Runcorn Town FC Official Website - Crewe FC Match Report

Runcorn Town Reserves began their first game in the Cheshire League away to Crewe FC. The home sides' ground was not being available with the game played on a school pitch which didn�t suit Town as it was very small.

Town started the livelier and Tony Wynne, making his reserve team debut after starring last season for the first team in West Cheshire 1, almost grabbed the opener but his shot rolled agonisingly wide of the upright. Town continued to press and from a free kick on the right, Paul Illidge stole in on the back post but his first time attempt at guiding the ball into the net went wide.

After this Crewe came more into the game and it took a fantastic reflex save from Carl Williams to deny Mike Blundell from opening the scoring. Town again went close when Ged Bushell rose to meet a corner from the left, the striker seeing his header narrowly go over the bar.

Jason McShane was next to go close on his official debut latching on to a desperate clearance from the Crewe defence some 25yards from goal he hit a perfect first time volley which looked destined for the top corner but Wes Newton in the Crewe goal somehow clawed it over the bar for a corner.

Crewe then broke down the left and PJ Hudson held off the challenge of Rob Gorry before sliding the ball past Williams to open the scoring. Town went in search of the equaliser but were caught on the break, Hudson again the scorer firing in from the edge of the area with Town trailing 2-0 at the break.

The second half saw Town continue to take the fight to their opponents and following a corner which the Crewe defence couldn�t deal with, Jack Burbidge opened his seasons account volleying in from close range. Crewe then scored the goal of the game - Town didn�t clear their lines very well and Malc Bostock hit a rasping drive past the helpless Williams from 25yards out.

The Crewe players must have thought game over but they underestimated Town Reserves' resilience for even though they went down to ten men following the sending off of striker Scott Swales for a second yellow, Swales only one the pitch eight minutes.

At this stage it has to be said that the referee was making some strange decisions with regards to her punishments - she later booked Rob Colquitt for a shirt pull but administered no punishment for a two footed waist high lunge which nearly cut Jack Burbidge in half leading to him needing to be replaced by Colquitt.

That said it didn�t affect the momentum which Town were gathering and following good work down the left between Rob Gorry, Kev Hammond and Paul Illidge, Tony Wynne pulled one back by beating the off side trap and stroking home a neat ball in behind the static home defence from Illidge.

The equaliser came from a fantastic chip over the defence which Wynne was onto in a flash steering the ball into the net off the inside of the far post.

All things considered this was seen as a point gained as opposed to two points dropped, with many spectators commenting that not many teams will go to Crewe and get much out of them. However Town know they must improve in certain areas following this determined but spasmodic display.

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