High fives again for Under 21s
- dbettley
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Runcorn Linnets U21s 5 Stockport Town U21s 2
Linnets repeated their five-goal haul from last week's first away game on home debut in North West Under 21s Development League Premier Division.
Lewis Crane took his tally to seven goals in two matches as Runcorn won a game in many ways dictated by the conditions.
With the wind in their favour, kicking dowfield in the first half, Linnets completely dominated.
But they went in level - and that was only thanks to a 45th-minute wonder strike from midfield newcomer Owen Cushion.
Stockport had a much greater share of the second half - indeed they had the better of it in terms of territory. But Linnets ripped them open on the counter attack ro ultimately run out comfortable winners.
Manager Ste Ellams handed APEC Taxis Stadium debuts to five players plus two more off the bench.
It was virtually one-way traffic before the break with Linnets held up only by their finishing.
Even Crane showed he was fallible, shooting wide from the pick of the early openings when he'd had time and space as Billy McNay squared the ball to him 20 yards out.
That said, Crane occupied defenders to bring wide players Joel Street and Harry Vernon more into play as the half progressed.
But still the breakthrough eluded the hosts.
It only added to the frustration when the away side scored from their first attack of note - via the penalty spot - in the 18th minute.
Huyton, in attempting to catch the ball above his head, had tumbled awkwardly into a Stockport player.
The Linnets' keeper dived the right way but the kick by Rhys Ferguson (above) was too strong and accurate.
Runcorn resumed their offensive as Street powered half the length of the field with the help of a Zack Kopanksi pass at its midpoint.
It was ended by an important tackle inside the area by Macaulay McDonald.
Linnets got the goal they had long been promising in the final minute of the half as Cushion served up a stunning individual goal.
Somehow finding himself by the left corner flag, the holding midfielder spun away from a defender, heading infield, before emphatically beating goalkeeper Alex Lyon with a curling shot into the far corner.
With the elements in their favour after the interval, Stockport quickly set about trying to level.
Ferguson twice threatened the Runcorn goal but the away side's new-found adventure was to cost them as Linnets hit their visitors on the break with Crane netting twice in three minutes up to the hour mark.
His first was as simple tap-in from a cross to the far post by the tenacious McNay and the second an accomplished finish across goal from the right and into the same corner.
The in-form striker had fastened onto an incisive pass by Theo Papadopoulos.
Stockport were, however, now displaying more confidence and their arrears were halved on 70 minutes by centrefiel0der Terence Benson-Brewer.
After an earlier sighter, tipped over by Huyton, he unleashed another long-range strike to which the 'keeper couldn't get near.
It was every bit as spectacular as Cushion's earlier effort into the same goal.
Linnets weren't finished yet, however. They took only four minutes to respond.
Scorer turned provider Crane showed a clean pair of heels to the Town defence.
Just when it looked as if the ball might get away from him, the tall No.9 managed to steer it across goal for a gleeful Kopanksi to convert.
A victory, now all but sealed, was secured with five minutes left. The referee had stopped play for a conflab with Cushion and skipper Jay Lee.
When play resumed with a Runcorn free-kick inside their half, Stockport were caught napping.
Linnets left back Ben Dobbie anticipated a run from Crane and Linnets' man of the match timed it perfectly to again get in behind the visiting defence.
He finished convincingly, this time inside the right post, for his third of the contest.
Linnets will return to home turf next Sunday as league duties continue against Hyde United U21s.
Kick off is later than normal at 4.30pm and admission free.
Runcorn Linnets Under 21s: George Huyton, Callum Prince, Ben Dobbie, Owen Cushion, Jay Lee, Alex Jones, Harry Vernon, Billy McNay, Lewis Crane, Zack Kopanksi, Joel Street. Subs: Cam Schofield, Zack Parker, Theo Papadopoulos, Daniel McCaffrey. Not used: Alex Ellams (GK).
Comments