Record breaker Ryan to the rescue!
- dbettley
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
Runcorn Linnets 1 Nantwich Town 1
Report by Dave Bettley
Runcorn's all-time leading marksman Ryan Brooke bounced back from long-term injury to show that old habits die hard.
After looking the likelier side for almost an hour, Linnets were facing defeat until Brooke pulled the trigger five minutes from time.
Goals change matches and once Joe Collins had sublimely sent the Dabbers into a 58th-minite lead, it looked as if Michael Ellison was heading for the first league defeat since returning as Linnets manager a month ago.
Nantwich had already inflicted his only loss so far in the Cheshire Senior Cup at Swansway Stadium.
For the final 30 minutes or so, the hosts struggled for effective field position - until Brooke came back with a bang.
The veteran striker had been out since November 8th because of back trouble.
But he made light of a 16-game absence to rescue Runcorn.
Although they had held the territorial advantage for the first two thirds of the match, Linnets found chances hard to come by against resolute opponents.
But Brooke, having come off the bench in the 69th minute, needed only one opportunity - although two attempts at converting.
When his far-post header from Naim Arsan's left-wing cross was blocked, he kept his composure to lash the rebound into the roof of the net.
The draw preserved Linnets' second place
in the league on goals difference from Bury.
Runcorn also gained another point on Lower Breck.
After a third successive defeat - the second having come at Runcorn in midweek - the long-time leaders are only two ahead.
In a tightly-contested chase, just three points separate Linnets and the five teams below them.
Three successive victories have promoted Bootle into strong contention in seventh.
Michael Ellison's team selection showed two changes from the side which had started Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Lower Breck.
Steven Irwin and Naim Arssn, who had been used as substitutes against the table toppers were named in the XI.
Lewis Doyle and Adam Rooney, the players they had replaced, made way.
This left Irwin, Isaac Graham and Harry McGee in a new-look midfield - with only 11 previous Runcorn outings between them - as skipper Jacques Welsh continued duties at the heart of Linnets' defence.
It proved a combination of promise with Irwin, in particular, showing up well with forceful interceptions and incisive passes.
Linnets had strong first-half penalty claims rejected when James Steele looked to have been taken out by Nantwich right back Aidan Roxburgh.
This was one of several perplexing decisions by referee Thomas Harland.
The rare chrorus of boos directed at the officials from the Runcorn faithful at full-time was the consequence.
With five yellow cards against them, Runcorn got the rough end of the stick.
Sean Miller (above) was cautioned for what apeared an innocuous challenge with McGee immediately following him into the book presumably for questioning the initial card.
Many inside the ground wanted answers too.
Then, in stoppage time, Scott Bakkor was booked for simulation inside the Nantwich area.
He had got to his feet to reclaim possession rather than appealing for a penalty.
Runcorn had chances either side of the interval to make territorial advantage.
But Ben Garratt pulled off an outstanding save to keep out a deftly-struck effort by Miler and, after the restart, McGee was denied at close quarters.
But the work Linnets had done to try to establish a lead went to waste as Collins scored with Nantwich's first worthwhile effort of the game.
It was an exquisite strike all the same, from just outside the box.
But Runcorn boss Ellison, still awaiting a clean sheet after six games back in charge, wasn't impressed with the freedom afforded to Roxburgh and Alex Panter in the build-up.
Nantwich's right-sided pairing found, or were given, space to do it again but Jordan Hodkin hit wide of the near post - the 18-year-old Crewe Alexandra loanee having not long entered the field.
A second for the visitors would surely have spelled the end of Runcorn hopes as conceding the first had caused enough strife.
But having determinedly come from behind to get something from their last three games, Linnets found a way again.
Brooke's equaliser was his fifth of the season and 82nd in 189 Runcorn career appearances.
Three close encounters against Nantwich this season in all competitions have ended with honours even, the sides having gone into this one with a win apiece.
But with four points taken, Linnets have had the better of league business.
A win and two draws from their three APEC Taxis Stadium outings in eight days have come against the division's top two teams plus its form side.
A fourth consecutive home game follows on Tuesday, when Chasetown visit for a fixture twice postponed by freak weather.
Victory would take Linnets to the summit.
Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Joe Ferguson, Naim Arsan, Jacques Welsh, Peter Wylie, Steven Irwin (Lewis Doyle, 69 mins), Harry McGee (Elliot Rokka, 62 mins), Isaac Graham (Dec McLoughlin, 82 mins), Scott Bakkor, Sean Miller, James Steele (Ryan Brooke, 69 mins). Subs (not used): Adam Rooney.
Attendance: 620.
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