Runcorn Town FC Official Website - Upton Athletic Association Reserves Match Report

Runcorn Town Reserves moved to the top of West Cheshire League Three after a 6-0 demolition at Upton Athletic Association.

Aarron Brown was the talk of the town again though as he grabbed another four goal haul to make it an incredible 20 goals in his last 8 games. This was enough to move him to West Cheshire League's leading goalscorer with 22 goals.

The scoreline flattered Town with Upton keeping possession well and creating arguably the better chances in the first half, and it would have been no surprise to any Town supporters had the Chester side been a couple of goals up at half time.

Carl Williams had to be alert to pulled off a good save from an Ian Hastings free kick after just three minutes, but it was defender Karl Kneale who kept Town in the game with terrific defending throughout.

After 23 minutes a slip by Williams in goal saw Nathen Freeman race onto the loose ball, and his low cross was put wide by Paul Armor with Kneale pressuring him. Two minutes later a long ball from defence found Mike Bowell on the edge of the box, and with the winger waiting for the ball to drop, Kneale got back to make a terrific block.

Town did have chances with Dave Jolley seeing a shot from a corner cleared off the line and Danny Cummins seeing a 20-yard drive go over the bar. The best chance fell to Brown who Mike Chesters put one-on-one with keeper Andrew Shelton, but Shelton did well to save his shot.

Upton really should have been ahead after 35 minutes when Freeman found Bowell following a run into the box. With everyone expecting the shot Bowell layed it off for Mark Thompson who shot wide from six yards.

It took until the 40th minute for the opening goal to arrive with Barry Angell making a strong run down the right hand side and crossing to Brown in the centre. He controlled the ball and shot first time with the ball deflecting past Shelton for the opener.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 with Ged Bushell rolling back the years as he advanced down the left hand side, and his low cross was turned in by Brown. The scoreline flattered Town but got even worse for Upton two minutes into stoppage time when Brown scored his third.

Jolley won the ball by the corner flag and crossed for Brown whose shot was blocked on the line with the ball falling to left back Sean Lynch. He controlled the ball then inexplicably played it back to Brown who found the corner of the net.

The three quickfire goals killed the game as a contest with Town on top for much of the second half with Chesters controlling the game from the centre of the pitch. Four minutes into the half Brown grabbed his fourth when a free kick from the left was turned in from close range.

The fifth goal arrived after 56 minutes from the unlikely source of centre back Mark Tudor. Jolley made a run down the left and crossed to Tudor on the edge of the box, with Tudor showing pinpoint precision with a low shot that went in off the right hand post.

Substitute Jack Burbidge should have made it six with 20 minutes remaining when he raced onto a long ball but shot wide of the post, but he made no mistake ten minutes later when a quick Chesters free kick released Jolley, with Burbidge converting his through pass for Town's sixth.

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