Linnets made to pay for mistakes
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Runcorn Linnets 0 Bootle 2
Report by Dave Bettley; pictures by Ben Jackson
Linnets were left counting the cost of an erratic performance after losing their first midweek game of the season to a Bucks side enjoying a maiden runout.
The hosts could ultimately have no complaints. They made too many mistakes against visitors, who didn't have to produce anything spectacular to take the points.
Bootle were error free and took their chances well.
With last season's meetings being tight affairs, both drawn with only a goal apiece being scored, the last thing Runcorn needed was to gift the opposition a lead.
But this they did in the 18th minute from a corner conceded unnecessarily.
Calvin Hare had a little earlier gathered a similar delivery from the right by Ben Hodkinson but this time he was blocked off.
This enabled Tom Hannigan to win the header, which went in off the head of Linnets right back Ollie Southern. It had been on target and clearly the Bucks centre back's goal.
Runcorn had their moments in a first half, which saw both teams attack with hopeful long balls yet they were limited to half-chances.
With Bootle's former Linnets 'keeper Bayleigh Passant missing out through injury on a playing return to APEC Taxis Stadium and being restricted to a watching brief, Joe Mason was comfortable as well as confident between the Bootle sticks.
His only save of difficulty before the break was at a direct free-kick by Dec McLoughlin from the edge of the area.
After a brighter start to the second half, Linnets were fortunate not to concede again when Jack McGowan hit wide from a left-wing cross by Ste Edmondson. It had looked easier to score.
Runcorn continued to struggle for cohesion in their attacking third yet almost grabbed an equaliser.
A shot from the edge of the box by Nick Rushton, who had scored twice against Stalybridge on Saturday, from a right-wing pullback by Elliot Morris had goal written all over it. But the effort went the wrong side of the left post.
With veteran Jay Harris going off (after completing an hour in quick succession to a 90-minute shift on Saturday) and skipper Jacques Welsh being forced to cut short his 200th Linnets appearance through injury, a comparatively inexperienced finishing XI lacked the conviction to turn the game around.
Bootle, fielding former long-serving Linnets midfielder Lewis Doyle, sealed deserved victory in the 83rd minute when Hodkinson ran through a static home defence to knock the ball past Hare.
This was another example of the inconsistency, which had blighted new-look Runcorn in pre-season, Michael Ellison's side being unable to string two strong displays together.
That is probably a result of unfamiliarity and early-campaign rustiness.
They fell way short of the standard set in the 4-2 weekend success (or at least in the first hour).
Mettle will now be tested in successive away games, against two freshly-promoted teams.
Saturday's hosts Wythenshawe made an inauspicious start to life back in NPL West when losing 3-0 at fellow newcomers Hanley Town.
But Padiham, Linnets' destination next Tuesday, came from behind for a draw at Prescot Cables, who were two divisions their senior last season.
Injuries, particularly in attack, are not helping Runcorn's cause at present.
Boss Ellison will need to assess his walking wounded before finalising weekend plans as Runcorn try to bounce back immediately.
Runcorn Linnets: Calvin Hare, Ollie Southern, Matty Rain, Peter Wylie, Scott Holding (Toby Jones, 71 mins), Jay Harris (Harry McGee, 62 mins), Elliot Morris, Jacques Welsh (Noah Roberts, 71 mins), Nick Rushton, Dec McLoughlin (Frank Denison, 62 mins), Matty Whittingham (Lewis Bell, 83 mins).
Attendance: 673.
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