REPLAY AWAITS FOR TOWN / LR

Atherton LR and Runcorn Town will have to do it all over again after a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes in tonight's Vodkat League Challenge Cup Third Round tie.

With one eye on Saturday's Vodkat League clash between the top two sides in Division One, Town named a much changed lineup with just Karl Wills and Danny Salt surviving from Saturday's victory at Rochdale Town.

Jack Burbidge, Lance Cunliffe and Allan Glover all made their first team debuts, with Will Conway and Ryan Malone both stepping up from the Reserves. Chris Brown came into the defence, with Connor Anderson up front and Emini Adegbenro making his first start since early February.

LR on the other hand made just two changes from Saturday's win over St Helens Town, with Robert Smith and Brian Hatton both dropping to the bench being replaced by Brad Cooke and Daniel Smith.

Town got off to the great start and were ahead after just nine minutes with Jack Burbidge making it a perfect debut by slotting the ball home from inside the box after good work by Ryan Malone. LR were level after 17 minutes through Keiron Halliwell who scored at the second attempt after his initial shot was blocked on the line.

Town moved back ahead on the stroke of half time with Connor Anderson's control from Emini Adegbenro's cross giving him space in which he found the far corner of the net.

LR equalised for the second time after 64 minutes after they attacked down the right, with Daniel Smith drilling the ball past Wills at the far post after the ball was crossed low across the box.

Town came closest to grabbing the winner with LR scrambling the ball off their own line after 76 minutes with Town supporters wondering how the ball never crossed the line. Warren Bellew also went close with a fierce shot from the edge of the box from Jason Carey's lay-off, with Martin Pearson in goal pulling off a fine save to tip the ball over the bar.

A draw was the worst possible outcome for both clubs with LR now facing two midweek fixtures in three of the next four weeks. Despite both clubs wanting penalties before kick off if scores were level after extra time, competition rules state there must be a replay, and we now await a date off the league.

Posted at 21:57 on Tuesday 29th March 2011 - Viewed 2386 times