Wasteful Linnets salvage a point in promotion battle

Runcorn Linnets 2 Avro 2

Harry McGee (No. 12) rescues a point for Linnets. Picture by Neil Thornton.

In a game they should have had well won in the first half hour, Linnets had to come from behind  to make their point against NPL West's second-placed team.

On the run of play, the hosts will be hugely disappointed not to have bagged all three.

But they were left to regret a long list of misses, which could have cost them even more heavily.

When they ought to have been comfortably in front, Linnets to the exasperation of manager Michael Ellison somehow found themselves trailing with a quarter of an hour left.

Avro had converted both genuine chances they created over 90 minutes to lead for four of them.

Defemder Adam Rooney opened the scoring for Linnets in the 10th minute. Picture by Neil Thornton.

Parity and a sense of sanity were restored - a Linnnets defeat would have been a crazy outcome - as Harry McGee bagged his first Runcorn goal in the 79th to earn the hosts a share of the spoils.

Boss Ellison had opted for a three-man defence in which midfielder Jacques Welsh joined the two fit senior centre backs in the squad.

Skipper Welsh was outstanding alongside the experienced Adam Rooney and Peter Wylie.

Standing firm iin front of them was 35-year-old Steven Irwin, who with no game time behind him played the full 90 minutes of his Runcorn debut in the division, which made him a champion with Widnes last season.

Linnets had started like a house on fire and by the time they scored in only the tenth minute, the goal was well overdue - not least because Scott Bakkor had already seen an effort disallowed for offside.

One of several close calls for Scott Bakkor as the ball is nicked off his toes. Picture by Neil Thornton.

It just wasn't the Runcorn top scorer's afternoon.

Centre back Rooney sent Linnets ahead with an assured finish from a cross from the right by Naim Arsan.

But, by contrast, Runcorn's frontmen were strangely hesitant, Bakkor and James Steele failing to seize on chances.

Sean Miller was foiled by a goalline clearance by Fortune Maphosa midway through the half.

But too often, Linnets' reluctance to get shots away early, allowing Avro's keeper and defence recovery time to snother or block, backfired in 17th minute when the Oldham outfit equalised out of the blue.

Runcorn hadn't tracked the run through the centre of Ryley Smith and were punished when a cross from the right by Darren Ehimamiegho ricocheted into the midfieldman's path.

Joe Ferguson was unable to make up ground to prevent the inevitable, Smith executing his plan perfectly.

Runcorn's failure to make domination count made them over anxious, leading to hurried mistakes and wrong options.

Joe Ferguson powers away from am Avro defender. Picture by Bobby Hancox.

A change at half-time saw Ferguson withdrawn and Steele taking up the wing back position on the right with McGee and Sean Miller supporting frontrunner Bakkor, whose attacking frustrations continued.

The wind was now having an effect in carrying the ball away from him.

Without creating chances in the numbers they had in the first half - that would have been difficult - Linnets were still largely on top.

But after surviving the earlier onslaught Avro were sensing that the game was still there for them and looking dangerous on the break - but without testing 'keeper Yusuf Mersin on his Runcorn home debut.

Runcorn were again denied by an assistant's flag, Rooney seeing what would have been his second goal ruled out, Wylie having glanced on Miller's long free-kick with his head to create the opportunity.

But Linnets' increasing unease was again ruthlessly exploited as Avro hit the front in the 75th minute.

With adroit movement and excellent timing of his run, Darryl Mason fastened onto a through ball to find himself one against one with Mersin to crown his first Avro appearance with a prospective winner.

However, Runcorn have shown good character all season and this has continued since Michael Ellison took over.

They were level within four minutes thanks to another telling intervention from Harry McGee.

Match saver Harry McGee's equalising goal was his first in Runcorn colours. Picture by Bobby Hancox.

McGee brought the save of the game from Caneron Mason with a tip over from a free-kick won by Miller and scored from the resulting corner.

It had been initially dealt with at the near post by Avro's defence, Mason heading half clear, but the ball was recycled by Bakkor for taker Lewis Doyle to cross to the far side of goal.

Rooney's header picked out McGee to smash home, adding to his two late assists in victory at Chasetown seven days earlier.

There were a mixed feelings of relief and ruefulness for Runcorn after avoiding defeat in a game they should have had wrapped up early on.

But results elsewhere were kind and the promotion race continues on Tuesday, when the first-time visit of Lower Breck gives Linnets chance to further reduce their arrears on the Liverpool-based leaders, who lost on Saturday at home to Chasetown.

Victory would lift Runcorn into second place and within three points of top spot.

Runcorn Linnets: Yusuf Mersin, Joe Ferguson (Harry McGee, 46 mins), Naim Arsan, Jacques Welsh, Adam Rooney, Peter Wylie, Steven Irwin, Lewis Doyle (Lewis Crane, 86 mins), Scott Bakkor, Sean Miller, James Steele. Subs (not used); Isaac Graham, Dec McLoughlin, Oskar Rosenblatt.

Attemdance: 592.