Runcorn Town FC Official Website - Helsby Match Report

A rare goal from centre back Dave Ginever helped Runcorn Town progress through to the Quarter Finals of the Cheshire Amateur Cup with a 4-3 victory at Helsby.

Ginever notched only his second goal in 113 senior appearances for Town after 71 minutes, with the goal pulling Town level after Helsby had led 3-1.

Town had the first chance of the game in the opening few minutes when Ste Latham played Tony Wynne down the right hand side with Emini Adegbenro taking too long to get his shot away from his cross.

Helsby gradually worked their way into the game and looked the stronger side for much of the first half. They should have gone ahead after 20 minutes when Town's defence was split open from a diagonal through ball with Karl Wills pulling off a terrific save from Wayne Linnett in the box.

On the half hour Helsby had another great chance when Adam Pepera dispossessed Greg Byrne in defence to leave himself with just Wills to beat, but he pulled his shot wide of the left hand post.

Town offered little with Latham having the best chance following a long ball that put him clear, but Adam Stringer saved at his feet. It was no suprise when Helsby opened the scoring in the 34th minute with Sam Bailey curling in a free kick in off the far post from the corner of the box.

The equaliser arrived two minutes before half time when Wynne put Adegbenro clear, with Town's winger unselfishly squaring it for Clint Burton to score. Helsby though retook the lead seven minutes into injury time at the end of the half through Idrith Kamara, who prodded the ball home following a corner from the right.

The start of the second half saw Burton advance into the box with Reece Conlan making a terrific block on his attempted pass to Wynne, but Helsby should have been two goals up on the counter attack with a long ball putting Gary Lunt one-on-one with Wills making another terrific save.

Wynne saw a header saved from Warren Bellew's cross after 63 minutes but a minute later it looked all over for Town with Gary Lunt scoring Helsby's third. Darren Moore played a free kick from the half way along the floor to Lunt who let the ball run past him and shot across goal and into the corner of the net.

Fortunately for Town they were only behind two minutes with Burton pulling one with a low shot from the corner of the box that flew in at the near post. In the 71st minute Town were level through the unlikely source of Ginever.

A free kick from Bellew was only half cleared with Bellew looping the ball back into the box and Latham timing his run to perfection to beat the offside flag. He pulled it across goal for Ginever who turned in the box and saw his shot deflected into the bottom right hand corner.

Town pushed forward looking for the winner with Jon McEvoy seeing an effort saved after a run into the box after 83 minutes and Latham shooting straight at Stringer two minutes later.

The winning goal duly came in the 89th minute when Town were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the area after a foul on McEvoy. Bellew's blasted shot came back off the wall with Latham's follow up shot deflected into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

There was still time for Wynne to claim "miss of the day" in stoppage time when McEvoy advanced down the right and crossed into the box. The West Cheshire League's leading scorer's first touch put him clear of the last defender, but he pulled his shot from five yards wide of the right hand post.

Ultimately it did not matter with Town now progressing to the Quarter Finals and a clash against current holders West Kirby, with Town looking for vengeance after the Wirral side knocked them out of the competition last season.

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