Linnets U21s doing gr-eight as winning streak continues
- dbettley
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Runcorn Linnets Under 21s 2 UDA Soccer Royals 0
Linnets stretched their winning run in North West Under 21 Development League Championship Division B to eight matches with a comfortable, well-earned victory.
The sequence, including a walkover against Huyton, dates back two months and leaves Runcorn on top of the form table and very handily placed in third spot.
The dominant hosts had to wait until eight minutes from half-time for a breakthrough.
They then doubled the lead in the 43rd minute and might have had more goals after the interval as they safely dispatched the fifth-placed Royals.
Linnets have now won nine in a row in all competitions, the first of these victories having come away to Sunday's University of Chester-based visitors.
With assistant boss Daryl Evans and coach John Harrison overseeing events in the absence of manager Stephen Ellams, Linnets showed they meant business from the start.
They nearly scored from the kick-off, Asnafi Shamari looking to catch out UDA when launching the ball straight towards goal in an audacious opening gambit.
The visiting 'keeper was slightly off his line but succeeded in backtracking to tip the midfielder's surprise effort off the centre spot over the bar.
Almost relentless home pressure followed but Linnets had to remain patient as Royals defended resolutely.
Not allowing frustration to get the better of them, the Yellow & Greens continued to be methodical in their approach play.
Their perseverance paid dividends in the 38th minute after Zack Parker had given chase to a pass from deep in the Runcorn half.
The move broke down but Lewis Crane retrieved the ball for Parker to fire home on the turn.
Five minutes later. Crane netted himself, deftly finishing from the edge of the six-yard box, to the left of centre of goal, after running onto a low free-kick by left back Ben Dobbie.
That's now 25 for the season for the goal-hungry centre forward.
Runcorn's midfield had been without regulars Arty Benjamin, Macauley Clifton and Jaden Ditchfield from the start and in the second half, it was ever-changing as substitutions were made at regular intervals.
By now stringing five across the centre of the park to operate with Crane as a lone attacker, quick closing down saw Sam Stephens dispossess a defender but fire narrowly wide of the left post from outside the box.
The visitors had their best attacking spell around the hour mark. But with the dependable Jay Lee and Cameron Schofield in central defence, Linnets protected 'keeper Jack Slavin, deputy for the unavailable Alex Ellams.
As UDA made more of an impression in Runcorn territory, they were susceptible to counter attacks.
Bala Ibrahim beat the Royals' defence on the outside to deliver a cross from which Crane had a shot deflected over the bar.
Lee almost capped a memorable weekend - he and Crane having made their first senior starts for the club on Saturday - with a third Runcorn goal.
He advanced late on from an unaccustomed position in left midfield to see a shot rebound off the right post.
The division's top two sides were each gifted three points through opponents conceding.
Linnets remain five points adrift of Nantwich Town and one of Northwich Victoria with five and three games in hand, respectively.
With fourth-placed Kidsgrove Athletic not in action because of a postponement, Runcorn had made the most of their match in hand to go three points clear of the Staffordshire outfit.
Runcorn Linnets Under 21s: Jack Slavin, Callum Prince, Ben Dobbie, Asnafi Shamari, Cameron Schofield, Jay Lee, Eneil Gumbs, Sam Stephens, Lewis Crane, Zack Parker, Harry Vernon. Subs (all used): Billy McNay, Bala Ibrahim, Jack Ball, Finlay Harwood, Josh May.
Linnets U21s have chance to make up ground at the summit on Wednesday when they entertain Vulcan in a 7.45pm kick-off.
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