Football: Runcorn Linnets make a winning return

Mar 11 2010 by David Bergin, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

Ashton Athletic 0 Runcorn Linnets 3

STEVE Wilkes’ men returned to winning ways with a comfortable Vodkat League victory against second-from-bottom Ashton.

Ashton had two penalty appeals in the first 15 minutes, and Phil Priestley was the busier keeper early on.

Priestley’s opposite number, Alan Fitzpatrick, had less to do as headers from Atherton and then Ross Bain both went harmlessly wide.

The half was punctuated by a series of innocuous fouls and free kicks, but both teams had chances.

Runcorn took the lead on 32 minutes amid confusion in the Ashton defence. Whyte squared to Lloyd Balazs who played a first-time ball to Jake Ellis.

Ellis, in an offside position, made no attempt to play the ball and as the Ashton defence stood appealing, Matthew Atherton made a run from deep to finish neatly inside the near post.

Matthews Ashcroft and Atherton linked up nicely on 77 minutes with Atherton delivering a pinpoint ball to David Sherlock, who headed home.

Ashton’s Rob Bodie was then shown a straight red card on 78 minutes for a lunge at Matthew Clarkson.

Substitute Fildes put the game out of reach on 84 minutes as he latched on to a Ross Bain pass and finished well from a tight angle. The hosts’ Philip Howard also saw red. He picked up a yellow card for a bad tackle and was subbed, but was then shown a second yellow for dissent.