Referee calls foul on last-gasp Linnets in Harry's game
Runcorn Linnets 2 Vauxhall Motors 2
Report by Dave Bettley; Pictures by Ben Jackson
Despite two superb equalisers from teenager Harry Gerrard, Runcorn couldn't get across the winning line in their first official game under new player-manager Jacques Welsh.
They had the ball in the net for a third time in the last minute of stoppage time after dominating.
But referee Kyle Lord quickly disallowed centre back Kian Bell’s close-range strike for a foul a split-second earlier on goalkeeper Jack Atkinson.
The call was the subject of much post-match debate.
While season-long defensive uncertainties again reared their head for Linnets, there were more clear signs that things are moving in the right direction.
The hosts will rebuke themselves for conceding twice from pretty much Vauxhall's only worthwhile attempts.
The goals had looked likely to give the visitors all three points until the last minute of normal time.
Preston North End loanee Gerrard, the second cousin of Steven, rescued a draw on his first Runcorn start with a superb individual effort.
The 17-year-old waltzed through the away defence from the edge of the box, his intricate footwork enabling a composed finish.
It was a sublime manoeuvre from a young player, who had already hauled Linnets back on terms with a 51st-minute header - only for the visitors to go back in front against the run of play.
Runcorn were the more progressive throughout but had gone into half-time trailing to a goal from an all too familiar source - yet another long throw-in.
This one was hurled in by Motors centre forward Ben Dufton-Kelly and eventually rammed home at the far post by Dale Jennings.
It came in the ninth minute and by then, Runcorn had done the bulk of the attacking – something which wouldn’t change.
A Gerrard effort from outside the box was off target, if not by much, as it went over the bar. But the clearest Linnets chance of a first-half leveller came in the 33rd minute.
Gerrard's incisive through ball sent Nick Rushton clear on the left of the box.
His shot was saved by Atkinson but when the rebound fell to Lewis Buckley, like Rushton a former Vauxhall player, a goal looked a formality.
That was until Joe Akpan intervened with a goalline clearance.
After the restart, Runcorn maintained their onslaught but with greater purpose as Buckley and Sean Miller tormented the Motors defence.
The goal had been coming but was well overdue on arrival in the 51st minute.
Miller set up Buckley for a right-wing cross which was headed home by Gerrard at the far post.
More Runcorn attacking followed but without further reward and it looked ominous when the Ellesmere Port side's lead was restored in the 63rd minute.
It's fair to say that the ball didn't run too kindly for Runcorn all afternoon and particularly so when a long ball dropped into the path of in-form Michael Burkey.
Buoyed by his mid-week hat-trick in victory at Newcastle Town, Burkey drove a low, long-range effort into the corner at the left post.
The finish was immaculate from a player, who looked to have been troubled from an early stage by a tight hamstring.
It was a lesson from Vauxhall in taking their opportunities.
Runcorn left it very late to respond but Gerrard's second equaliser not only demonstrated his ability and skill but also Runcorn's persistence and belief.
A point was the least they had deserved and they will be disappointed that it wasn't three.
Runcorn Linnets: Calvin Hare, Ollie Southern (Connor Day, 46 mins), Lewis Bell, Peter Wylie (Jacques Welsh, 70 mins), Kian Bell, Jack Byrne, Nick Rushton (Conor Harwood, 78 mins), Harry Gerrard, Lewis Buckley, Sean Miller, Noah Roberts (Oscar Wright,78 mins). Sub (not used): Toby Jones.
Attendance: 496.
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