Runcorn Linnets 0 Trafford 2
Report by Dave Bettley with pictures from Kelly Jones
It was with some trepidation on current form that ailing Runcorn Linnets welcomed a rejuvenated Trafford side to the APEC Taxis Stadium.
The visitors, having struggled themselves last season, returned home to Manchester with all three points to go top of Pitching In Northern Premier League West.
But nobody could have predicted how victory would be achieved.
Outplayed in the first half, Trafford stole ahead eight minutes from the break when their first shot on goal was converted on the rebound into a lead.
They then played for the last half hour with 10 men and outfielder Matty Morgan in goal.
And while largely intent - and understandably so - on preserving their lead, as Runcorn toiled for inspiration, the away side broke away to seal the win with a second goal, to the obvious disbelief of the hosts
Manager Antony Kay had introduced 18-year-old signing Tyler Hill at left back in a reshuffled defence.
Right back Peter Wylie reverted to his one-time regular Linnets position of centre back, alongside young Harvey Washington - in the absence of Sam Carr, who had sustained a knee injury.
Washington was the only member of the back four on duty in Wednesday's 3-1 defeat at Avro to retain his position.
Utility man Eden Gumbs switched from the left to right of defence with Hill - a third loan recruit of the campaign from Blackpool - taking the No.3 shirt to perform tidily on debut.
The rest of the line-up was likewise reshaped with Jacques Welsh restored to the starting XI.
Karl Clair and Lewis Nolan completed a three-pronged central midfield, which was without Jaden Jones through suspension.
With Luke Wall being brought in from the wing into the No. 10 position, there was no real width for Runcorn going forward.
The boss continued with two up top, after adopting the tactic in the second half in midweek.
The compact formation saw Runcorn monopolise the play, forcing Trafford back for long periods.
They had a number of long- range shots and a seemingly endless supply of corners but were unable to make any of them count.
Runcorn got good balls into the box and had several attempts at goal, mostly from long distance, but Trafford withstood all the pressure.
Bowen, who had his best game in a Linnets shirt in support of Ryan Brooke, was proving a handful for the Whites' defence and saw headers go wide of either post.
For all their promise, Runcorn failed - and not for the first time this season - to genuinely trouble the opposition 'keeper.
As so often happens when a team down on its luck squares up to a side high on confidence, they were caught by a sucker punch.
Linnets lost possession from their own throw-in on the right and Trafford made them pay from their opening salvo of the game.
Tom Myles saved the initial attempt well, diving to his left at full stretch, but the ball found Isaac Noble, who drilled home from the right of the penalty area to give Trafford an undeserved lead in the 38th minute.
Obviously boosted by the goal and with manager Karl Marginson having had chance at half-time to address their general performance level, Trafford upped their game.
Only the bar and a vital clearance from Eden Gumbs, with two Trafford attackers waiting expectantly for a cross, prevented Runcorn's deficit from being doubled.
But the contest appeared to have been transformed in the 62nd minute, when Bowen was poleaxed by Sam Booth as he advanced on the left.
The challenge was outside the box and resulted in a red card for the Trafford shotstopper.
Matty Morgan, having entered the game as a 49th-minute substitute, took over the gloves.
But Runcorn's early threat had dissipated, their approach play no longer of the same quality. They struggled, and ultimately failed, to capitalise but had chances.
The best fell to Wall who had plenty of time to convert replacement Adam Moseley's low left-wing cross to the far post but wanted too long.
Shortly after, the same area of goal was gaping again but there was no Linnets player on hand to apply the finishing touch as the ball was headed on.
Runcorn seemed to run out of ideas and also belief that they could get back into the contest.
The point was hammered home by their opponents in no uncertain fashion.
With six minutes left, Kanye Nisbett tore through the middle, a defender on either side of him, to settle the issue.
Linnets will wonder how they lost this game with their marked superiority in the first half and rare opportunity in the second.
Trafford did well to resist before the break and took their chances clinically when they came.
But this a huge let-off for the new league leaders and for Runcorn mo
st definitely a game which got away.
Runcorn Linnets: Tom Myles, Eden Gumbs, Tyler Hill, Karl Clair (Tom Ledward, 70 mins), Peter Wylie, Harvey Washington, Lewis Nolan (Adam Moseley, 63 mins), Jacques Welsh, Ryan Brooke, Luke Wall, Taylor Bowen. Subs (not used): Bayleigh Passant (GK), Lewis Doyle.
Attendance: 481.
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