Runcorn Town vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

RUNCORN TOWN 2-3 1874 NORTHWICH – NWCFL PREMIER

Despite finishing the game with only nine men, 1874 Northwich came from behind to snatch victory over Runcorn Town at the Pavilions and leap frog their opponents into 4th place in the NWCFL Premier Division table.

Facing their biggest challenge of the season so far 1874 started strongly against a team which has never finished below 5th in the Premier Division forcing several early corners before Sean Breen went close to opening the scoring for the home side when he curled a shot past Matt Conkie but was unable to get enough bend on the ball for it to go inside the far post.

1874 enjoyed the greater share of the play in the first half with Dave Short firing a free kick just over the bar and Sakeel Abdullah having a shot turned round the post by Runcorn keeper Stuart Plant. The home side with their direct style of play were dangerous on the break and took the lead in the 39th minute. Craig Farnworth, who had been booked earlier in the game, fouled Paul Shanley in the penalty area, allowing Andy Potter to drill his spot kick past Conkie into the bottom corner of the net.

Runcorn started the second half on the front foot firing several shots in the direction of the 1874 goal without hitting the target until the 59th minute when they doubled their advantage. Sam Houghton intercepted a poor clearance and shooting home from outside the area.

1874’s response was immediate forcing a corner from the restart, which was only cleared as far as Matt Woolley who lofted the ball into the goalmouth where, under challenge from Mike Brandon, Plant juggled the ball before scrambling it clear. Matt Beadle returned the ball into the penalty area with a cross from the left wing, where it was met by Brandon who steered his header past Plant into the far corner. Three minutes later the scores were level; Beadle picked up the ball in mid field and unleashed a long range thunderbolt which flew past a helpless Plane into the back of the net.

Both teams traded goal scoring chances in the final third of an incident packed game. The decisive moment came in the 89th minute when Brandon slipped the ball into the path of Beadle who cut in from the left to hammer the ball home from 12 yards to the delight of the majority of the 307 strong crowd.

The game ended in controversy when referee Steve Rudd who had booked seven players (only two wearing blue shirts) in the last 30 minutes of a had fought game between two evenly matched teams showed red cards in stoppage time to Ryan Mitchell and Paul Connor, both of whom had been booked earlier in the game.

1874 – Conkie, Mitchell, Duckworth, Farnworth (Brandon 54mins), Aston, Woolley, Connor, Abdullah, Short, Beadle, Ward. Subs not used Crofts, Jones, Bowyer, Fossdyke.

RUNCORN TOWN – Plant, Potter, Kinsey, Lawton, Latham, Spearitt, Shanley, Keddie, Breen (Webber 88mins), Thomson (Williams 70mins), Houghton. Subs not used Roberts, Lester, Patton

GOALS – 1874 Brandon 61, Beadle 64,89. RUNCORN Potter 39, Houghton 59.

Attendance 307

Referee – Steve Rudd (Leyland)