Development side keep the pressure on

Runcorn Linnets U21s 5 Charnock Richard U21s 1

Report by Dave Bettley; pictures by Kelly Jones

Linnets Under 21s' player of the match Charlie Ratcliffe runs the ball out of defence.

Linnets cruised to victory over struggling Charnock Richard in North West Under 21s League Premier Division.

The Lancashire visitors arrived at APEC Taxis Stadium with only 11 players and Linnets, themselves missing nine for various reasons, found it very comfortable.

It became a little too easy at times and complacency briefly set in early in the second half when Charnock halved their deficit.

But Runcorn, promptly restored the two-goal surplus with a third before scoring twice more for good measure.

First-team midfielder Isaac Graham had come into the agegroup side to get more minutes in his legs.

He scored almost on the full-time whistle - after displaying a wide range of passing skills to create two other goals.

Celebrating another goal from Lewis Crane (second left)

Charnock had forced an early save from Alex Ellams, who dived low to his right to hold on safely to the effort from the edge of the box.

But Linnets took a lead they were never to lose in the 11th minute.

Macauley Clifton appeared to have been impeded midway inside the visitors' half, but midfield colleague Tom Beswick took the ball on to find the net with a 20-yard shot, which went in off the left post.

The hosts were dominating play and doubled their advantage when substitute Theo Papadopoulos served up a tantalising cross from near to the deadball line on the left.

It dropped perfectly for Linnets U21s top scorer Lewis Crane, also the leading marksman in the division, to head in from point-blank range.

This was the first of a brace, which would raise Crane's campaign total to 23.

Another Runcorn attempt is cleared off the line.

Papadopoulos had taken up an unfamiliar role at left back when youngster Dan McCaffrey limped off in the 27th minute.

Runcorn were already without both specialist No.3s Sam Hamling and Ben Dobbie due to injuries.

It was encouraging, therefore, when McCaffrey was able to rejoine the action late on - although in central defence, alongside fellow teen and Thistledown Group man of the match Charlie Ratcliffe.

Linnets were well worth the 2-0 half-time scoreline and could have added at least one more goal to the two they scored before the interval.

At 1-0, a Lewis Crane shot clipped the foot of the left post from a clever move, which had  involved a quick exchange of passes between Clifton and Eneil Gumbs.

Fin Ryan twice went close for Runcorn after the restart but their work briefly became slack and sloppy.

Dan McCaffrey puts the squeeze on the Charnock player in possession.

The consequence of allowing standards to drop was evident.

A Charnock forward was gifted time and space to lash a 52nd-minute shot into the roof of the net, to 'keeper Ellams's left.

It was suddenly game on again if not for long.

Within five minutes, Runcorn had made amends.

Clifton timed a run through the Charnock backline to stay onside, although the away side thought otherwise.

After fastening onto Graham's precise pass, the livewire playmaker dispatched a low shot into the left corner of goal.

Eneil Gumbs wins an aerial duel.

Graham was also involved in Runcorn's fourth goal.

His ball deep into the box picked out Papadopoulos on the left and for a second time in the game, the stand-in left back set up Lewis Crane to convert from on the goal line.

Graham, who had stamped his class on the game, rounded off with a finish from the right of the area which looked effortless, characterising his entire performance.

Runcorn remain second in the table.

Warrington Town, who have played three games more than Linnets, preserved their nine-point lead with a 4-1 thumping of third-placed visitors FC United of Manchester.

Stalybridge, advancing menacingly on the outside, were held 3-3 at Hyde United.

Runcorn Linnets U21s are without a game next Sunday, their next assignment being a Premier Division Trophy trip to Hyde United on Sunday, March 15th.

Runcorn Linnets U21s: Alex Ellams, Callum Prince, Dan McCaffrey (Theo Papadopoulos, 27 mins), Isaac Graham, Charlie Ratcliffe, Cameron Schofield (McCaffrey 87 mins), Tom Beswick, Macauley Clifton (Zack Parker, 69 mins), Lewis Crane, Fin Ryan (Ben Crane, 66 mins), Eneil Gumbs (Zack Kopanski, 66). Sub (not used): George Huyton (GK).

Fin Ryan attacks on the outside.