TOWN'S STUMBLE CONTINUES

Runcorn Town's hopes of capturing their first West Cheshire League Championship were dealt a severe blow with a 3-2 home defeat by Upton Athletic Association. The result makes it just two points from the last possible nine, with West Kirby becoming outright leaders of the league after a 1-1 draw at Poulton Vics.

James Bignall put the visitors ahead after just six minutes when he powered home from six yards out on the right of the box. Upton broke down the left with the ball crossed low for Danny Andrews with Karl Wills getting a hand to his shot, however the ball came out to Bignall who made no mistake.

After 14 minutes it was 2-0 after Mark Toohey got dispossessed 30 yards from goal with the ball played beyond the defence to Andrews. The Upton forward raced clear and calmly slotted past Wills to give the Chester outfit a commanding lead.

Town came into the game more and started to control the midfield with some last ditch defending denying Town goalscoring opportunities. Town got back into the game after 26 minutes when Kyle Hamid's corner was half cleared to Matty Jones who controlled the ball well and fired a shot low into the bottom left corner.

The next opportunity arrived on 37 minutes when Aarron Brown was fouled 25 yards from goal with Hamid striking the crossbar with the free kick. Hamid also struck the woodwork again three minutes into the second half when his inswinging corner deceived everyone and hit the far post.

Brown should have put Town level after 54 minutes when he beat the offside trap from Greg Byrne's ball over the top, but his shot from 20-yards went over the bar. Brown almost set up Ste Latham eight minutes later but the Upton left back got back well to make an excellent tackle in the box.

Town had to score whilst the pressure was on but they could not find a way past a resolute defence. Five minutes from time Upton made it three when a backheel in the box from a forward left Andrews unmarked to notch his second goal of the game.

Town's second arrived in stoppage time when a ball from the left was well held up on the edge of the box by substitute Paul Allen, with Latham driving his lay-off into the bottom corner of the net.

Posted at 22:51 on Wednesday 1st April 2009 - Viewed 235 times