RESERVES HELD BY MANOR

Runcorn Town Reserves' lack of football was apparent on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Manor Athletic.

Town had not played a game for five weeks since the 7-4 victory over Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves, but grabbed the lead after just nine minutes when Paul Illidge fired home from inside the box.

Manor gradually got on top and should really have been level if not ahead with Martin Canham guilty of three glaring misses. The first he rounded Carl Williams but put his shot wide of the post, and the other two he put wide with just Williams to beat from just six yards out.

Town had chances to equalise with Rob Gorry having the best chance when James McShane's cross fell to him, but his shot went wide of the left hand post.

The equaliser for Manor came four minutes into the second half when Canham got the goal his play deserved. A ball from the left was laid off to Canham who fired a low shot from 25-yards into the bottom left hand corner.

Town stepped things up and had several chances to go ahead. First Aarron Stafford beat the offside trap down the left with McShane narrowly unable to connect with his cross.

It looked like these misses would haunt Town after 72 minutes when Wayne Hulse scored from close range after a seemingly innocuous ball from the left got to him, with the substitute making no mistake.

However Ian Robinson had other ideas, with Town's midfielder scoring his first goal of the season with a spectacular strike. Town won a free kick 35-yards from goal with Robinson's effort dipping late and coming off the underside of the bar before nestling into the net.

Posted at 11:22 on Thursday 25th March 2010 - Viewed 243 times