Runcorn Town FC Official Website - Grappenhall Sports FC Match Report

Spectators need to arrive early at this seasons Town reserves home games, in the last two home games four goals have been scored in the first eight minutes, Whitchurch Alport took a two nil lead inside eight minutes and this week Town opened the scoring on three minutes Ged Bushell collecting a through pass from Rob Gorry before rounding the centre half and firing high into the top corner to register his third goal in four games so far this season, but slack marking on seven minutes allowed the Grappenhall Sports winger to find himself unmarked in the Town box and he took full advantage despatching a volley into the roof of the Town net giving Carl Williams no chance to level the score, Grappenhall then almost took the lead only a tremendous save from Williams prevented what looked a certain goal by the visiting striker, Williams diving low to his left to tip the ball out for a corner, Town were next to go close Jack Burbidge shooting just wide when put through by Richie Hargreaves the half continued in this way but with no further goals it was all square, 1 all at half time.

The second half had barely started when the visitors took the lead, following a free kick on the edge of the Town penalty area a Grappenhall player rose unchallenged to head past Williams.
It was almost a case of de-ja-vu only in reverse as Town this time levelled within four minutes this time striker Bushell was alert to a sloppy back pass and in closing down the keeper forced the error which allowed him to grab his second of the match and fourth of the season when calmly rolling the loose ball into the empty net, it was obvious there were more goals in the game and soon after Grappenhall once more took the lead this time in controversial fashion, Bushell was fouled as he tried to control a through ball then Rob Gorry was fouled on the half way line and with both players laying on the floor Grappenhall were asked to put the ball out as Town had done on several occasions throughout the match but the visiting midfielder ignored the appeals and played a long ball which the striker chased down and collided with Town keeper Williams and defender Dave Graven, the striker being quickest to get back to his feet and roll the ball into the empty net, but Williams and Graven remonstrated with the ref that the striker had knocked the ball forward out of the prone Williams reach with his hand before regaining his footing to score.

Town rallied again and scored there second equaliser of the game from a Hargreaves corner skipper Karl Kneale rose and headed the ball goal ward there was a few players trying to help the ball into the Grappenhall net and Burbidge claimed the last touch to level the scores at three all, Town then controlled the next fifteen minutes and created several chances to take the lead Burbidge again went close and Hargreaves controlled a great cross from Will Conway but couldn�t get his shot off quickly enough being closed down by the visiting defenders, despite all this pressure it was Grapenhall who took the lead, again a free kick just outside the area was not dealt with going in via a deflection.
Town were desperate to get something from the game Burbidge made way for Barry Angell who went in to defence to allow Dave Graven to go up front and within a minute the centre back had forced his way through the Grappenhall defence and only a brave save at the marauding defenders feet prevented him grabbing the equaliser Town continued to press and striker Bushell was too honest when he was hacked at in the area, in staying on his feet he missed the target firing wide when he would have got a penalty had he have gone down, with time running out Town went gung-ho and in doing so conceded another to be on the receiving end of a 5 � 3 reversal and in doing so suffered there second home loss in successive weeks.

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