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Town Res had to contend with a quick change to the mode of transport with the club minibus having a flat tyre, it was all hands to volunteer there car�s, then a bump on the Bridge caused a further delay in arriving at the ground leaving virtually no time for proper preparation but this didn�t stop them from taking an early lead on 15 minutes, former Daten star Kev Hammond took a clever free kick low and hard into the near post the home side were clearly taken by surprise as they had loaded up the back post to mark the Town defenders who had come up to attack the corner but the alert Jason Carey was first to react running across the first defender and firing in an unstoppable first time right foot shot to give Town a 1 nil lead, it was debatable as to who celebrated the most Carey or Hammond who was clearly delighted with his part in the goal. The lead though was relatively short lived Daten grabbing an equaliser some 12 minutes later following excellent work by the lively number 9 who was starting to control the midfield area, he picked up the ball from a quick free kick near the halfway line and drove forward unchallenged before slipping a neat pass into the path of the number 10 who advanced into the area drew out Carl Williams in the Town goal before opening his body up to shoot past Williams with a right foot shot into the net all square one apiece, the game then became open and Daten were enjoying the lions share of possession without really troubling the Town defence of Ginever, Graven, Kneale and Tringham but it was Town who continued to create the better chances Paul Illidge went close firing into the side netting after being released by a fine cross field pass from Jack Burbidge, centre back Karl Kneale went close with a header from another Hammond corner and Scott Swales another Daten old boy did really well evading his marker before pulling the ball back from the dead ball line for Carey who�s shot was well saved by the home keeper, Swales then had a shot saved after being put through by the tireless Robbie Gorry, and finally with the half time whistle approaching another Hammond corner was only half cleared the ball falling back to the midfielder who from the tightest of angles fired in to the Daten net the ball going in off the post to give him his first ever goal for Town in this his second spell with the club the goal restoring the Town lead at the half time break.

The second half followed the same pattern Daten having lots of possession but Town always looking the more dangerous notably from Hammond�s set pieces Carey had a point blank header saved from one such dead ball situation, Swales then showed his strength and skill outmuscling the centre half before turning the full back inside out and firing in what looked likely to be a superb debut goal but once again the home keeper produced another fine save, David Graven then broke up a Daten attack and carried the ball forward before slipping the ball into Carey�s path the striker unable to pick out the return pass to the marauding centre back who would have been clear through on goal had the pass been better, Tringham went on a solo run from left back but his shot was tame and gave the keeper no trouble, Daten were starting to build up some momentum so fresh legs were needed to stem the now constant push from the home side first Burbidge made way for 17 year old Richie Hargreaves to make his club debut then Striker Swales was sacrificed for an extra midfielder to give Dean Ramanouski his first action since returning to the club after a four year absence this change didn�t reduce Town�s goal scoring threat and Carey in particular from Hammond corners went close on two further occasions both headers being saved by the home keeper at the foot of the post, at the final whistle Town res had denied Daten any further goals to take there first three points on the road this season and maintain there unbeaten start to the campaign, with this win moving them up to third place in the Cheshire League Div 2.

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