Football: Leaders Runcorn Town extend West Cheshire League advantage

Mar 4 2010 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

RUNCORN Town moved six points clear at the top of Division One after a 2-1 win over Marine Reserves at Pavilions.

Town took the lead after just four minutes through Jon McEvoy, with the striker scoring via both posts from Emini Adegbenro’s cross.

Dean Pye then denied Danny Cummins, with Marine equalising after 11 minutes. Mike Brown took a free kick from the right touchline which eluded everyone and crept into the corner of the net.

Town replied up with Adegbenro forcing a fine save from Pye and Dalton seeing a shot go over via the top of the crossbar.

Bellew then had a chance to score after playing a one-two with McEvoy, but Pye pulled off another save.

Bellew did have the ball in the net just after the half hour from another McEvoy ball through, but the goal was ruled out with Bellew offside.

The half ended with Tyson Eyo seeing a header go wide from Mark Toohey’s inswinging cross.

The second half saw Town showing more urgency and they did everything but score in the first 15 minutes of it. Bellew went closest with a shot that went just wide of the far post, an effort that Pye did well to save, and when Pye finally was beaten, the crossbar came to his rescue.

Adegbenro also saw an effort blocked by a defender.

After 66 minutes Adegbenro forced Pye into another good save following a weaving run, with Marine firing a warning that Town may rue missed chances with Lee Carroll saving from Ross Devine.

In the 74th minute, Town went close again with substitute James McShane heading against the bar and Pye tipping Danny Dalton’s header over, both chances of which came from Bellew crosses.

McShane hit the bar again two minutes later with another header from Adegbenro’s cross, with Marine having a great chance to take the lead in the 78th minute after being outplayed for much of the half.

A long ball from the left found Devine in the box and he opted to go for goal first time when he should have controlled it, with his header going wide.

Just as it looked that it wasn’t going to be Town’s day, McShane fired in what proved to be the winner.

A Bellew corner was cleared back to him, with his cross pinpoint for McShane to head into the corner of the net.

Town could have added to the lead but again the woodwork denied the home side.

First, McEvoy rounded the keeper but saw his shot come back off the post, then Bellew’s curling shot hit the bar and go over.

Town were in action on Wednesday night against Castrol Social when the Weekly News went to press, with the opportunity of moving nine points clear.