Football: Runcorn Linnets leave it late to confirm win over Bootle

Nov 12 2009 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

Runcorn Linnets 3 Bootle 1

LIFE after skipper Steve Cunningham could not have started any better for Runcorn after a hard-fought victory over Bootle.

Rob Whyte was handed the armband, after Cunningham, Steve Wilkes’ charismatic ex-captain, moved to Colne in the build up to the game.

And Whyte played an important role in avenging the 3-0 defeat suffered at Buck’s Park in September.

Paul Fildes and Bootle goalkeeper Mark Mawdsley were involved in a sickening accidental clash of heads early on, resulting in Fildes being replaced soon after and later taken to hospital with suspected concussion for a precautionary check up.

Mawdsley completed the 90 minutes but never looked entirely comfortable.

The opening goal came on 11 minutes when a half-cleared David Sherlock cross was pounced upon by Lloyd Balazs, who with the help of a minor deflection, made it 1-0.

Bootle came back strongly though and began to control the possession. The second goal arrived four minutes before the break when Michael Case skilfully controlled a lob beyond the stranded Mawdsley.

Bootle dragged themselves back in to the game just after the break, when a couple of loose Runcorn passes in the middle of the field set Kevin Black free.

Black then expertly chipped Phil Priestley to halve the deficit and set the Linnets fans nerves on edge.

David Sherlock showed Bootle’s Anthony Miley a clean pair of heels down the right, to force a corner that Ross Bain almost converted.

Priestley stood up well to block a shot before Runcorn broke away and Mawdsley was forced to turn a Rob Whyte effort round the post.

On 67 minutes Michael Case hit the angle of the woodwork with a free-kick.

The decisive goal came with just six minutes to go when Rob Whyte held the ball up well before finding Billy Webb, whose deflected 18-yard effort looped into the roof of the net.

Runcorn: Priestley, Wood, Rigby, Balazs, Bain, Howard, Sherlock (Collins), Case (Hayder), Fildes (Webb), Whyte, Edwards.

Subs not used: Marsden, Park.

Linnets travel to Flixton on Saturday (3pm).