First Runcorn Linnets away win against Ashton (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

First Runcorn Linnets away win against Ashton

2:49pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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LINNETS gained their first ever victory at Brocstedes Park on Saturday.

It was not a vintage display but a clean sheet and victory on a day when conditions were difficult is a good result.

Restraint and composure at the right time were key to the success, with Ashton losing two players to red cards.

A first-half goal from man-of-the-match Matthew Atherton, along with efforts from David Sherlock and Paul Fildes in the second half, secured all three points.

The first 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.

Rob Whyte squared a ball to Lloyd Balazs who played a first-time ball towards Jake Ellis.

Ellis, in an offside position, made no attempt to play the ball and as the Ashton defence stood still appealing, Atherton made a run from deep and went clean through to finish neatly inside Fitzpatrick’s near post.

Tempers began to fray in the second half before Matthews Ashcroft and Atherton then linked up nicely on 77 minutes, with Atherton delivering a pinpoint ball to Sherlock, who headed home at the back post.

Ashton then lost their cool and with it any chance of even a point.

Rob Bodie was shown a straight red card on 78 minutes for a lunge at Matthew Clarkson, who received a yellow for his reaction to the challenge.

Fildes put the game out of reach on 84 minutes as he latched onto a Ross Bain pass, rounded the goalkeeper and finished well from a tight angle.

Ashton’s Philip Howard was booked for an over-the-top tackle and then substituted but he was shown red for then continuing an argument with the linesman.

Runcorn: Priestley, Wood, Ashcroft, Balazs, Bain, Clarkson, Sherlock (Webb, 88), Dempsey (Hampson, 88), Ellis (Fildes, 52), Whyte, Atherton. Subs not used: Davies Coker, Blundell.