Under 21s off the mark with comeback victory

Runcorn Linnets Under 21s 3 Cheadle Town Reds Under 21s 2

Tom Beswick gets in a shot during Sunday's victory at APEC Taxis Stadium

Report by Dave Bettley; Pictures by Kelly Jones

Linnets held on for their first points of the season to climb off the foot of the Premier Division table in North West Under 21s Development League.

They secured a much-needed victory to lift morale after four straight league and cup losses.

A hard-fought encounter at APEC Taxis had been too close to call with both teams holding the advantage in turn before Josh Mather struck the blow, which toppled a big and powerful Cheadle side.

BobbyPhillips' header is on its way in for Linnets' opener.

Runcorn had gone ahead in the 15th minute from a right-wing corner by Fin Ryan, centre back Bobby Phillips planting a firm header past the visiting 'keeper from a centre left position on tbe six-yard line.

The home side would have been good value for an interval lead but the visitors levelled nine minutes from the break.

Centre forward Samuel Adegoke crowned a strong run, which had taken him away from both home central defenders with an explosive finish into the roof of the net.

The second half saw several changes in system and personnel by Runcorn. But the most significant was the introduction upon the restart of Tom Beswick and Zack Kopanski, who brought fresh energy in central midfield.

With skipper Owen Cushion tucked in behind them, Linnets started to motor.

Beswick covered a lot of ground in both attack and defence to run away with the McNamara's Sports Bar man-of-the-match award.

However, Cheadle appeared to have taken control. Adegoke again proved difficult to stop and fored Linnets into conceding a 55th-minute penalty, which was safely dispatched into the bottom-left corner by Callum Tiernan.

Linnets didn't allow disappointment to fester, however.

Within two minutes, they were level again with Beswick lashing home from just inside the box after Mather had unsettled Cheadle with a run down the left.

Match winner Josh Mather tests the Cheadle defence.

Runcorn's winner came in the 65th minute, the ball falling for Mather to guide his low shot from the right of the area into the opposiite corner.

Ryan saw an effort blocked, Kopanski's follow-up sailing high over the bar as Linnets strived for a fourth.

But they had to close ranks in a tense finale, stringing five across the back line to protect the lead.

It took a fine reflex save from Alex Ellams to deny Cheadle an equaliser from a potential own goal before Kopanski relieved the growing pressure with a lung-busting run upfield towards the left corner flag.

With Liam Taggart and Ben Crane rejoining the action in added time, Linnets held their nerve for a result which lifted them four places to seventh and put their visitors in the bottom two.

But only goal difference divides the five teams bringing up the rear.

Runcorn's next U21s fixture on Sunday (October 11th) will bring Vauxhall Motors, the team immediately below them, to APEC Taxis Stadium for a 3pm kick off.

Runcorn Linnets Under 21s: Alex Ellams, Callum Prince, Michael Thompson, Liam Taggart, Charlie Ratcliffe, Bobby Phillips, Ben Crane, Owen Cushion, Josh Mather, Fin Ryan, Joel Street. Subs: Zack Kopanski, Billy McNay, Harry Huby, Tom Beswick. Not used: Jaden Wright (GK).