Magic Theatre
20 AUGUST 2016
NWCFL PREMIER DIVISION
RUNCORN TOWN 3-1 RUNCORN LINNETS
@ PAVILIONS, RUNCORN
ATT: 357
Not often I go through so many changes in the match of choice as I did to finally end up at the Pavilions, but it was well worth the wait. A change a week or so ago from Ramsbottom United to AFC Darwen had me an the boy Horatio heading further north but happy with our pick. Then came the rain. Darwen was off, now Horatio is fairly new to the groundhopping lark so where could we go, Hanley Town? Why the hell not.
Off we set towards the M6 only to hit a gridlock around Knutsford, give that a miss, quick check of the mobile and the Runcorn Derby it was, so turn north and head to the derby. Failing to find a chippy open in the area, we arrived at the ground a little after 2 and had to park on the grass as someone was getting married at the Pavilions club.
Entering we made our way to the left to the Tea Hut, only to be redirected over to the clubhouse where the hot food (meat and potato pies) were being sold, apparently Town are thinking of closing down the small hut on the far side this season. Shame.
What a difference in the weather from my match last week as the sides came out to wind and drizzle, with Linnets attacking the Pavilions end the match got underway. Following a similar pattern to my game last week, the visitors driven on by a big following being the better side until the hosts in blue took the lead.
A corner in the 10th minute was headed at goal by Rodgers, saved well by the Linnets stopper Hunt, Jarrett was on hand to fire home. From there on in Town were the better side in the first half and could have had 3 or 4 more before the break. Instead they had to make do with just one further goal to add to the score, Cairns thumping a spot-kick straight down the middle after a foul on the Town skipper Thelwall in the area.
Shortly before the interval we had some handbags in the middle before the venom from the visiting fans to the referee really boiled over when he denied them a penalty claim, correctly to me.
H-T: RUNCORN TOWN 2-0 RUNCORN LINNETS
The visitors emerged a couple of minutes or so after the break, with either some wise or angry words in their ears. Whatever was said, there was an improvement on the first half, unfortunately for them, just not enough.
As the yellows tried to find a way through the blues defence, the hosts looked dangerous on the break especially as their opponents defence did not appear at all comfortable in dealing with what Town threw at them.
Just before we got to the halfway mark of the second period the visitors scored. Smart play on the edge of the box created a chance for Foster, he beat the advancing O'Loughlin with ease, game on! Linnets pressed, Town held them at bay, Town then broke away, Linnets somehow kept them out. We moved towards full-time the blues wasted a couple of great chances on the break before Irlam slammed a final goal home in added on time.
F-T: RUNCORN TOWN 3-1 RUNCORN LINNETS
Heading back to Manchester in the HoratioMobile®, I read out the day's scores whilst we had New Order's 'Blue Monday' playing in the background, easily better than Sports Report.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Craig Cairns - Tucked away his penalty, a hand in the third, constant threat to the visitors.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Sad one for me, despite a good match, it will be the Linnets fan with 'Bob 82' on his back and his choice of insults aimed at the Town players.
SOUNDTRACK: K - Kula Shaker
CASH: Gate - £6, Programme - £2, Brew - £1
STAT OF THE DAY: First time I have watched Linnets and they haven't won.
