Runcorn Town vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

LAST GASP WINNER DOWNS 74
By Garry Clarke

RUNCORN TOWN 2-1 1874 NORTHWICH

Runcorn Town scored twice in the second half, the second in stoppage time, to come from behind to record their first ever victory over 1874 Northwich in a well contested encounter between two evenly matches teams.

1874 Northwich almost got off to a flying start with Scott McGowan being inches away from opening the scoring in the second minute. Goalkeeper Greg Hall found 1874’s top scorer unmarked in the Runcorn area with a free kick launched from well within his own half. McGowan’s acrobatic overhead flashed just wide of the target.

1874 enjoyed the better of the first half although they struggled to break down a strong Runcorn defence, while the home side was limited to shooting from distance.

1874 broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, when Kazim Waite-Jackson’s cross from the right found McGowan unmarked at the far post, where he powerfully headed home his 35th goal of the campaign.

Referee Kristian Silcock turned down Runcorn appeals for a penalty in the opening minutes of the first half when Joe Holt went down as his surging run into the 1874 penalty area was ended by a Ryan Mitchell challenge. Further appeals for a spot kick in the 76th minute were answered in the affirmative when Silcock adjudged Danny Meadowcroft to have controlled the ball with his hand during a goal mouth scramble. Paul McManus converted from the spot to level the scores.

A few minutes later a diagonal ball played in to 1874’s area found Craig Cairns in acres of space. Runcorn’s leading scorer could only guide the ball into the welcoming hands of Hall, who handled comfortably all evening.

Being restricted to shooting from distance, McGowan, Matt Russell, Sam Freakes and Rory Fallon all firing in shots, 1874 were being forced deeper as their hard working opponents started to gain the upper hand as signs of fatigue started to show in the green ranks.

1874’s rearguard held firm until two minutes into stoppage time when they failed to deal with a long ball played into their penalty area allowing it to drop to Holt who squeezed the ball through a crowd of players and into the net.

RUNCORN: Reid, Turner, Carberry, James, Thelwall, McManus, Holt, Hassell, Menagh, Cairns, Reed. Subs not used Exell, McGregor, Jones.

1874: Hall, Connor, Russell, Pritchard, Mitchell, Freakes, Hind, Fallon, McGowan, Waite-Jackson, Kennerley (Meadowcroft 74). Subs not used Riley, Lever, Woods, Jack Woolley.

GOALS – Runcorn McManus 76p, Holt 92 1874 – McGowan 42
ATTENDANCE – 209 REFEREE – K SILCOCK