Widnes 1 Runcorn Linnets 1.

RUNCORN Linnets paid their bridge tolls and ventured to the ‘El Classitoll’ derby for a second consecutive away fixture on artificial turf.

This one was particularly timely, guaranteeing a pre-Christmas fixture after a week of sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice.

Runcorn fans made the short journey, hoping their team would emulate their last performance on plastic - a stunning 2-0 away win over play-off zone rivals Leek Town - and cement the second position in the table that was secured with a subsequent home win over Trafford.

Expectations were not met, however, and a scrambled Linnets equaliser deep into added time will have left the league’s second-from- bottom side feeling disappointed that they didn’t take all three points, after playing the entire second half with ten men.

The DCBL Stadium pitch had passed a morning inspection, which seemed a strange requirement for an artificial surface. Equally strange was the fact that it was liberally adorned with frozen snow, none of which had fallen since seven days earlier.

It was slippery, and Linnets appeared to be having much more trouble than their hosts in keeping their footing and controlling the ball.

Steady rain for the first half-hour was making it slicker still, although that did help to dissolve much of the ice.

An understandably scrappy start, albeit with Widnes getting into opposition territory far more than the visitors, didn’t trouble either goalkeeper until Danny Taberner stooped to collect Sharif Deans' low shot from outside the area in the fifth minute.

Three minutes later, Steven Irwin had a free run on goal after Lewis Doyle had slipped, and Tabs did brilliantly to palm Irwin’s shot over the bar.

Within another five minutes, Jordan Simpson headed Irwin’s free-kick over the bar, and one-time Linnet Jay Roberts fired high from Will Jones’ pass.

If this report on the first 15 minutes of the game looks like Widnes FC’s Twitter feed, with no mention of opposition activity, it’s because that is how it was.

It was even Widnes who set up the very first potential Runcorn attack, after 17 minutes. Jordan Simpson met a loose ball at the very centre of the Widnes half, and incredibly managed to concede a corner. His ’keeper Cameron Terry got a fist to that before anyone else in the six-yard box.

The first Runcorn shot came after 22 minutes. With his first touch after returning from physio attention on the touchline, James Short let rip from 30 yards, but he pulled his shot well wide of the left post.

A minute later, Taberner came to Linnets’ rescue again, diverting Deans’ shot from another free run, out for a corner.

Lewis Doyle received the first yellow card of the game for a late challenge on Irwin, ten yards inside the Runcorn half. Their personal feud would escalate before half-time. The resulting free-kick into the area was hooked away by Ryan Brooke.

After half an hour, Linnets’ second shot of the afternoon materialised from Jamie Rainford picking up a loose ball inside the Widnes half, and spotting that Terry was outside his six-yard box. Jamie’s shot might have crept under the bar, but Terry back-peddled and caught it.

As the rain stopped, some attacking threat from Linnets commenced, and Sam Heathcote headed wide from a free-kick on the halfway line.

When Linnets did apply pressure on their opponents, the home side were showing a readiness to fall over, encouraged by referee Jordan Crossley being just as ready to award them free-kicks.

Sidi Sanogo won a loose ball in the middle of the Widnes half, and via Ryan Brooke, found James Short wide on the left. A good cross was destined for Jamie Rainford in the area, but Tom Stephens, who had replaced former Linnet Michael Burke just before kick-off, got his head to it first.

Terry had to punch the ball away from Rainford’s head, as he rose to meet a Lewis Doyle cross, then Rainford and Sanogo both had shots blocked at close quarters after Tom Moore had launched a high ball into the area from deep.

Two minutes before the break, Sean O’Mahony foiled Deans’ assault up the right flank, and cleared up the left touchline. A mass brawl followed another clash between Lewis Doyle and Steven Irwin. It appeared that Irwin had stamped on Linnets’ recent serial man of the match, and it earned the Widnes No7 a red card. Widnes boss Michael Ellison was cautioned for venting his feelings on the matter.

As the first half entered added time, Josh Jordan also saw yellow for a chop from behind on Ryan Brooke. Ally Brown met the free-kick in the right side of the area, and tried a low snap shot inside the post, but it was smothered by Terry.

From a one-two with Doyle, Sidi Sanogo went down in the area, but the penalty appeal was optimistic, and it was half-time.

Linnets had taken a long time to exert much of a threat, but against ten men, they would surely take control after the break. But they didn’t, and for most of the second half it was Widnes who looked as though they had the numerical advantage.

Dapo Olarewaju replaced Sidi Sanogo for the second half, and while he endeavoured to break down reduced Widnes manpower, he too frequently struggled to keep his footing at crucial moments.

Danny Taberner uncharacteristically mistimed his jump for a Widnes corner from the right, but the ball ran clear of danger.

Olarewaju had started on the left for Linnets, and after 54 minutes he picked up a Doyle pass, and cut inside to shoot from 25 yards, rattling the crossbar. It was to prove one of very few clear Runcorn chances.

Sean O’Mahony departed after 57 minutes, with Tom Moore retreating from midfield to centre-back, for substitute Zack Clarke to provide an extra attacking threat.

