It's agony as Linnets suffer first home defeat of NPL season

Naim Arsan feels the pain. Picture by Peter Gallagher-Headley.

Runcorn Linnets 1 Shifnal Town 2

Report by Dave Bettley

Runcorn lost their unbeaten home record in Pitching Northern Premier League West after an afternoon full of frustration.

Unusually lacklustre in the first half, Linnets went in trailing to a sloppy goal from a Shifnal corner.

The home side improved markedly after the break to get level - only to concede again within three minutes.

They almost rescued a fractious contest in stoppage time when Lewis Crane's header bounced on the crossbar.

Linnets have seen their strong squad dwindle to the extent that Brad Cooke named only four substitutes for Saturday's game.

Jacques Welsh and Adam Rooney put pressure on the visiting defence. Picture by Neil Thornton.

Skipper Jacques Welsh made his first start in six matches but Runcorn's performance before the interval was tentative.

They looked shaky in defence, giving the ball away in dangerous areas.

Sean Miller was another player returning to the starting XI after a lay-off and he was an obvious choice for man-of-the-match.

But for all Miller's promptings, it didn't happen for Runcorn in the first 45 minutes with moves breaking down on the final pass.

Shifnal were ahead after only eight minutes.

Runcorn were slow to anticipate the danger at a right-wing corner, knocked back from beyond the far post for Kevin Monteiro to crisply volley home from inside the six-yard area.

Patched-up Runcorn - central defender Harvey Washington was unavailable and Marcus Cusani the latest on the casualty list - were mostly on the offensive after the turnaround.

The ubiquitous Miller, at No.10, and adventurous right back Joe Ferguson had the Shifnal rearguard working overtime.

The visitors were resolute but all too frequently, promising Runcorn moves broke down due to crosses not finding men in the middle.

Linnets pressure was rewarded, however, when the referee awarded a spot-kick on the direction of an assistant for a pull on Adam Rooney.

Shifnal, who didn't endear themselves to the Runcorn faithful with their spoiling, held up the taking of the penalty as long as they could. Many referees would not have been so patient.

Sean Miller keeps his concentration to convert from the spot. Picture by Peter Gallagher Headley.

But Miller wasn't perturbed and he blasted Linnets back on terms.

'Millsy' celebrates his penalty in a man-of-the-match display but the equaliser was in vain. Picture by BEN JACKSON

Even then, Shifnal appeared reluctant to allow the game to restart.

They were still arguing their case after the ball had been returned to the centre spot ready for a resumption.

But when the restart came, Shifnal's winner soon followed.

Teams are said to be at their most vulnerable just after scoring and this was an example.

Peter Wylie was penalised for an over-zealous tackle 25 yards from the Linnets goal. The free-kick by Shifnal right back Josh Green was out of the top drawer.

It left Greg Hall clutching at thin air as it sailed over the 'keeper into the right corner.

Hall advanced upfield to contest two late corners but Shifnal held firm as Linnets came up short against one of the Pitching In Northen Premier League West newcomers.

Another will visit APEC Taxis Stadium on Tuesday, Midlands-based Sporting Khalsa being fresh from a 2-0 home victory over Bury.

Runcorn Linnets: Greg Hall, Joe Ferguson, Matty Rain, Peter Wylie, Adam Rooney, Jacques Welsh (Lewis Doyle, 57 mins), Oskar Rosenblatt (Markell Foulds 83 mins), Eden Gumbs, Lewis Crane, Sean Miller, Naim Arsan. Subs (not used): Nathan Sandison, Jorge Dwyer.

Attendance: 567.

Perplexing for the management team as Linnets concede almost immediately after getting back on terms and are let down by their final ball. Picture by Peter-Gallagher Headley.