Chasetown 2 Runcorn Linnets 3
Report by Dave Bettley
Lewis Crane struck in the nick of time with his first senior Linnets goal - an 89th-minute strike bringing Brad Cooke's maiden league win as Runcorn's manager.
Top scorer in the Under 21s team, Crane had missed a late chance to force a victory in the draw at Nantwich a week earlier but didn't disappoint this time.
From four yards out, he converted a right-wing cross by overlapping full back Joe Ferguson to put the visitors in front for the third time.
A very good Chasetown outfit had responded relatively quickly on the two previous occasions they had fallen behind.
But despite eight minutes being added for stoppages, there would be no way back this time.
Linnets answered a 3-2 home defeat by the same opponents in November, Crane having made his Pitching In Northern Premier League West debut off the bench in that fixture.
The celebrations showed just how much the three points meant to Runcorn - the landmarks for Mssrs Crane and Cooke were only half the story.
This was a game the visitors needed to win to retain realistic hopes of a play-off spot for a fourth successive season. Their promotion challenge is still very much alive.
Chasetown had started the day in fifth place and with the semi-finals in clear sight.
After finding themselves adrift early on, they should have been ahead by half-time but instead went in level.
The hosts looked the more threatening side throughout the first half but Linnets had scored first in 14th minute.
Adam Moseley's cross from the right found a huge hole in the South Staffordshire side's defence.
Lewis Doyle couldn't believe his luck at the time and space he had been allowed to slot home. But sadly, it was the end of his good fortune.
The attacking midfielder injured himself in the act of scoring and took no further part.
Chasetown had the ball in the net almost immediately.
Bayleigh Passant, having caught the ball on his 18-yard line, quickly had to release it for fear of handling outside the box.
He committed a foul when doing so but advantage was played, the ball being slipped through to LukeYates, who thought he had scored but was offside.
Play was brought back for the free-kick with Chasetown fans questioning why the Linnets 'keeper, with defenders behind him, had escaped a caution.
But it didn't take long for the home side to draw level.
A searching cross by full back Oli Hayward from the right dropped over the head of Runcorn defender Peter Wylie, the last man in a cluster of players.
Chasetown skipper Jack Langston swept home his shot from just inside the box.
The Blues continued to look the likelier side with Kieran Fenton putting Linnets under pressure with some accurate long passes out of defence.
They were also in charge of midfield and the Runcorn rearguard found it difficult to cope with the elusive Yates, supporting former Hednesford Town player-manager Danny Glover in attack.
Centre forward Glover saw a shot bounce on top of the crossbar from one of several openings for the home side.
The second half was a different story with Linnets showing greater conviction and resilience plus an increased offer going forward.
Notice of intent was quickly given as Luke Wall controlled Jorge Dwyer's cross, shifting it onto his trusted left foot but Curtis Pond reacted well by turning the shot around his right post.
The visitors regained the lead on 52 minutes with Wall continuing to harass the opposition.
He scored the archetypal "goal out of nothing" as he ran at the Chasetown defence to poke a shot from the right across goal and into the far corner.
Again, Chasetown responded, Sam Unitt forcing Wylie into a foul as he closed in on goal. Langston sent Passant the wrong way from the spot for his second of the match.
The hosts remained a threat and continued to create chances but Runcorn had the bit between their teeth.
Callum Grogan spilled blood for the cause after a clash of heads inside the home penalty area.
Harvey Washington replaced him in centre left of a Runcorn defence, which was already different to that which had started.
Eden Gumbs, a substitute left back, was diligent in his work.
Naim Arsan, who had started in that position, was able to carry the ball forward from a more advanced position.
Arsan released Wall but the wideman was well tackled and Ryan Brooke's header from the resulting corner was cleared off the line.
Both managers made made substitutions in the hope of tipping the balance in favour of their team but with ground to make up on their hosts, Runcorn's need was greater.
Brad Cooke sent on Crane for the last seven minutes of normal time and it took the 18-year-old only six to accomplish his mission.
With back to goal, Wall played the ball behind him for Ferguson, moving at pace on the outside.
The defender's purposeful cross was met by Crane, who got in front of his man to guide home his shot. The young striker took the acclaim from the Linnets fans behind the goal.
Manager Cooke admitted that the calibre of the finish belied the age and inexperience of the scorer.
It had everyone in and around the Runcorn dugout gleefully punching the air but there was still a job to be completed.
A free-kick awarded to Chasetown in the final throes of stoppage time prompted even their 'keeper Pond to venture forward. But no sooner had it been headed wide (by an outfield player) than the referee blew the final whistle.
Runcorn's next league game is at home to City of Liverpool this Saturday but before that, they entertaih Tranmere Rovers in Wednesday's Liverpool Senior Cup quarter-final.
Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Peter Wylie, Naim Arsan, Karl Clair, Joe Ferguson, Callum Grigan (Harvey Washington, 81 mins), Adam Moseley (Eden Gumbs, 67 mins), Jacques Welsh, Ryan Brooke (Lewis Nolan 90+2 mins), Lewis Doyle (Jorge Dwyer, 16 mins. Dwyer replaced by Lewis Crane, 83 mins).
Attendance : 470.
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