Town display is toothless in home defeat

RUNCORN Town were beaten by Northwich Victoria at the Viridor Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

There were starts for new signings Anthony Gardner and Mike Samson while Niall Homes and Ben Greenop also came into the starting XI.

Town created the first chance of the game - Gardner’s long throw was flicked on by Samson and Ryan Cox fired wide.

At the other end, John Shaw was well positioned to block a goalbound shot.

Northwich took the lead on 14 minutes. A diagonal ball from Jack Fleming was headed down by Carl Grimshaw and Ryan Winder won a 50-50 challenge with Joe

Holt before firing home from just inside the box. Town responded when Kieran Holsgrove and Ben Greenop exchanged passes and Joe Camozzi put in a great tackle to stop Holsgrove getting a shot away.

Niall Holmes’ deep cross was headed wide by Cox. Then Cox found Holsgrove in the box and his shot from a tight angle saved by the keeper.

It was Paul McManus’ men creating the bulk of the chances. Holsgrove almost found an equaliser with an effort that brought a fantastic save from Chris Cheetham in the Vics goal.

Town keeper Adam Reid made an equally good save. Vics’ Brad Lynch with a great strike that looked on the way in until Reid saved brilliantly at full stretch. The visitors finished the half strongly and Reid was called on to make saves from Rudy Misambo and Grimshaw. The second half started with Cox again threatening for Town, but his shot form outside the box was comfortable for Cheetham. Vics responded with Brad Lynch forcing a save

● Town manager Paul McManus from Reid. Then Grimshaw was played in by Dunn and he scooped a shot over the bar. Holsgrove had a shot pushed over the bar by the keeper, then Grimshaw had another one on one, but was denied by a finger tip save from Reid.

Town struggled to create many decent opportunities. Gardner’s cross found Cox and his looping header was claimed by the keeper.

The visitors were looking more likely to score. Luke Sephton’s ball into the box to Dunn and he dragged a shot inches wide. Then Winder’s ball into the box was headed away by Samson and

Sephton controlled the ball with his chest before thumping a shot against the bar.

The two Town debutants combined again when Gardner’s long throw was flicked on by Samson and the ball almost crept in at the near post.

A second goal for Northwich came on 70 minutes. A throw in on the left wing was flicked on to Matty Birchall and the substitute was able to skip past a couple of tackles before finishing low past Reid.

Good work from Holmes and Cox found sub Sam Hunt and his shot was saved. Then Greenop’s header from Holsgrove’s corner was wide. Reid had to make another save from Sephton, before Town’s best opportunity of the second half - Cox found Greenop, but he dragged his shot wide.