Runcorn Town FC Official Website - Whitchurch Alport Match Report

A shocking start by Runcorn Town Reserves led to their first defeat of the season with Whitchurch Alport returning to Shropshire with all three points after a 2-1 win.

Town were behind after just 19 seconds despite kicking off - The ball was moved from the centre circle via Scott Swales, Rob Gorry, Kev Hammond and Dave Ginever to debutant keeper Gary Stevenson, and his poor kick only found a Whitchurch player who promptly lobbed the stranded keeper to open the scoring with what will probably be the fastest goal scored this season.

After six minutes things went from bad to worse and Stevenson's nightmare continued when he took too long to kick out a back pass, his kick cannoning into his unguarded net off the back of the onrushing forward.

Town went looking for a goal to try and gain a foothold in the match and Rod Looker, who had changed the system to a 4-5-1 for this game, was urging more composure from his troops. In possession lone striker Swales was working manfully to help his team get back into it by chasing every ball but lacked support and so with no reply the team went in two down at half time.

The second half saw Town in a more familiar 4-4-2 and they certainly looked more comfortable and did start to make in roads into the Whitchurch defence. A Dean Ramanouski pass over the top was controlled in an instant by Paul Illidge, the winger then firing in a good shot which the visiting keeper could only parry out.

Town then lost influential centre back David Graven with a knee injury, Barry Angell coming on to replace him slotting in at right back with Ginever switching to centre half. Ged Bushell then replaced the out of sorts Rob Colquitt in attack and following an injury earlier in the game which Robbie Gorry couldn�t shake off, Richie Hargreaves came on at right wing.

The last two substitutes would later link up well to pull one back but not before Swales had a great effort saved after latching on to great through ball from Bushell. Illidge got around the back of the Whitchurch defence again from a well weighted pass from Bushell and pulled the ball back across goal with Swales only inches from getting a vital touch.

With the clock ticking down Town did get a goal back when Mark Tudor played a pass up which Swales headed into the path of Bushell. He passed the ball onto Hargreaves who was tackled as he received the ball but had the presence to back heel the loose ball back into the path of Bushell who steadied himself before calmly slotting the ball into the net.

Although they carried the fight to the end no further goals were forthcoming, meaning the Reserves suffered there first loss of the season. This was a disappointing performance and can only be seen as three points thrown away with the team never really recovering from such an abysmal start.

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