RESERVES COME BACK TO BEAT HALE

Runcorn Town Reserves bounced back from going behind early on to defeat Hale 2-1 and keep their slim promotion hopes on track.

This was a must win game against a Hale side in a rich vein of form unbeaten in the previous seven outings and a club who have despite league position or current form have always given Town a hard game. This was to prove no different as buoyed by there recent good form they tore into Town in the opening exchanges but with Carl Williams in goal and the same back four of Rob Davies, David Graven, Mark Tudor & Paul Illidge who helped him keep a clean sheet last week, the home side couldn’t find a breakthrough.

In fact it was Town who had the first opportunity of the match, albeit a tame effort into the hands of the home keeper from striker Ged Bushell. Hale were dominating the centre of the park until some verbal instructions from the sidelines for Jamie Cumpper to squeeze up into a more central position put paid to the problem.

The game really ignited following a solid tackle from Town captain Danny Cummins on the Hale captain who didn’t like the challenge and lashed out at his opponent. The referee opted to show the red card to both players thereby reducing both teams to ten men and although Town adjusted to the loss quicker, they fell behind when they went to sleep following an injury to the Hale left back. As play resumed they were static allowing Paul Ellison time to receive a pass control the ball and fire it unchallenged into the roof of the net.

Connor Anderson almost equalised within a minute but his first time lobbed volley beat the home keeper and the cross bar. Town were pressing and from a well flighted Bushell corner, Graven rose highest at the far post and headed the ball back into the danger area where Ben Butler was first to react applying a great finish with a clever back heel flick into the net. The remainder of the half see-sawed with both teams having slight chances to take the lead.

The second half opened the opposite to the first with Town now in the ascendancy. Jamie Cumpper went on a strong run down the left and played a great pass to Anderson on the edge of the area with the leading scorer unselfishly rolleing the ball on into the path of that man Butler who applied the perfect finish firing into the bottom corner for what would eventually prove to be the winner.

Town then went rampant introducing fresh legs Robbie Darlington in midfield for Dave Jolley and David Ginever in defence in place of Illidge, and with the fresh impetus Town could have, with a little more composure, have easily doubled their tally, particularly Anderson who found himself through on goal twice but couldn’t find the finish to go with his brilliant approach play.

Anderson even teed up Butler for what should have been his hat trick but he fired wide into the side netting with what was probably his easiest chance of the afternoon.

Graven was singled out as man of the match, but overall it was a great team effort with some outstanding individual performances being the key to this vital win.

Posted at 22:00 on Saturday 21st March 2009 - Viewed 258 times