TOWN COMEBACK TO BEAT HALTON

Runcorn Town maintained their lead at the top of West Cheshire League Three after a 4-2 derby victory over Halton at Pavilions. However the result does not reflect the game with two goals in the last ten minutes giving Town victory after being two goals behind.

The game started at a frantic pace with Halton enjoying much of the possession, but both sides struggled to test Karl Wills or Adam Judge in goal. Danny Cummins saw a 20-yard strike well saved with Halton's Adam Horrocks seeing a free kick go just wide of the post.

Ian Robinson had a chance after 23 minutes to open the scoring for Town after he got in behind the defence, but he pushed the ball to far as he rounded Judge with Halton managing to clear.

The opening goal came on the half hour when a corner from the left by Matty Johnson was headed over Karl Wills by Andy Dunning to give Halton the lead. Town should have responded instantly with Danny Dalton getting away down the right and putting a low ball across the box which John McEvoy failed to connect properly with.

With five minutes of the half to go, Jason Carey then got in on the right and despite Cummins and McEvoy unmarked to his left, he decided to shoot with Judge saving easily. This proved costly with Halton counter attacking up the right hand side with the ball crossed low to Ste Horrocks in the box. His shot beat Wills but came back of the post with John Coady on hand to tap the ball in to make it 2-0 to Halton.

Town's response this time was instant. With Halton pushed upfield, Ste Latham played a ball into Carey who was one-on-one with the keeper. He advanced into the box before shooting and despite Judge getting a hand to the shot, the ball went in to the bottom right hand corner to halve Halton's lead.

The second half saw Town come out with more purpose and they were rewarded with an equaliser seven minutes into the half - Jamie Cumpper's corner from the right headed in by Danny Dalton.

Town continued to press with Halton looking dangerous on the counter attack. Substitute Lee Mitchell came close to giving Halton the lead when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box following a good passing move with his fierce volley going just wide of the left hand post.

With a stalemate looking increasingly likely it was a bit of magic from Carey which gave Town the lead with ten minutes remaining. He got the ball on the corner of the box and juggled it in the air before unleashing a superb left foot volley that flew over Judge into the net.

Halton pressed and almost equalised with Adam Horrocks' diving header going wide of the right hand post. Town made it an unlikely 4-2 with four minutes remaining when Ste Latham netted with a header from Ian Robinson's corner.

Posted at 13:12 on Sunday 12th October 2008 - Viewed 325 times