An own goal present provides some Boxing Day delight for Town
Runcorn Town 2 Whitchurch Alport 1 RUNCORN TOWN bagged themselves a post-Christmas gift of three welcome points by edging Whitchurch Alport 2-1 at the Viridor Community Stadium on Boxing Day afternoon.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.
An early chance came for the home side when Charlie Ennis flashed a low cross behind the visitors’ defence that Kevin Exell was just inches away from diverting into the net.
Whitchurch responded when Nick Marley crossed the ball from the touchline where teammate Jordan Cole headed over Adam Reid’s crossbar.
The visitors looked dangerous and Liam Turner did well to block a fierce shot from Arron Johns.
Sean Griffiths then headed over the bar as Runcorn were forced to defend in depth.
Runcorn countered and some excellent build-up play between Harry Brazel and Turner resulted in a ball to Ennis who fired in a shot that took a deflection for a corner.
Ennis then tried a long- ● range effort that drifted narrowly wide of the far post.
The game was end to end and Marcus James rescued Runcorn with a clearance to deny Alex Hughes opening the scoring for the visitors.
Nine minutes before the interval, Runcorn went ahead.
A superb ball from Exell was instantly controlled on his chest by Simon Thelwell.
In one movement, the Town captain turned to clip the ball over Whitchurch goalkeeper Dave Parton and into the far corner of the net.
Almost immediately, Whitchurch nearly netted an equaliser. Griffiths broke clear but he was denied by a great save from Reid to maintain his team’s lead.
Runcorn finished the half on top. Ennis found teammate Brazel who, despite a late tackle, flashed a goalbound strike that brought a good save from Parton before the period ended with Thelwell mis-hitting a shot when played in by Ennis.
The second half began with some neat link-up play from Ennis and Turner which created an opening. It resulted in a crossed ball that was just beyond Carl Rodgers.
Thelwell then brought a point-blank save from Parton, the keeper recovering quickly to hang onto the loose ball.
Soon after, Runcorn were awarded a penalty when Exell was brought down by Whitchurch player Ricky Bridge as he broke through on the Whitchurch goal.
Paul McManus took the spot-kick only for a full length save from Dave Parton to deny the Town midfielder his usual penalty goal.
At the other end, Reid then produced a superb save to deny Johns an equaliser.
A perfectly-timed tackle by Marley blocked a certain goal by Edwards as Runcorn looked to increase their lead.
Whitchurch were, however, building up a momentum and again it took a superb onehanded save by Reid to keep his team ahead.
Runcorn doubled their advantage in the 79th minute.
Shaun Weaver created problems for the visitors’ defence forcing Joe Minshall to head the ball beyond his keeper and into his own net.
Alex Hughes brought another good save out of Reid but a last minute penalty by Hughes gave the Runcorn keeper no chance of stopping denying him a clean sheet although the points were Town’s to bag.