Visitors seize on Town upheaval
RUNCORN Town were beaten 4-1 by Charnock Richard at the Viridor Community Stadium on Saturday.
In what was the club’s first game since the announcement of Paul McManus’ departure, there were three changes to the Town starting XI. Lewis Rawsthorn, Tom Ruffer and Dean Mundy came in for Craig Cairns who was unavailable and the suspended duo of John Shaw and Kevin Exell.
Youngsters Robbie Leigh, Luke Hamilton and Ash Power made the bench for the first time after impressing for the Development Team.
Charnock had the first chance of the game - Jack Gooden’s shot from just inside the box held by Adam Reid low to his left.
Town almost took the lead on 11 minutes. Sam Hunt’s ball across the box was half cleared and the ball fell to Tom Ruffer who volleyed wide.
There was little goalmouth action in the first 20 minutes, but the visitors began to create chances.
First Alex Cuance’s ball down the left channel found Jordan Darr and he lifted a shot over the advancing Adam Reid, but well wide.
Then Nathan Nickeas’ cross was cleared by Ruffer as far as Brad Carsley
and his shot bobbled wide.
Charnock went closer on 21 minutes when Darr was played in by Carsley and he slotted past Reid but fortunately the ball came back off the foot of the post.
On 28 minutes Town were reduced to 10 men when Joe Holt was given a red card.
He went into what looked like a 50:50 challenge with Ashley Young and the referee thought the challenge from Holt was dangerous and worthy of a red card.
With 10 men Town struggled to create many clear chances.
The best was on 35 minutes when Anthony Gardner’s ball in from the right found Liam Turner and his header was deflected wide for a corner.
Charnock took the lead on 38 minutes. Nickeas’ corner from the right was headed towards goal by Luke Gibson and Lewis Haydock got a touch before the ball then deflected in off Lewis Rawsthorn.
Carsley had a chance to double the lead before half time, on the end of a chipped through ball, but his shot was clawed away by Adam Reid.
The visitors doubled their lead early in the second half. Nickeas played a great low ball in from the right and Carsley slid in to finish at the far post.
On 69 minutes it was 3-0. Nickeas again the provider as he got on the end of a long ball and squared to Darr to tap in.
Three minutes later Town were awarded a penalty after Sam Hughes was tripped by Gibson inside the box. Kieran Holsgrove tucked away the penalty in typically confident fashion.
The three-goal lead was restored quickly though when Carsley received a long ball from Mark Woods and his shot towards the far corner deflected off Turner and looped over Reid into the opposite corner.
Town kept pushing for a second goal. Ruffer’s shot from 25 yards went wide, then Holsgrove’s free kick from a similar distance was closer but just wide of the target.
Sub Ash Power had a chance when he got on the end of a ball down the right wing, but he dragged his shot across goal. Similarly Tom Ruffer got in down the right, but had to shoot early under pressure and fired wide.