Super sub Scott returns from injury to inspire come-Bakk
- dbettley
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Wythenshawe Town 1 Runcorn Linnets 2
Report by Dave Bettley with pictures from Kelly Jones
Runcorn scrapped it out for victory after Wythenshawe had tried all they could to arrest the visitors' climb of the Pitching In Northern Premier League West table.
Linnets overcame a disconcerting first half hour against Mancunian hosts, who were fired up to start moving away from the relegation zone.
Finding themselves a goal down at half-time, Runcorn badly needed to raise it and they turned things around with two goals in four minutes.
The win lifted Runcorn into fifth place in the table. Now unbeaten in seven on the road travels in all competitions, they have won two of their last three league aways.
The transformation at Ericstan Park was led by an improved midfield showing after the break but inspired by the introduction of Scott Bakkor.
Runcorn's top scorer had appeared in only one of their last 10 matches because of injury but immediately began to engage defenders across the front line.
Within three minutes of coming on, he laid on the equaliser for Lewis Doyle.
It came on the hour from a back-to-front move.
'Keeper Greg Hall gathered Wythenshawe sub Luke Roscoe's volley above his head to instantly turn defence into attack.
He launched the ball upfield for Bakkor to release midfielder Doyle for only his second campaign goal.
A direct style was the order of the day on a heavy and bobbly pitch, which wasn't conducive to attractive football.
Four minutes later, Runcorn were ahead from another length-of-the-field raid - likewise beginning with a long clearance by Hall.
Oskar Rosenblatt jumped to head it on to Markell Foulds and, having scored twice with headers in the last four games, the assured midfielder cut inside a defender on the edge of the area to strike left footed.
Goalkeeper Adam McInerney got a hand to the ball but couldn't prevent it from going in as Linnets completed their turnaround.
There were no real chances in the final third of the match but Wythenshawe certainly made Linnets work for their victory with spirited late pressure.
They had also started the brighter as Runcorn looked ill at ease.
They were rocked by the industry and commitment shown by the home side, who found extra encouragement from an early goal.
A foul by visiting skipper Jacques Welsh 30 yards out allowed wideman Demi Rhami to line up an optimistic 12th-minute shot direct from the free-kick.
Many in the ground thought his effort was going wide and, unfortunately, so too did former Wythenshawe 'keeper Hall.
As he leant across his line to escort the shot wide of his right post, it somehow sneaked into the goal.
Runcorn had struggled to make an impact in attack, despite promising contributions from Rosenblatt and Naim Arsan on the flanks.
Ryan Brooke had a couple of sights of goal but, firstly lost his footing after breaking into the area and then sent a snatched left-foot shot from a Rosenblatt cross wide of the right post.
In between, Hall stoned for his earlier misjudgement with a good save to deny Rhami a second.
Wythenshawe's No7 had met a right-wing cross by Wealth Desilva on the full but there was no way past Hall this time.
Desilva troubked Runcorn with his strength and willing runs, especially out wide.
But after a first half in which they had been perplexed by the playing conditions and the spirit of the struggling hosts, Linnets found a way to win.
Under the circumstances, it felt like a big three points as Brad Cooke's men showed their character.
They entertain ninth-placed Chasetown on Tuesday.
Runcorn Linnets: Greg Hall, Joe Ferguson, Eden Gumbs (Matty Rain, 57 mins), Markell Foulds, Adam Rooney, Harvey Washington, Oskar Rosenblatt (Peter Wylie, 83 mins),, Jacques Welsh, Ryan Brooke (Scott Bakkor (57 mins), Lewis Doyle (Llewis Crane 76 mins), Naim Arsan. Sub (not used: Dec McLoughlin.
Attendance: 407.
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