Rare defeat for title hopefuls Linnets Under 21s in penultimate home league outing

Runcorn Linnets Under 21s 1 AFC Liverpool Under 21s 2 

Clockwise from top left: Man of the match Zack Parker takes the game to AFC Liverpool; Macauley Clifton draws in a visiting defender; Eneil Gumbs rises high to put in a header; Cameron Schofield has Billy McNay (No.4) for company. Pictures by Kelly Jones.

AFTER an emphatic run of 11 successive victories in all competitions, including two walkovers, Linnets suffered defeat in a feisty league encounter against the Non-League Reds.

Runcorn stay top of North West Under 21s Development League's Championship Division B. However, chasing Kidsgrove Athletic, in third place, would cut the Yellow & Greens' lead to just goal difference by winning the game they now have in hand - although Runcorn are 19 goals better off. 

Linnets, therefore, still control their own destiny. They visit Southport Academy at Haig Avenue on Sunday before entertaining Northwich Victoria on Wednesday in their final league game. 

Only the champions go up with the runners-up playing off against the second-placed team from Division A. 

Fourth-placed Vics are the only other team, who can overtake Runcorn. 

They trail Linnets by five points and likewise have a couple of matches left. Nantwich Town, lying second, have completed their fixtures. 

Runcorn had won the reverse league fixture at AFC Liverpool 3-1 in November and also beaten them 6-0 in February's Championship B Trophy tie at APEC Taxis Stadium. But this was a different visiting team in terms of personnel and performance. 

Linnets will feel aggrieved that they didn't get something from a contest in which both sides finished with 10 men. 

Home skipper Jay Lee was sent off for handling on the goal line, just as he had been on first-team duty five days earlier. 

The resulting 50th-minute penalty, converted by Alfie Hurst,  drew an almost instant response with Linnets equalising   within three minutes through Zack Parker. 

The livewire striker powered home a shot from a cross by left back Ben Dobbie. 

Runcorn could have equalised even sooner but for AFC 'keeper Lee Marsh saving with his legs from the division's 26-goal top scorer Lewis Crane, who had fastened onto a through ball from Macauley Clifton after a well-worked move. 

The numbers were evened up on the hour, Alfie Lowe being dismissed for a late challenge on Runcorn centre back Cameron Schofield. 

The decision worked in the visitors' favour as they went on to play better 10v10 than they had with the extra man. 

They scored the winner in the 80th minute through Luke Roberts and negotiated stoppage time as Runcorn fought desperately to salvage a point. 

What extended to seven added minutes saw Hurst hit wide of a gaping goal with Linnets 'keeper Alex Ellams stranded, having ventured upfield to contest a free-kick. 

Referee Matthew Bolton had his work cut out to keep a lid on proceedings in the final stages with both sides really fired up and neither pulling out of tackles. 

Midfielder Finlay Harwood stood out for Runcorn both in attacking and defensive phases after coming off the bench. 

The first half had seen the hosts creating more in open play but AFC Liverpool were a big threat at fee-kicks launched from deep by 'keeper Marsh. 

One such set-piece led to a goalline clearance by Crane before roles were reversed approaching the break. The Runcorn striker's close-range header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Marsh, Lee's cross from the right of the six-yard box having set up the chance. 

The AFC Liverpool 'keeper pulled off another spectacular stop from substitute Eneil Gumbs's header soon after Runcorn had got themselves back on terms.

Runcorn Linnets: Alex Ellams, Jay Lee, Ben Dobbie, Billy McNay, Cameron Schofield, Josh Elverstone, Macauley Clifton, Sam Stephens, Lewis Crane, Asnafi Shamari, Zack Parker. Subs (all used): Harry Vernon, Eneil Gumbs, Jaden Ditchfield, Finlay Harwood, Bala Ibrahim.