I’ll drink to that! Linnets triumph over top of table
LINNETS set out to discover how well their rich vein of form would travel on the longest away day of the league season at Workington.
It would also be a genuine measure of their Pitching In Northern Premier League prospects, with their hosts topping the table and, like their visitors, yet to lose a home game.
Linnets were ahead inside three minutes, with the Reds unprepared for an Iwan Murray free-kick that enabled Ryan Brooke to further enhance his bid to top the West Division goalscoring table.
But only two minutes later, Runcorn ‘keeper Joe Young was unhappy with his defence when Dan Wordsworth scored too easily at the near post from a corner.
Brad Carroll then put the league leaders ahead, converting at the far post.
One might expect a loss of shape and composure, especially against such an obviously strong side on their home patch, but the Runcorn response looked solid.
Joe Lynch, Brooke and Lloyd Marsh-Hughes all augmented the Linnets defence in allowing the Reds little space and time to advance into the away half, and Iwan Murray and Stuart Crilly left the home team under no illusions that they would have to be ready to respond in kind, and quickly, whenever they lost possession.
Both of them were a real threat on the break, and as so often before this season, the opposition quickly realised that the only reliable way to prevent Iwan causing them problems was to foul him.
In the 25th minute, a Crilly cross from the left was missed by inches by Brooke, when contact would surely have levelled the scores.
In the other direction, Connor Gaul and Brad Carroll were instrumental in most Workington attacks, one leading to a cross that flew just too high for Reuben Jerome to connect, Marsh-Hughes tracking back again to clear.
Two strong defences made progress on the ground hard work, but a more aerial approach was harder still, as a swirling wind took unpredictable hold of any ball launched high.
It almost worked to Jerome’s advantage when Evan Gumbs was wrong footed by a swerving ball over the top, but Sean O’Mahony tidied up before the Reds No.9 could reach it.
With ten minutes of the half remaining, the wind worked in Runcorn’s favour when it kept Sam Smith’s attempted clearance in play. Crilly picked up the ball on the right touchline and made it swiftly to the goal line, but his shot from a tight angle found the side netting.
Workington held possession again, patiently working for an opening, but then Murray pounced on a loose ball on the halfway line and played a peach of a through ball ahead of Marsh-Hughes’ charge into the penalty area.
He shrugged off the challenge of Wordsworth and slotted the ball past advancing ‘keeper Jim Atkinson into the bottom left corner. It was his first goal in a Runcorn shirt, in his second start.
In an end-to-end conclusion to a busy half, Reds’ centre-half Smith was the last defender to frustrate attacking enterprise, blocking a Welsh cross after Brooke had supplied him on the right.
The second half started as the first had, with Workington having the lion’s share of possession, and taking their time to negotiate their way through a defence that they had learned wouldn’t make it easy for them.
Runcorn attacking efforts continued to come mostly on the break, after defensive patience had borne fruit, but Linnets possession gradually increased in duration.
Three half chances in quick succession for Linnets saw a Crilly cross not quite reach Brooke in the area, a 30-yard free-kick blocked by Smith’s diving header, and a Murray shot from similar distance skid past the left post, when the ‘keeper had it covered.
Linnets made the game’s first substitution after 59 minutes, Louis Hayes replacing Joe Lynch, and the substitute was in defensive duty quickly.
A Workington corner from the right was headed down at the far post, but Evan Gumbs was well placed to clear.
A minute later, Connor Gaul tried to use the wind to his advantage, attempting to lob the ‘keeper from more than 30 yards.
It swerved on the way, but Joe Young palmed it down safely then pounced on it.
Ryan Brooke was the next recipient of a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Wordsworth, those roles being reversed a minute later at the other end of the pitch.
The resulting free-kick was effectively a corner, from which Sean O’Mahony out-jumped the crowd in the area but headed over the bar.
With 25 minutes remaining both sides made a change, Workington’s Scott Allison on for Reuben Jerome, and scorer Marsh-Hughes replaced by Rhain Hellawell.
Most of the game’s chances were now coming from free-kicks, as the foul (and card) count mounted.
Another problem for a tiring Workington rearguard came with the introduction of Dapo Olarewaju’s pace for the last 13 minutes, Stuart Crilly giving way to him.
As usual when Dapo comes off the bench, he threatened immediately.
Evan Gumbs intercepted an Atkinson clearance on the halfway line and found Dapo in the penalty area.
Kieran Charlton blocked his shot and conceded a corner, which curled beyond Gumbs at the far post.
Two minutes later, Hellawell faced down three defenders to reach the 18-yard box and pass right for Olarewaju, who sidestepped his marker to hammer a low shot past Atkinson into the centre of the net.
The league leaders had ten minutes to preserve that ranking, but Linnets were roared on by the select but noisy band of travelling fans behind the Workington goal, inspiring them to maintain control all the way to the final whistle.
Workington did have a chance to bite back when Jacques Welsh slipped in the centre circle, allowing Tinnion to advance towards Young’s goal, but only as far as a perfectlytimed Wylie tackle.
The closing stages of games were becoming a highly-profitable hunting ground for the Linnets.
A superb victory secured in the last ten minutes of this one had the travelling fans raising a complimentary glass to the victors, courtesy of Calum McIntyre and his assistant Colin Woodthorpe.
It was a generous gesture that highlighted the togetherness of all in yellow and green, on and off the pitch.
That was highlighted once again by the remarkable number of players who travelled despite not being in the matchday squad.