Runcorn Town FC Official Website - Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves Match Report

Town reserves kept up the momentum at the top of West Cheshire Division 3 away at Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves despite missing there two main strikers who were attending seven goal hero from last week James McShane�s wedding, There absence giving young striker Jack Burbidge a rare start and Dave Jolley the opportunity to play in his favoured striker role and it was Jack�s perfect pass which opened the door for Jolley to race clear before calmly slotting in past the home keeper to give Town the lead.
The visitors were looking dangerous on the break but midway through the half hesitancy in the Town defence led to an unexpected equaliser, then another defensive mistake then added to the woes as Karl Kneale returning to the team through his being ineligible to play in the first teams Runcorn Cup tie failed to control and was easily dispossessed by the home team striker who ran in and fired past a helpless Carl Williams in the Town goal several chances went begging but the half finished with Town trailing 2 � 1.
The second half started with Town in the ascendancy chasing the equaliser and with Mike Chesters and Mark (Mickey) McGrath beginning to take control of the midfield it only looked a matter of time before it would come, and come it did Chesters swung in a corner Jolley saw his header stopped on the line the ball broke to Karl Kneale his shot was again stopped on the line but the rebound fell to new signing Dean Siadankay who made no mistake to get his team back level, then following concerted pressure Town were awarded a free kick for a foul on Illidge, Chesters swung in the free kick Burbidge headed it on and there was that man Siadankay to fire in right footed to give Town the lead with his second goal in as many starts for the club.
Mossley Hill were not done for and came back at Town with there best spell and probably grabbed yet another deserved equaliser after Williams could only turn the original effort onto his crossbar the home striker unmarked on the back post headed into the empty net.
Town then went into overdrive and when the excellent McGrath picked out an unmarked Paul Illidge the winger who normally plays at left back coolly slotted home to restore Towns lead, and following some brilliant keep ball passing it was Illidge who turned provider, sliding the ball across the 18 yard box where Burbidge was quickest to latch onto the loose ball taking one touch with his right foot to open up the space before firing into the net to extend Towns lead the young striker then scored an absolute gem Jolley rose in centre field heading down to Gorry who�s first time pass invited the shot from the inrushing Burbidge and Jack duly obliged rifling in an unstoppable angled drive with his right foot to take the score to 6 � 3 to the visitors, Mossley Hill Athletic Res were then awarded a penalty when skipper Mark Tudor couldn�t get his arm out of the way of a cross from the right and Williams couldn�t prevent the penalty from going in, but Town were not finished and again McGrath was involved lifting a perfect pass over the top of the Home defence for Rob Gorry to open his seasons account when he delightfully met McGraths pass on the volley lifting the ball up and over the keeper to round of a great 7 � 4 win. This win reclaiming top spot for Town reserves, although other teams have games in hand.

* Please note that any incaccuracies with regards to Mossley Hill goalscorers is due to the fact that no Christian names were on the teamsheet... so we made them up!

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