Unbeaten run continues with stand-off at Runcorn

Runcorn Town 0, Glossop North End 0
NWCFL Premier Division

Match Report: Stewart Taylor
Pictures: Jim Lockwood

The Hillmen went to The Pavilions on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run on a ground where it is always difficult to come away with anything. A match between 5^th and 6^th in the NWCFL Premier Division held much promise of a closely contested affair. It was certainly that as both sides tried to play progressive football but some sloppy passing and lack of quality with the final ball meant that neither keeper was really tested.

The GNE side saw a couple changes with Paul Brown making a starting debut in midfield and Gav Ellison coming in for a welcome start. Pride of place on the day went to Dave Young making his 350^th appearance for GNE and taking the captain’s armband in the absence of Lincoln Adams.

A bright sunny day saw GNE keeper Andrew Jones don that most unusual of items of goalkeeping kit these days – a cap- as the visitors played the first half into the sun. The home side started the better, with a strong contribution from winger Luke Edwards, and put pressure on the GNE defence only for that defence to demonstrate why it’s the meanest in the Division as Jones was never exposed to a significant direct shot on target. As the half came towards its conclusion, the visitors gained the ascendancy in terms of possession and field position but were restricted to a single real opportunity on goal as a left footed shot from Tom Bailey flashed past Stuart Plant in the Town goal but, sadly for Bailey and the visitors, flashed wide of the far post as well.

Into the second half and any flow to the match was disrupted by any number of free kicks. Again, misplaced passes from midfield by both sides frustrated any attempts by either side to impose themselves on the match and it was effectively stalemate for 30 minutes. Into the last 15 minutes and there was evidence that Town were starting to tire. GNE started to get control of the game and pushed forward looking for all three points. The Town defence, marshalled by captain Daniel Dalton, held firm. Several half chances came along but the nearest the visitors came to breaking the deadlock was when substitute Steve Williams, making his debut for GNE, saw his shot from inside the area collected comfortably by Plant.

It may have been that GNE would have been happy with a point away at a fellow top six side but they must have left The Pavilions with a “what might have been” feeling after that final 15 minutes; but the unbeaten run continues.

GNE are now unbeaten in 14 matches in all competitions. 11 wins and 3 draws in all matches since November 30^th improving on the previous record of 13 matches which was registered in both 1990 and 1998. The NWCFL was formed in 1982 and GNE were a founder member. The recent run of 11 wins and 3 draws in the last 14 League matches (since November 5^th) is also a record for GNE for a run of unbeaten matches in the NWCFL.

GNE: Jones, Byrne, Russell, Kelvin Lugsden, Young, Ellison (Hirst), Brown (Williams), Kilheeney, Bailey, Hare, Kieran Lugsden (Riley).

Attendance: 162