a foul on Weaver on the edge of the penalty area resulted in a direct free-kick. Skipper Thelwell stepped up but his shot curled over the angle of upright and crossbar.
West earned themselves some breathing space in the 75th minute when Ramirez Howarth cleverly turned to hit the ball into the top corner of the net from 18 yards.
Runcorn boss Chris Herbert introduced all three substitutes but despite a period of late pressure it never really troubled West keeper Burgess in the remaining time, the final whistle signalling a disappointing end to the year with leaders City of Liverpool now a distant 14 points in front and with a game in hand too.