LATE CAREY GOAL RESCUES POINT

A Jason Carey goal three minutes into stoppage time rescued a point for Runcorn Town at Cheadle on Saturday, with Town putting in another indifferent performance as the season draws to a close.

Cheadle learned early on Saturday that their regular 'keeper was off to watch the all-Manchester FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley, with midfielder Paul McCormack deputising between the sticks.

Town had an early opportunity to take the lead with James McShane shooting tamely at McCormack, before Cheadle took the lead after nine minutes. A cross from the right found Paul Whalley in the box with the midfielder given time to turn and fire a low shot into the corner of the net.

The lead lasted just six minutes later with McShane getting clear on the left hand side and hitting a low cross across the goal which the unfortunate Warren Gaskin slid into his own net.

Matthew Herd then went close for Cheadle with a curling effort from the right of the box that curled just over Karl Wills' crossbar with Ben Brooks also going close. Despite this Town wasted a great opportunity in the closing moments of the half with Warren Bellew advancing from his own box, playing a one-two with Tony Wynne before hitting his effort over the bar.

The second half was barely two minutes old when Gaskin found himself one-on-one with Wills, Town's number one standing up well to block the shot with his legs. Town had a lot of pressure in the second half but crucially failed to test McCormack in goal.

Pressure does not win games though and Cheadle were ahead after 77 minutes. Wills came out to collect a long ball from the back but his momentum carried him out of the box with the referee awarding a free kick right on the edge of the box for handball. Ben Roberts stepped up and fired an accurate shot right into the bottom left hand corner just wide of Wills' despairing dive.

It could have got worse for Town with Matthew Herd then shooting tamely at Wills before Brooks got clear of the defence only to stand on the ball at an inopportune moment.

Town's best chances came with the game heading into the final few minutes. Carey crossed from the right with three minutes remaining with McShane heading over the bar from just three yards out. Town's leading scorer was also denied after he got in behind the last defender with McCormack blocking with his legs.

With virtually the last action of the game Town pulled themselves level with Warren Bellew's corner from the right hand side headed goalwards by Carey, with the ball dropping just under the bar with Ben Roberts' unable to keep the ball out.

With Tuesday's opponents Chadderton losing 4-3 at Wigan Robin Park a win would have given Town a second successive promotion. However it was not to be with Town still needing two points from the five remaining games to guarantee a top-two finish.

Posted at 22:23 on Monday 18th April 2011 - Viewed 296 times