Town unlucky to miss out on Winsford draw
RUNCORN Town began the St Luke’s Cup with a 2-1 defeat at Winsford United this afternoon.
Town started with mostly familiar faces from the 2020-21 season and included trialists Joe Blackham and Kyle
Smith in the starting XI. Niall Holmes started on the bench after impressing for the Town Youth Team.
The hosts were in front after just four minutes. A long ball over the top found Joe Duckworth and he lifted his shot over the advancing
Adam Reid to open the scoring.
Town responded well with a couple of good chances. First Joe Blackham headed wide from Liam Turner’s cross. Then Kieran Holsgrove’s free kick was touched onto the post by Winsford keeper Tom Scott.
The game was being played at a quick pace, with both teams showing that this is very much a competitive competition.
On 30 minutes Marcus James headed just wide from Holsgrove’s corner. A minute later Jesse Dowling had a chance to double Winsford’s lead, but fired over from a tight angle.
Player Manager Paul McManus picked up a knock and was replaced by Niall Holmes - making his first appearance for the first team.
The half finished with Town on top, but unable to further test Scott. The best opportunity came from another Holsgrove free kick which was fired over the bar from 35 yards.
Miklos Imre replaced Kyle Smith at half time, also making a competitive debut after impressing in recent friendlies. Imre slotted in at centre back with Declan McGivern used as a makeshift striker.
McGivern was straight into action in the Winsford box, nodding down Holsgrove’s free kick to Turner who fired over.
He then picked up a yellow card after the referee decided he went down a bit too easily under a challenge in the box.
After a positive start to the half, Town were grateful to Reid stopping Duckworth doubling the lead, pushing away his volley from the edge of the box.
McGivern was in the thick of the action and on 63 minutes was unlucky not to equalise when he headed Holsgrove’s cross into the ground and just over the bar.
A deserved equaliser arrived just a minute later. McGivern pressed the Winsford defence and after intercepting a pass, advanced into the box and rolled the ball into the bottom corner.
Joe Holt volleyed just wide from Holsgrove’s ball to the far post and Lewis Rawsthorn replaced Aidan
Roxburgh for the last 15 minutes as Town pressed for another goal.
On reflection a draw would have been a fair result, but Winsford took the three points with a late winner. Substitute Ollie McDonnagh was put through down the right hand side and was able to progress into the box and fire past Reid.
Mark Reed replaced Marcus James as Town chased an equaliser, but there were no further opportunities as Winsford saw out the last few minutes.
A depleted Youth
Team were beaten 7-0 by Runcorn Linnets.
Injuries and other commitments meant Town started with nine men against their cross town rivals.
Onto Saturday and the Under 18s game against Netherley Wood Legion was postponed due to a shortage of players from the visitors. It was a similar story for the Under 17s game against Red Rum which was also a non runner.
The Under 14s had a cup match at home to a strong Ashton Athletic side and lost 5-0.
Into Sunday and it was a similar story for the Under 15s who suffered their first league defeat of the season, going down 2-1 in a close game away at Rainford Rangers Inter.
It was Runcorn who took the lead in the first half as Ben Boote got his name on the scoresheet. However two goals in the second half turned the tie around, with Rainford moving up to second place in the league after their third straight league win.