Boss apologises after Town’s late collapse
RUNCORN Town were beaten 7-0 by Wythenshawe Town at Ericstan Park on Saturday afternoon.
New signing Mark Winslade came into the starting XI for his debut. A defensive reshuffle was required after Liam Turner failed a late fitness test and Frankie Antoine picked up an injury in the warm up.
Harvey Whyte had an early chance for Wythenshawe, but his shot was over the bar. Joe Holt had a similar opportunity for Town, firing over from 20 yards.
Wythenshawe took the lead on 16 minutes. Whyte’s through ball found Matty Bryan who rounded Adam Reid and cut the ball back for Brad Byrne to finish.
On 28 minutes following a Wythenshawe corner, Whyte had another chance and his shot was blocked by John Davies.
Town’s Kyle Smyth picked up a knock and was replaced on 32 minutes by Dom McHugh.
● Niall McGuinness
Wythenshawe doubled their lead four minutes before half time. Whyte played in Byrne down the right and his cross was headed in at the far post by Darius Palma.
Town were forced into two more changes due to injuries. Richie Foulkes came on at for Brandon Lockett at half time and 5 minutes into the second half Tony Davies had to be replaced by Andy Brown.
On 57 minutes Dom McHugh made a great challenge to prevent a certain goal after a good ball in from the left wing. Then Reid did well to punch away a cross and save the resulting shot from Dom Smalley.
Wythenshawe got a third on 61 minutes. Jerome Wright’s quick throw found Bryan whose shot was blocked by Reid, but the ball fell to Bryan to square to Palma to score.
It was 4-0 on 77 minutes - Bryan exchanging passes with Max Leonard and fired past Reid from close range.
Town then went down to 10 men as the injury problems continued Mark Winslade having to hobble off with all three subs having been used.
Richie Foulkes had a shot from distance just over the bar as Town looked for a consolation goal.
Wythenshawe wrapped up the win with three late goals. On 90 minutes Connor Brotherton’s through ball found Palma in space to take a touch and fire past Reid.
Leonard played in Bryan through the middle and although Reid made the initial save, Bryan beat Andy Brown to the loose ball to score the sixth.
Then a ball from halfway beat a flat-footed Town defence and Bryan went round Reid and squared for Leonard to score.
Joint manager
Niall
McGuinness was very disappointed with the manner of the defeat.
“Firstly I’d like to apologise to all of the fans and everyone connected with the club. You don’t deserve to see what you witnessed on Saturday,” he said.
“I think the game was one too many for us this week and it took its toll on the players, which showed in the number of niggles and injuries we picked up before and during the game. Take nothing away from Wythenshawe - they were probably the most organised and best quality we’ve come up against this season. However, the way in which the players folded for the last 20-25 minutes was far from acceptable and embarrassing for us management and for themselves.
“We have to put Saturday swiftly behind us and we need a huge reaction on Tuesday from every player.”
● Town’s Under 15s went into their game at AFC Knowsley looking to build on last weekend’s cup win against Prescot Cables.
They almost took the lead on 11 minutes when Jack McLaughlin-Light’s corner was met by Matty Hamilton and his header was saved.
AFC Knowsley went ahead a minute later when a low ball across goal was bundled in at the far post.
Owen McLaughlin had a chance to equalise when we got onto the end of Sam Guttridge’s through ball, but a defender recovered to block the shot.
Knowsley made it 2-0 on 33 minutes with a penalty.
After the break Town were better and Mackenzie Powell shot wide early on. But Knowsley made it 3-0 on 52 minutes
With six minutes to go Town did get one back - a great cross from the right was finished by McLaughlin. Two minutes later the comeback was on as McLaughlin again ran onto a long ball, went past the keeper and fired in off the post.
Town poured forward looking for an unlikely equaliser. McLaughlin almost completed his hattrick when he ran through from the halfway line, but his shot was saved by the keeper.
But it was AFC Knowsley who confirmed victory with the final action - a far post header from a corner in injury time to make it 4-2.
The next game for the Under 15s is away to Bleak Hill Rovers on Saturday 5th February. The game at Ecclesfield Open Space kicks off at 11.30am.
● The Under 16s preserved their winning record, coming from behind to win at Parkdale Sidac Rangers.
Early on Liam Hall’s cross found Harry Wilson, but he was denied by a great save from the keeper.
Harry Cartlidge had a shot from 25 yards held by the keeper. Then Nathan Roberts exchanged passes with Jaden Keogh on the edge of the box and shot narrowly wide.
Parkdale scored twice in the last five minutes of the half, Town getting one back with the final kick of the first period.
Following a corner there was a bit of penalty box pinball, then Liam Hall’s shot was saved, but the ball was bundled over the line by Finn Benjamin.
Tommy Crane had to be alert early in the second half to hold a looping header just under the bar. But after that it was Town who went on to dominate the game.
Jimmy O’Rourke’s corner was cleared to Hall and his shot brought a fine save from the Parkdale keeper. Luke Graven had a free kick just wide, then Hall was played in by Lucas Ramsden and his shot was saved.
The chances kept coming as Town searched for an equaliser. Graven’s corner was headed wide by Chadwick and Hall also had a shot from 25 yards just wide.
Midway through the half the equaliser finally came. Elliot Dorgan put Ramsden through and he knocked the ball past the keeper before dummying two defenders and finishing to make it 2-2.
It looked like there would only be one winner, but Town were unable find a way through. The best of the chances fell to Hall who fired wide from Benjamin’s pinpoint cross.
Finally with two minutes to go they got the winning goal that the performance deserved when Graven’s corner was headed in at the far post by Chadwick to make it 3-2.