Runcorn Town FC Official Website - Vauxhall Motors Reserves Match Report

Runcorn Town enjoyed a happy return to Rivacre Park as they scored six without reply at Vauxhall Motors for the second season running.

Playing against a strong wind, Town carved out the first opportunity after just three minutes. Danny Cummins' cross was too long for Emini Adegbenro, with Ste Latham pulling the loose ball back for Warren Bellew who fired just wide.

Vauxhall then came into the game more and started to create openings, but it was either a poor final ball or good Town defending that means that Karl Wills wasn't really tested in goal with a clinical shot.

Town took until the half hour to create the next chance with Marvin Molyneux's finding Tony Wynne who nipped in between the last defender and keeper Karl Billingsley only to see his shot go just wide.

Vauxhall then should have taken the lead when Graham Davis put Salah Arfaoui clear on the left, but his lob went wide of the left hand post.

Instead it was Town who took the lead after 35 minutes with Danny Dalton getting to the line on the right hand side and crossing to Ste Latham. His first touch took him away from two defenders, and his second was fired past Billingsley for the opener.

With the wind behind them in the second half Town were favourites for the win and they increased the lead after 55 minutes from the penalty spot. Cummins forced his way into the box and was brought down with Burton finding the bottom left corner with the penalty.

A minute later it was three when Karl Wills' huge clearance put Tony Wynne in behind the defence and he slotted past the keeper for his seventh goal of the season.

It should have been four on the hour with Town putting a good passing move together on the left hand side. Greg Byrne started it at the back with the ball played quickly forward to Cummins and Bellew, but his cross could not be turned in with Burton and Mini waiting.

The fourth did arrive after 64 minutes and was courtesey of a defensive error by Vauxhall. Molyneux played the ball through the middle and it looked like the keeper's ball with Burton giving chase to pressure. Instead Edward Whelen knocked it past his own keeper to give Burton a simple tap in.

Vauxhall should have scored after 73 minutes when Arfaoui weaved his way into the box with just Wills to beat, however Town's keeper made two brilliant close range saves to keep Vauxhall out. Two minutes later he was at it again, denying Brett Dobson from Cummins' attempted header back.

Wills' fine afternoon was rubber-stamped with ten minutes to go as he pulled off another incredible save, again from Arfaoui. Jacques Bonfrer robbed Greg Byrne of the ball and crossed for Arfaoui three yards out. Inexplicably he hit the crossbar, with Wills throwing himself in the way of his follow up effort.

If any of these had gone in then the last ten minutes could have been different. As it was Town stepped it up again with Wynne seeing a chip go over in a carbon copy of his earlier goal.

Two minutes later Wynne did have his second when he picked the ball up on the left hand side and weaved his way into the box and slotted past Billingsley. The scoring was completed with four minutes remaining when Ian Robinson's cross from the left was caught in the wind and flew into the top corner.

This match report represents the views of the author and not particularly that of Runcorn Town FC.