1874 Northwich vs Runcorn Linnetts

Recap

Michael White header stuns the greens.

A solitary goal decided this action packed Cheshire derby in favour of Runcorn Linnets and condemned 1874 Northwich to their first NWCFL Premier Division defeat of the season. A highly competitive encounter between two evenly matched teams was settled in the 15th minute when Mikey White lost his marker at a corner and in the six yard box unchallenged planted a firm header in the 1874 net.

1874 had gone close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when Ryan Mitchell headed a corner over the bar. Ten minutes later Ryan Jackson fired in a shot from 25 yards as Runcorn struggled to clear a corner, Jackson’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Richie Mottram.

1874 goalkeeper Tom Hunt had to be alert to prevent Kurt Sherlock increasing Runcorn’s advantage in the 20th minute saving bravely at his feet as Runcorn broke away after clearing an 1874 corner. Just before the break Hunt pulled of a fine save from Francis Smith, while Freddie Potter blasted the rebound high over the bar.

Both teams continued battling away working hard to establish their supremacy over their rivals as play ebbed and flowed switching from end to end.

In the opening minutes of the second half Danny Shannon latched onto a miss directed header by a Runcorn defender but his shot was blocked by Mottram. Moments later Kyle Hamid booked the ball over 1874’s bar from a cross before Mike Brandon shot from distance cleared Linnets’ bar.

As the game entered its final stages desperate defending by Runcorn kept 1874 at bay although Jackson, Brandon and Mitchell all went close to grabbing an equalizer.

Runcorn were always dangerous on the break and despite being caught off side several times Potter smashed the ball against 1874’s cross bar and Sherlock was denied by a combination of a last ditch Mitchell tackle and a good save by Hunt in the last minute of an absorbing clash watched by a season’s best Barton Stadium crowd of 435.

1874 – Hunt, Connor, James (Beadle 75), Mitchell, Thomas, Chappell, Jackson, Woolley, Brandon, Kirk (Ward 60), Shannon. Subs not used Ledwards, Hill, McNicholl.

RUNCORN – Mottram, Brislen, Atherton, Humphreys, White, Armstrong, Houghton, Hamid, Potter (Ellison 80), Sherlock, Smith (Collins 80 – Hilton 85). Subs not used Halfacre, Buckley.

GOAL- White 15

REFEREE – Dean Watson ATTENDANCE 435

MAN OF THE MATCH SELECTED BY MATCH SPONSOR ALAN ANDREWS = DANNY THOMAS