Runcorn Town FC Official Website - Southport Trinity Reserves Match Report

Runcorn Town Reserves' six game winning streak in West Cheshire League Three was ended at Southport Trinity Reserves as they were held to a 3-3 draw.

With Trinity already losing against Town's promotion rivals Hale (4-0) and Prescot Cables (8-1), Town travelled with confidence of getting all three points, but met a vastly different side to what either faced.

Trinity decided to made a mockery of the spirit of West Cheshire League competition by opting to start with more than half their team made up of First Team players, with their First Team having an open date. Given given that their First Team have lost just once in the league all season, Town putting in a commendable performance and have to be happy with a point.

Town started slowly and were on the back foot straight from the kick off, keeper Carl Williams and his defence thwarting the home team attack twice, Barry Angell and skipper Karl Kneale in the heart of Towns defence were also busy in the opening exchanges.

Trinity's first team contingent were certainly giving Town problems, but Town's Reserves gradually rose to the challenge and when Dave Jolley chased down a back pass causing the home keeper to panic and make a mess of his clearance, Aarron Brown accepted the chance to add to his already impressive tally by smashing the ball into the empty net for his 23rd of the season to give Town the lead.

However this lead was short lived with Trinity grabbing the equaliser just four minutes later with striker Dave Whelan slotting home from close range on his reserve team debut following a good cross from the left. As half time approached Josh Rizzotti, making his first start for the club after transferring from Upton, dispossessed the home winger and hit a great long pass to Aarron Brown. Brown controlled the pass and despite pressure from the home team captain fired high into the top corner to restore Town's lead with only seconds remaining of the half.

Dave Jolley should have increased the lead when he was put clean through on goal following some good approach play involving Jordan Stafford, Mark (Micky) McGrath and Mike Chesters but Jolley shot tamely wide.

Trinity came out fired up for the second half with centre midfielder Mike Ellison scoring on his reserve team debut from a direct free kick to level the scores. The home team took the lead for the first time in the match striker with Callum Kelly becoming the third Trinity player to score on his reserve team debut by firing in to the bottom left hand corner from the edge of the area.

Town were not to be denied something from the game and raised there game to put the home side under increasing pressure The home keeper made a number of important saves to deny Jolley, Brown and on two occasions Jordan Stafford - the second when Stafford was put in by a neat through ball from Paul Illidge with the keeper also saving Brown's drive after the save.

Town had a little reshuffle with Jolley going to wide right, Rob Gorry moving into central midfield and Jack Burbidge coming on for Mike Chesters to take up Jolley's striker position and Jack was soon in the action. Jolley ran onto a Gorry through ball before finding Burbidge with the tall striker controlling the pass instantly and holding off the challenge of the centre half before rounding the keeper and slotting in for a well deserved equaliser.

Trinity were rocking but like a wounded prize fighter had enough to hold on for the draw to give both clubs a point which could prove decisive for both come the end of the season, with Town's promotion ambitions hampered and Trinity's relegation worries eased slightly.

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