Decent haul of points bagged on away trips
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON............ 1 RUNCORN LINNETS ................................. 4
AWEEK of significant change off the field ended in the best possible way on the field as Runcorn Linnets comfortably dispatched their Manchester hosts and, in doing so, erased any lingering memories of New Mills a week ago.
A brace of Mark Houghton headers in between goals from Paul Shanley and Stuart Wellstead was more than enough to secure the victory, with West Didsbury & Chorlton’s goal coming in the final minute.
On a pitch that was perfectly playable, but a bit tricky to turn on, it always looked like there would be chances and goals. A slide rule Kris Holt pass picked out Shanley for the game’s first chance inside five minutes, but Shanley’s lofted shot was saved well by Dean Williams.
It didn’t take long for Linnets to open the scoring, though, and it was Shanley, who made no mistake when tapping-in from close-range, after benefiting from a good flick on by Houghton and hesitant defending at the back post by Scott Mason.
With the exception of a nervous moment when Michael Simpson nearly sold goalkeeper Tom Hunt short on a back-pass, Runcorn controlled the remainder of the half. A three-minute spell towards the end of the period, effectively put the game to bed.
The typically-aware Houghton bagged the first of his goals when he reacted quickly to a poor clearance and nodded into the bottom corner of the net.
As the home side were still reeling from that goal, Houghton grabbed another. Williams did well to tip a Danny ● McKenna free-kick special on to the bar, but Runcorn’s leading goalscorer once again reacted first and did well to adjust his body position and put himself on a hat-trick of headers.
Whilst not a header, Houghton then missed a golden opportunity to close out a six-minute hat-trick from the spot.
Shanley’s feet were far too quick for the home side’s defence and a penalty was an easy decision for the referee. Unfortunately, Houghton added to the Linnets’ woeful record from 12 yards this season and it stayed at 3-0.
Nic Evangelinos wasted a good chance early in the second half when he didn’t trust his left foot and by delaying and coming back inside, allowed defenders back to block.
Only moments later, Runcorn had their fourth goal from a well-worked free-kick. Skipper Kyle Hamid’s delicate chip, followed by a superbly-weighted cross from Shanley made Wellstead’s job the easiest of all when he nodded in at the back post.
The goal brought a triple substitution for the home side on the hour, but it had little material impact. When the consolation arrived in the 90th minute, it did so through the imposing Saul Henderson.
The big striker wriggled free of a couple of challenges before burying his leftfooted shot in the bottom corner.
It was a good finish, but a shame for the Linnets backline not to emerge with a clean sheet. WINSFORD UNITED ................................. 1 RUNCORN LINNETS ................................. 1 DESPITE ending Winsford United’s sixgame winning sequence in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division, Linnets will be disappointed not to have taken full points from this clash on Monday evening.
The match was memorable for two goals, which were remarkable for different reasons, and also its full-blooded local derby qualities – culminating in the late dismissal of Winsford striker Kyle Riley for a second cautionable offence. He had kicked out at Kyle Hamid as the Runcorn skipper tried to take a free-kick.
Linnets began positively but were gifted the opening goal after only six minutes. Taking full advantage of the long run-off between the touchline and pitch perimeter fence, Zac Aley launched a throw-in from the Runcorn left.
Home goalkeeper Matthew Green was caught unawares – and also caught out – as the ball somehow escaped his clutches and dropped into the net.
Winsford had done little or nothing to trouble Tom Hunt before producing a stunning equaliser five minutes from the break. Hunt’s clearance was easily intercepted in his own half and while Runcorn did their best to hold up a riposte, Winsford advanced for Jordan Johnson to unleash a terrific shot from all of 30 yards. It hit the apex of bar and right post and went in.
The second half saw Winsford make more of an impression teritorially, threatening to catch Linnets on the break but the visitors’ rearguard held firm while Riley’s dismissal came too late have any real bearing on proceedings.