Runcorn Linnets 1 Vauxhall Motors 1
Report by Dave Bettley
There was late drama on Brad Cooke's Linnets managerial debut as skipper Jacques Welsh snatched a stoppage-time equaliser for the 10-man hosts against Pitching In Northern Premier League West's second-placed side.
Vauxhall had looked set to gain three points on leaders Widnes, who were surprisingly beaten 2-0 at home by Atherton Collieries.
Connor Rankin sent the Ellesmere Port visitors in front from a 74th-minute penalty, awarded after an off-the-ball incident, which saw Runcorn defender Peter Wylie sent off for a second cautionable offence.
But four minutes into the six added by referee Taylor Metcalfe, teenage sub Lewis Crane won a free-kick for Linnets.
The Under 21s striker promptly met Luke Wall's ball in from the right with a header in the middle of the goalmouth for Welsh to pounce from close range.
A draw was the least Linnets deserved for their spirited efforts in a tightly-fought contest.
Runcorn had more goal attempts and new boss Cooke was delighted with the response of the players, especially when a goal down with a man short.
"I think people who have come today will have seen what we want," he said.
"We want commitment, we want passion and you can't question any of the lads for that.
"If I didn't want to win every sngle football game, I wouldn't be managing this club.
"Disappointing not to get three points, naturally. But to get the equaliser like we did, you know, those moments are special in football. You've got to hold on to them, you've got to enjoy them and I certainly did today."
There was an expectant buzz around APEC Taxis Stadium and a warm reception from an increased crowd as Cooke and assistant Rob Sadler took their places in the dugout for the first time.
Appointed late on Tuesday, the pair had set to work with their first training session on Thursday.
There was no great difference in team selection from the 2-2 midweek draw against Wythenshawe Town, which had been overseen by the three senior players in caretaker charge.
The only alteration to the starting XI was the enforced exclusion of midfielder Lewis Doyle with what it's hoped will be only a short-term injury.
Luke Wall moved inside off the right wing to support Ryan Brooke in attack.
Adam Moseley was restored to the line-up out wide with his cousin Crane being drafted on to the bench in his place.
Vauxhall had the better of the opening exchanges and in the fourth minute, Tyler Hill - a Linnets loanee from Blackpool in early-season - advanced on the left to supply a cross from close to the deadball line.
Jawad Jebrin was the near-post recipient and he in turn set up Rankin for a header, which sailed narrowly over.
That was as close as Vauxhall would come before the interval and in truth until converting their penalty.
They had been hamstrung by the loss of Jebrin to a 17th-minute injury.
This was to bring the introduction of Josh Quarless, who supplemented a forward line of considerable height already - and as the tallest of the lot.
Runcorn knew that with Jebrin's departure they would certainly cope with the pace of the opposition. But the danger in the air was considerable; even more so at set-pieces since Vauxhall had more of the same to throw forward from defence.
Linnets No.1 Bayleigh Passant and his Runcorn rearguard coped extremely well.
Wall was only inches away from providing a perfect cross for Ryan Brooke, the ball just too far in front of the striker for him to get a head on it.
With Welsh driving Runcorn on from midfield, backed by typical industry from Clair, former Bala Town man Wall twice brought saves from the Vauxhall 'keeper Alex Swindell.
But both efforts were from acute angles and carried increasing degrees of difficulty.
Veteran ex-pro striker Kevin Ellison hit wide of the mark for Vauxhall, after edging the ball past Wylie to try his luck from outside the box.
Wall had another dig for Runcorn almost immediately after half-time with Swindells tipping the dipping half-volley over his crossbar.
Play was even cagier than it had been before the break but Clair, one of the smallest on the field, highlighted the determination in the Runcorn ranks by winning a header against the 6ft 7in Quarless on halfway.
Just before this, Quarless's shirtpull on Welsh brought a booking with Wylie suffering a similar fate for a mistimed tackle on Ellison on Runcorn's right touchline.
Both misdemeanours were committed inside the home team's half.
Injured when shielding the ball out of play for a goalkick, Eden Gumbs was replaced by Jaden Jones. But stalemate had set in with both sides probing but without genuinely advancing.
Things changed 16 minutes from time with that Vauxhall penalty, although not entirely in the way the visitors must have hoped.
Wylie had tangled with Vauxhall's Paddy Kay inside the Runcorn area as the ball went through into the gloves of Passant.
Referee Mr Metcalfe had allowed some level of physicality throughout, but saw a raised arm from Wylie in the tussle and ruled that the Runcorn centre back had gone too far.
Rankin drove the resulting kick down the middle and with their extra man, the away team had good reason to think that they were on their way to victory.
But having arguably shaded the game with 11 men, Runcorn dominated it with ten.
Linnets had been forced to sacrifice an attacker in Moseley to bring on an extra defender, deploying Jack Grundy in what was effectively a three-man rearguard.
Harvey Washington was switched from the right of defence into the central area, alongside Grundy and Callum Grogan.
Brooke brought a low, diving save from Swindell with a snapshot from 20 yards and the Runcorn crowd sensed that all might not be lost.
After his earlier caution, Quarless was a tad fortunate not to follow Wylie to the dressing room for belting a shot behind the goal when the referee's whistle had already sounded to stop play.
Instead, Runcorn's Arsan was carded - presumably for drawing the ref's attention to the matter in an unsubtle manner.
Two Runcorn corners were pawed away by Swindell from under his bar. But the fight wasn't over and it was fitting that commander-in-chief Welsh should force home the equaliser after his inspirational efforts throughout.
Linnets, up to seventh in the table with a so-called "six-pointer" to come at eighth-placed Nantwich next Saturday, will for now cast league duties aside to give full consideration to Tuesday's Cheshire Senior Cup tie at home to 1874 Northwich.
This is one of two upcoming quarter-finals in county cup competitions and Cooke has stressed their importance, alongside a potential promotion push - more likely through the play-offs.
"You"ve got to try to win every single competition you're in," he stressed.
"I said to the players after the gane, I don't care if it's a Kinder egg or the World Cup, winning a trophy is winning a trophy. I've been fortunate in my career to win quite a few. And that's how you create memories, that's how you create momentum.
"Fans want to see that. It doesn't mattter what competition it is, they want to see a Runcorn Linnets side lifting trophies. What's it been? Two trophies since existence? That's not good enough for a club like this."
Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Peter Wylie, Naim Arsan (Jorge Dwyer, 88 mins), Karl Clair (Lewis Crane 88 mins), Harvey Washington, Callum Grogan, Adam Moseley (Jack Grundy, 74 mins), Jacques Welsh, Ryan Brooke, Luke Wall, Eden Gumbs (Jaden Jones, 64 mins). Sub (not used): Lewis Nolan.
Attendance: 535.
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