A draw but it could have been more

Report By Dave Bettley

It was a rueful journey home from Lancashire for Runcorn last night, aflthough their performance had been beyond reproach.

Thwarted by a man-of- the-match display by home 'keeper Liam Isherwood, Linnets also hit both Clitheroe posts while leading early in the second half.

But when it might have been 3-0 and game over, the hosts promptly equalised - leaving unlucky Runcorn with no real cause for regret, but fretting all the same over what might have been.

Sean Miler and Matty Rain returned to the fray in a line-up missing Peter Wylie and Ollie Southern in defence.

The visitors were, however, boosted by Scott Hholding shrugging off a weekend injury scare to surprisingly take his place in the side.

Kian Bell, having played his first two Linnets games at left back, was thrust into an intended central defensive role, alongside Holding and Brendan O'Brien in a three-pronged rearguard.

Nothing about Runcorn's season thus far has been straight forward, however, and Michael Ellison was forced into yet another in-game defensive change.

Kian Bell had been limping after a challenge, which the referee didn't view worthy of a free-kick, but O'Brien was the player substituted after being left on his haunches by a calf problem.

It was the second time in three matches that O'Brien hadn't made it through a contest because of injury.

Ellison again had to sacrifice midfield general Jacques Welsh to emergency defensive duty, which is becoming all too frequent. But true to form, the skipper - ever present this season - didn't let his manager down.

Runcorn were on the front foot from the outset, Miller's backheel pass fashioning a chance from their first attack. But on his unfavoured right foot, Lewis Buckley (partnered in attack by the industrious Conor Harwood) was unable to get weight behind his shot.

Early promise was rewarded in the 29th minute.

Buckley combined with the elusive Elliot Morris, operating at right wing back, to supply the ball from the right. A clever dummy by Miller cleared the way for Whittingham to fire home from a central position his first away goal in Linnets colours.

Clitheroe made more of an impact before the break as Runcorn regrouped after the loss of O'Brien. But it was mostly against the run of play that Alhagi Sissay hit the bar when the ball ricocheted to him inside the six-yard box and it had seemed simpler to score.

After the restart, the visitors should have put the game to bed.

Kian Bell struck the left upright as the left-footed Rain delivered a teasing free-kick from the right of the area.

Fortune was against Runcorn for a second time when Buckley found Whittingham with a return pass from the left. The ex-Manchester City U21s schemer's shot struck the opposite post.

It was symptomatic of Linnets' season when Clitheroe levelled in the 54th minute.

A clever decoy run from a left-wing corner to the near post opened up space for Sean Newton to drive home.

Predictably, the goal lifted home spirits and they enjoyed their best spell.

Although by now not as fluent in attack, opportunity continued to knock for Linnets.

Morris forced the best save of the game with a swerving shot, which Isherwood paddled away spectacularly from under his crossbar.

The Clitheroe 'keeper was also equal to a further strike by Whittingham, who was relishing a roving commission in midfield.

There was always a worry that having survived these scares, the Lancashire hosts would conjure something up and Runcorn's worst fears were almost realised.

Welsh pulled off a terrifc goalline clearance to deny them and in the first minute of added time, Harry Scarborough appeared to have stolen victory for the home side.

The substitute forward snapped up a right-wing cross by Jordan Windass. However, much to Runcorn's relief, the flag was raised for offside.

It would have been a travesty had Linnets been beaten. A point was the least they deserved and it could so easily have been three.

Runcorn Linnets: Calvin Hare, Scott Holding, Matty Rain, Brendan O'Brien (Frank Denison, 34 mins), Kian Bell, Jacques Welsh, Elliot Morris, Matty Whittingham (Nick Rushton, 86 mins), Lewis Buckley, Sean Miller, Conor Harwood (Harry McGee, 90 mins). Subs (not used): Oscar Wright, Lewis Bell.

Attendance: 534.