Damage in the Box!: RUNCORN TOWN (The Pavillions)

"Welcome to the biggest game in Britain today" was the greeting I received when I arrived at The Pavillions. The cheery gateman was obviously getting into the spirit of things in the build up to this 2nd versus 1st clash at the top of the North West Counties Division One. Both sides are having a great season and at the start of play Runcorn were 5 points behind Blackpool in the race for the title, so it was all to play for at today’s game.

Admittedly this was not my first choice of game today as the original plan was a "vulture" trip to Almondsbury Town, before they allegedly fold. However, I slightly overslept and just couldn't be bothered with a race down the motorway. Once my attentions were turned to finding another game, this local game was a real no-brainer.

The Pavillions is a bit of a hotch potch of stands and, with a backdrop of heavy industrial units, people may think it ugly but I thought the vibe of the place was really good and I liked the ground. There are plans in place to build a new stand ready for next season and an article in the programme focuses on a trip made by members of the committee to Scarborough to purchase seats from the old McCain stadium.

Runcorn started the brightest and dominated the opening exchanges but on 15 minutes AFC Blackpool’s Dave McEvoy suffered a broken leg in a 50-50 challenge. The game was delayed for around 40 minutes whilst he was treated by both physios and whilst we waited for the ambulance to arrive to take him to hospital.

Play resumed at around 3.55pm and the game soon picked up from where it left off. Runcorn went ahead in the 32nd minute when Ian Robinson latched on to a through ball and hit a low shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net (pictured below).

Two minutes before the break the home side doubled their advantage when a ball into the box was headed back across goal and Connor Anderson headed into the net from about a yard out. It was no more than Runcorn deserved on the balance of play, but having said that Blackpool did squander two good chances so they were by no means out of the game.

The early stages of the second half began where the first left off with Runcorn pressing but gradually Blackpool took control and began to push Runcorn back deeper and deeper. It was no surprise when Niall Cummins reduced the deficit in the 66th minute, turning his man before finishing with low shot in to the bottom corner of the net.

The Mechanics kept pressing but couldn't find that elusive equaliser. This result brings Runcorn to within two points of Blackpool at the top of the table. Both sides look good for promotion but who win the title is anyone’s guess!