Runcorn Linnets vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

THE WAIT GOES ON
BY GARRY CLARKE

RUNCORN LINNETS 2-0 1874 NORTHWICH HSL PREMIER 20TH FEBRUARY 2018

1874 Northwich are still looking for their first win against Cheshire rivals Runcorn Linnets after losing 2-1 at the Millbank Stadium.

Fielding a team showing six changes to Saturday’s starting lineup, 1874 turned in an at times disjointed performance with, especially in the first half, too many passes not finding their intended target but they made the league leaders work for their points.

After an initial feeling out process 1874 had the first attempt at goal when Kazin Waite-Jackson fired a shot over the bar before the hard working home side, who were busy cutting down space to break up the flow of the game not allowing 1874 to play their normal passing game, started to dominate.

1874 were forced to clear off their line and Kieran Nolan had a shot deflected wide before Runcorn opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Mark Houghton found space in the 1874 area to meet a Paul Shanley cross to guide a header into the corner of the net.

Seven minutes later Michael Simpson rattled the underside of1874’s cross bar with a powerful shot, the ensuing goalmouth scramble ended with Greg Hall managed to drop on the ball.

Runcorn maintained the upper hand in the opening minutes of the second half with Shanley and Kristian Holt shooting jut off target, Daniel O’Brien seeing a free kick deflect off the wall for a corner and Hall deny Shanley with a good save, a feat he repeated to keep out another Holt effort.

Having survived Runcorn’s early attacks after the break, 1874 started to grow into the game and enjoyed their bet period of the encounter.

In the 65th minute Ryan Jackson whipped in a low cross from the left, sliding into meet the ball, Kyle Riley’s attempt to force the ball home was thwarted by a superbly timed lat ditch tackle by Louis Corrigan.

A few minutes later Danny Meadowcoft headed wide from a Sam Freakes cross while debutant Rory Fallon was also off target with a header from a Taylor Kennerley cross.

Somewhat against the run of player former 1874 player Stuart Wellstead doubled the home side’s advantage slamming home from 12 yards in the 80th minute after a good run and cross from Shanley.

Three minutes later Freddie Potter drew a top notch save from Hall, who at full stretch flew through the air to tip Potter’s shot onto the bar.

Having developed a liking for scoring late goals, 1874 pulled a goal back 3 minutes into stoppage time. Jackson carried the ball into the heart of the Runcorn defence before slipping it out wide to Jack Lever, whose cross into the penalty area found Jackson who slotted the ball past Matt Holmes in the Runcorn goal.

RUNCORN – Holmes, Corrigan, Morris, Moore, O’Brien, Nolan, Holt (Hamid 88), Simpson, Haughton (Potter 70), Shanley, Jones (Wellstead 68). Subs not used Hickey, Lawton.

1874 – Hall, Lever, Russell (Woods 63), Pritchard, Meadowcroft, Freakes, Hind (Kennerley 74), M Woolley, Riley, Waite-Jackson (Fallon ht), R Jackson. Subs not used McGown, Payne

GOALS – Runcorn Haughton 23, Wellstead 80 1874 Jackson 93

Attendance 428 Referee C Rooney