Runcorn Town FC Official Website - Richmond Raith Rovers Match Report

Runcorn Town Reserves' first league game in over two months ended in victory with Aarron Brown and Jason Carey scoring in a 2-1 win over Richmond Raith Rovers.

Town Reserves travelled to Childwall Sports College to play Richmond Raith Rovers for there first league match in over two months without regular keeper Carl Williams and centre back Karl Kneale who were called into the first team to deputise for the injured Karl Wills and David Ginever respectively, giving Matty Wilson his first start of the season in the Town goal and allowing promising 18 year old Josh Rizzotti to make only his second start since signing for the club back in November, his only previous appearance coming at right back in the 3 - 3 draw away against Southport Trinity, and both players acquitted themselves well.
Wilson benefitting from a solid defensive display from the back four of Barry Angell, Mark Tudor, Paul Illidge and young Rizzotti who�s collective efforts reduced the number of threatening goal attempts he had to deal with throughout the match.
Towns midfield of Jolley, McGrath, Anderson and Gorry started very brightly and quickly established midfield superiority which led to several early chances for strikers Aaron Brown and Jason Carey to open the scoring , Carey in particular was causing the home side a lot of problems with his blistering pace almost seeing him twice open the scoring in the early exchanges but it was he who turned provider when the first goal did come on 26 minutes he picked up a tremendous through ball from Rizzotti, took on and beat a defender before slipping the ball through to Brown who maintained his hot streak in front of goal guiding the ball under the onrushing keeper and into the bottom corner of the Richmond net for his 26th goal of the season. The goal only served to shake up the home side and following what was probably the best move of the match Richmond equalised, Antony Lee won the ball in midfield and found his midfield partner Paul Goothwaite he delivered a perfectlt weighted pass into the path of winger Madine and his first time ball was despatched into the net by the ever dangerous Domonic Gilchrist the fluent passing and movement leaving keeper Wilson and his defenders with no chance of preventing the goal.
As we have seen repeatedly this season this Town reserve team does not lie down and quickly re established the lead, this time Mark (Mickey) McGrath�s persistence in keeping the home side under pressure on the edge of there own penalty area where he first blocked a clearance then won the loose ball with a strong tackle to feed the ball through to the ever sharp Carey who stroked the ball past the covering centre back and goalkeeper to send Town in ahead at half time.
Despite Richmond going down to ten men midway through the second half they then went into overdrive and Town as is usually the case found it more difficult to play against the inspired ten men than eleven, but with skipper Mark Tudor marshalling his defence well to thwart the consistent threat and Josh Rizzotti performing particularly well against the powerful and dangerous Richmond centre forward John Garner, who ran the Town defence ragged in the reverse fixture at Pavilions early in the season with Rizzotti playing him so well, Town were able to prevent any more goals and on several occasions could have increased the lead, Robbie Gorry and late substitute Jordan Stafford almost added to the score line, Gorry shooting from distance clipping the top of the crossbar and Stafford firing into the side netting after a strong break down the left that saw him leave the fullback for dead before cutting in and going close. All things considered this was a good win and hopefully a kick start to the New Year to get the team back on track towards promotion.

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