A Widnes corner from the left gave Simpson a shot that was deflected by Sam Heathcote, his low follow-up effort smothered by Tabs.

Widnes had been quicker and sharper to the ball than Linnets all afternoon, and their depletion to ten men did nothing to limit their threat. They were winning most of loose balls, and anyone who might have joined the crowd of 616 - the great majority coming from across the Mersey - at half-time, would never have noticed that the home side were a man down.

Dapo Olarewaju received a yellow card for a push in the back, after several attempts to trip him had gone unpunished.

Olarewaju played a great ball forward to Zack Clarke at the edge of the area, and Clarke'’s first-time shot appeared to cannon off the foot of the right post. The award of a goal-kick made it clear that it had hit the wheel at the side of the mobile goal.

Olerewaju broke forward again, and his deflected cross was salvaged by a great 50/50 challenge by Lewis Doyle. The ball ran ahead of Jamie Rainford in the area, one on one with the ’keeper, but the Runcorn assistant manager was offside.

Kai Shorrock replaced Will Jones for Widnes, after 68 minutes.

A spell of end-to-end attacks on the break ensued, with both sides struggling to effect clean control of the ball.

A great 40-yard solo run from halfway by Ryan Brooke ended with a weak shot that didn’t test Terry.

Matty Rain blocked Olarewaju’s sprint up the right to concede a corner, which Zack Clarke headed on target, but it was cleared from inside the post, and Widnes were away on the break.

Linnets had thrown too many men forward, and Heathcote was outnumbered three to one as Isherwood set up Jay Roberts to convert with ease past a stranded Taberner.

A team reduced to ten men should never overwhelm the opposition, but they did so several times more during the last quarter-hour of the game.

Runcorn attempted a rapid riposte when Short and Doyle set up another mazy run by Brooke into the Widnes area. He applied more force to his shot this time, but Terry was equal to it.

Terry then parried Short’s cross through the area into the path of Lewis Doyle, but he leaned back and shot well over the bar.

A satisfying afternoon’s work by Jay Roberts ended when he was replaced by George Hassall.

Ally Brown’s cross from the right was visibly controlled by a hand, but Mr Crossley allowed Widnes to proceed on the break. Linnets were similarly forgiving, as once again three men in white shirts advanced on one in yellow and green.

Isherwood found the net, to surely secure the points, but to the relief of the visitors, he was flagged offside.

Zack Clarke burst forward on the left and shot, a diving header by Jordan protecting Terry but conceding a corner. Three Widnes men competed to clear it.

Simpson fell over from the merest of contacts 25 yards out. The free-kick beat the defensive wall, requiring another excellent save by Taberner Five minutes remained when Olarewaju beat two men up the right touchline and crossed, but three Linnets men in the area were all ahead of it.

At the other end, Deans ran rings around Moore and Short before the latter conceded a corner.

Widnes tried only to keep possession near the right corner flag, but Rigby was allowed to break through and enter the area, where Taberner came to the rescue again.

As the game entered added time, and Linnets pressed as they had done all too rarely, Ryan Brooke collected a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Matty Rain at the corner of the Widnes area. The resulting injury gave Widnes the opportunity to eat up precious seconds.

Linnets fans berated the referee for allowing time to be wasted, but after 50 minutes against ten men, Runcorn had only themselves to blame for having to frantically chase a point.

The electronic scoreboard showed 94 minutes when James Short launched a long ball into the Widnes penalty area. Zack Clarke headed on goal. Three or four further contacts were made before the ball was propelled into the net.

Goal celebrations endorsed my impression that it was Jamie Rainford, who had saved Runcorn blushes but for some time the equaliser was credited as an own goal by ‘unknown’.

It was several minutes after the final whistle that Rainford was able to add a 12th goal to his status as the NPL West’s leading marksman. He has 17 in all competitions.

Linnets had a half-chance to seal an improbable victory near the end of six added minutes, when Ryan Brooke’s appeal for a penalty was rejected, and Sam Heathcote fired a loose ball well over the bar.

Runcorn would head into Christmas with a single point, which was salvaged more than it was earned.

Widnes’ Twitter said: ‘Late equaliser robs 10-man Widnes of a deserved victory’. It was difficult to argue.

The only other game played in the NPL West was on its other artificial surface, Leek Town coming from 2-0 down to beat Bootle 3-2, and reclaim second spot from Linnets on goal difference.

Linnets’ next outing is the Boxing Day home fixture against City of Liverpool, and their fans will be hoping for the kind of tireless, determined performance that earned ten Runcorn men a Liverpool Senior Cup victory over the Purps on 30th November.

Runcorn Linnets: Danny Taberner, Ally Brown, James Short, Lewis Doyle, Sean O’Mahony (Zack Clarke 57), Sam Heathcote, Tom Moore, Louis Hayes, Jamie Rainford, Sidi Sanogo Fofana (Dapo Olarewaju 45), Ryan Brooke. Subs not used: Macaulay Clifton, Isaac Turner, Louis Holden.

Attendance: 616.