09/10/2024
By Chris Gibbs
Outstanding performance seals deserved win at Runcorn
Runcorn Linnets 1 Doyle (17)
Newcastle Town 2 Jones (23, 83) Assist Thorley (83)
If ever you wanted a statement performance, then this was it. What a truly exceptional display we saw last night from our boys against a Runcorn side that had taken ten points from their previous four games.
From the off, we played with confidence, showed a fleetness of foot and zipped our passes around the pitch with a terrific intensity.
After the confidence-boosting 2-1 win over Stalybridge Celtic at the weekend, we travelled to the southern banks of the Mersey with hope certainly but perhaps not the expectation that it would be this good. In my time as your club correspondent this truly was as good as it has ever been.
But despite the brilliance of the team performance last night and a decent start to the game, we still had to come from behind to get the three points. Slinny, who wasn’t too busy on the night, spilled a cross for Lewis Doyle to lash home left footed on the half volley after 17 minutes.
But within six minutes we were back on level terms and what a cracker of a goal it was too to level things up. After another decent spell of possession, Tom Jones drifted in off the inside left channel and struck a supreme 20 yarder into the top corner. He literally could not have placed it better. Postage stamp.
We played extremely well in the first half, but the second half was another level. The only question was: could we make our superiority count? And, for a long time, it seemed that the answer might be no. Jake had a couple of one-on-ones the second of which was brilliantly blocked against the post by the body of Linnets’ overworked keeper Tom Myles.
Ethan Vale had also seen a shot deflected against the same post a few moments earlier. Tom, as well as the two goals he did score fizzed one just wide of the far post and also forced a decent save from Myles as we continued the onslaught.
But as the clock ran down, you started to wonder whether it might all have been in vain. Having played superb football all night, it was slightly ironic that the winner should come from what can only be described as a punt downfield from your favourite farmer and mine; Tom Thorley.
With Runcorn appealing in vain for a flag, Tom nipped in ahead of the keeper, headed it over him and then gleefully tapped home into an open net to put the finishing touch to an outstanding performance. What a magnificent performance and what a terrific evening for all concerned with the club.
I could get used to this…
Team: Slinn, Derbyshire, Ritchie, Sherratt, Thorley, van der Laan, Dos Santos, Vale, (Lewis 87), Avery, Jones, Webster, (Barry 90).
Man of the match: Tom Jones – an obvious choice, yes, but his performance was about so much more than his goals. His direct running caused Runcorn all sorts of trouble and the first goal: well you’ll do well to see many better than that first half strike.