Runcorn Town top of the West Cheshire League

2:52pm Monday 6th October 2008

Runcorn Town moved to the top of the West Cheshire League after a 2-1 victory over Aintree Villa at Pavilions, but had to do it the hard way with two goals in the last 20 minutes ensuring the win.

The first half was non-eventful after Jason Carey's chip on five minutes went just over the bar. Both teams cancelled each other out with the ball hardly leaving the midfield third and no teams being able to create shots to trouble the keeper.

Whatever the two managers said at half time worked with the second half starting with much more urgency from both teams. Karl Siadanky had a great chance after 50 minutes when he got clear of Town's defence despite what looked like a foul on Danny Dalton, but he put his one-on-one chance against Karl Wills wide of the left hand post.

Two minutes later though Siadanky made amends when his overhead kick met a throw in from the left to give Aintree the lead. Town's answer was to throw everything at Aintree but the visitors luck held out in the five minutes that followed.

First Carey anticipated a back pass which left him with the keeper to beat, and despite his lob being goal bound a defender cleared off the line, with Danny Cummins seeing a header rebound off a post. Cummins was also unlucky when he headed over from two yards out with Ste Latham going for the same ball which may have put him off, then Carey appeared to be felled in the box with the referee waving play on.

The game then settled down once more with chances again becoming rare, and the more the game progressed the more it looked like one would be enough for Aintree. Aarron Brown and Ian Robinson came on from the bench and proved inspired substitutions with both having a hand in Town's comeback.

In the 72nd minute, defender Danny Dalton skipped past two on the right hand side, got to the goal line and pulled the ball back for Brown to slam the ball into the net for the equaliser.

Seven minutes later Town were in front with Robinson getting clear of his marker on the left, advancing into the box and squaring it for Carey whose shot went through the defenders legs on the line.

All in all it was not the best performance overall once again by Town, but the work that goes on in training was evident by the fitness of players towards the end. However six wins from eight league games is great and we would all have taken top spot at the stage at the start of the season.

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