Promotion-chasing Linnets pile pressure on relegation-haunted Darlaston
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Darlaston Town 0 Runcorn Linnets 3
Report by Dave Bettley with pictures from Neil Thornton
Linnets capitalised on two fellow promotion-contending sides dropping points with a more than comfortable victory over a Darlaston team deep in relegation trouble.
As Lower Breck joined Vauxhall Motors in drawing their weekend games, unchanged Runcorn climbed back up to third spot by inflicting a sixth successive defeat on their West Midlands hosts.
But for 'keeper Tom Beeby, signed on dual registration from Port Vale and making his first start, the margin would have been even more convincing.
Yusuf Mersin in the other goal was by contrast largely redundant.
A first-half shot by Koby Arthur (who played in the EFL with Birmingham City, Cheltenham Town and Macclesfield Town) caused his only real concern over the 90 minutes.
The striker's effort from outside the box was safely gathered by Mersin low at his right post.
The traffic on a ground, which is just a stone's throw from the M6 was largely in the other direction with Darlaston - unrecognisable from their November visit to APEC Taxis Stadium - always struggling to stem the flow.
Without a single player from their 4-1 reversal at Murdishaw, Town trailed from the 12th minute.
Linnets had fired an early shot across their bows, a clean strike by Naim Arsan fizzing wide.
The breakthrough wasn't long in coming. A foul from behind on Dec McLoughlin saw a penalty being awarded to Runcorn by referee Matthew Jackson without hesitation.
Scott Bakkor dispatched it for his 20th goal of the season, this being a fourth from the spot for Linnets' top scorer.
Ryan Brooke was then denied by the first of several Beeby saves but it was a brief reprieve.
Despite Town's height advantage, Linnets skipper Jacques Welsh leapt at the far post to connect with the resulting right-wing corner by the left-footed Matty Rain.
The 28th-minute header brought a first campaign goal for the midfielder, who has turned centre back, and he looked suitably thrilled with it.
Darlaston manager Exodus Geohaghon brought himself on at half-time, in the hope of breaking up Runcorn's control of midfield.
But the substitution had no great effect.
The away side had dominated from the start on a tricky pitch, getting the ball forward to put Darlaston's defence under pressure.
The struggling hosts survived at their peril with McLoughlin being thwarted by a save from the excellent Beeby and clearing the bar in quick succession.
With the young 'keeper standing his ground to deny Arsan one on one, it took Runcorn until the 84th minute to give the scoreline a more realistic look.
Brooke hammered home a cross by right back Joe Ferguson to extend his all-time record scoring spree with Linnets.
With every goal, it becomes ever more difficult to surpass.
The striker is now on 83 goals - and still counting.
On a day when Arsenal prodigy Max Dowman would become the Premier League's youngest ever scorer, Linnets sent on a 16-year-old of their own, Noah Roberts for another late cameo- - his second appearance as a substitute since arrival from Marine.
Said by Runcorn manager Michael Ellison to have no fear, Roberts forced Beeby into his final save of the afternoon.
Linnets had scored three when they could and should have had twice as many goals, but they welcomed the clean sheet - a fourth shutout in the last five outings.
With seven games still to play, Ellison's men will face another bottom-four team next Saturday, when Wythenshawe Town continue their fight for survival at the APEC.
The quest for Runcorn remains promotion after three play-off appearances in the previous four seasons. The title is still possible.
Runcorn Linnets: Yusuf Mersin, Joe Ferguson, Matty Rain, Jacques Welsh (Markell Foulds,75 mins), Peter Wylie, Steven Irwin, Naim Arsan (James Steele, 82 mins), Lewis Doyle (Isaac Graham, 85 mins), Scott Bakkor, Dec McLoughlin (Sean Miller, 74 mins), Ryan Brooke (Noah Roberts,85 mins).
Attendance: 177.
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