Runcorn Town 
vs 
1874 Northwich
vs 1874 NorthwichRecap
74 PAY THE PENALTY
By Garry Clarke
RUNCORN TOWN 2-1 1874 NORTHWICH HSL PREMIER 15TH SEPTEMEBER 2018
Fielding the same starting eleven which won on Tuesday 1874 Northwich paid the penalty for allowing hosts Runcorn Town to come from behind and claim all three points.
1874 started the game brightly forcing a series of corners; the first came in the 8thminute when a last ditch tackle by a Runcorn defender ended a weaving run into the Runcorn box by full back Jordan Tucker.
The second corner came three minutes later when a Scott McGowan free kick deflected off the defensive wall. From the corner the ball was propelled goal wards by McGowan for Runcorn keeper Adam Reid to pull off a good save.
In the 16th minute a well worked corner between Joe Woolley and Taylor Kennerley allowed Woolley to deliver a cross into the Runcorn area which found Danny Thomas who stabbed the ball home from six yards.
Reid prevented 1874 have doubling their advantage with good saves from McGowan and Mark Jones before Ryan Cox glanced a header wide of the 1874 goal.
Playing a more direct style, the home side started to come more into the game and leveled the score in the 33rd minute. A corner delivered from the left found John Shaw unmarked at the far post where he, unchallenged, headed the ball into 1874’s net.
A few minutes later 1874 goalkeeper James Coates pulled off a flying save to palm away a Shaun Weaver shot.
Moments before half time McGowan ended an 1874 break by slotting the ball past Reid, although he had beaten the Runcorn defence he had not beat the linesman’s offside flag.
Despite a scrappy start to the second half, 1874 continued to enjoy most of the attacking play with Runcorn’s attacking options being limited.
In the opening minutes of the half Reid did well to pluck a Matt Russell cross out of the air in a packed penalty area, while just before the hour mark McGowan scooped a shot over the bar following a good run down the left wing and cross by Kenerley.
Runcorn’s Jamie Menagh had a shot blocked before Paul McManus drilled the rebound wide while Callum Gardner fired wide of the target at the other end of the pitch. Reid pulled off a good save at point blank range to deny Gardner before McGowan hit the rebound wide.
The game’s decisive moment arrived in the 75th minute. A long ball down field took a wicked bounce wrong footing Jack Pritchard, who as he turned trying to recover his position collided with Runcorn’s Stuart McDonald.
Referee Lewis Raper pointed to the penalty spot despite 1874 protests that contact was outside the area, after consulting with his assistant he confirmed his original decision.
McManus stepped up to smash the spot kick high into the top corner of the net.
RUNCORN – Reid, Turner, Carberry, Shaw, James, Thelwall, McManus, Waever, Menagh, Cox (Wainwright 85), McDonald (Wright 85). Subs not used Herbert, McGregor, France.
1874 – Coates, Tucker, Russell, Pritchard, Thomas, Jones, J Woolley (Gardner 55), M Woolley (Wainthrop 55), McGowan, Freakes (Waite-Jackson 80), Kennerley. Subs not used Connor, Meadowcroft.
GOALS – Runcorn Shaw 33, McManus 77p 1874 – Thomas 16
ATTENDANCE 214
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 15 Sep 2018 | 3:00 pm | Hallmark Security League Premier | 2018/19 | 214 |
Results
| Club | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runcorn Town | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1874 Northwich | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Officials
| Referee | Assistant Referee 1 | Assistant Referee 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Luis Raper | Paul Ellis | Sam Orritt |
KO
16
55
77
78
81
FT