AFC Liverpool returned to winning ways in the league, after a closely-fought encounter with Runcorn Town at the Arriva Stadium.

The opening twenty minutes were closely contested by both teams. Neither side was able to fashion a clear chance on goal, both closing the opposition down in the final third. Paul Shanley had the best chance for the visitors, with Reds’ keeper Ryan Jones saving low to his left, and both Ronnie Morgan and Francis Barry were able to test Philip Priestley in the Runcorn Town goal.

An injury to the ankle for Tom Stewart led to an early substitution for the Reds, with Neville Picton coming on for the hosts on twenty-four minutes. It came at a time when Runcorn were in the ascendancy, but Nathan Valentine was able to settle in quickly as a replacement centre back, and thwarted several attacks by Town.

Somewhat against the run of play, Michael Girvan scored his first for AFC Liverpool, with a goal of the season contender on twenty-seven minutes. Ryan Cox had won a corner as Priestley deflected his shot wide. From the set-piece, the Reds defender received the ball at the edge of the box, and let loose a superb strike, and the Runcorn Town defenders and keeper could only watch helplessly as it hit the back of the net.

The visitors responded well to going a goal down, with midfielder Mark Keddie finding space in the box to shoot, which went narrowly wide. AFC did have chances as Cox and Girvan combined well to force a save, and Picton mis-hit the ball high into the stand from the edge of the area, but Runcorn looked the more dangerous overall with Jones just making a fingertip save from Shanley’s chip.

Paul Shanley would not be denied, and his efforts gave the visitors a way back into the match with an equaliser. Another surging run into the Reds’ half forced Ryan Jones to run out and close him down. The Runcorn attacker was able to sidestep the challenge, however, and simply passed the ball into the open goal, with Captain Jack Sinnott just unable to get back in time to make a goal-line clearance.

Deep into first half injury time, AFC Liverpool restored their lead. Sean Calland won a corner, and the resulting cross led to a goalmouth scramble. The ball broke free of the crowd to Francis Barry, who made no mistake as he blasted it into the net from two yards.

Runcorn Town had already shown they were able to fight back from a one goal deficit, and during the second half, the Reds were subjected to a near-relentless assault. Samuel Houghton should have equalised on fifty minutes, but his free header in front of goal was directed just wide.

Shortly afterwards, Ryan Cox had the best chance of the half for AFC Liverpool, as his chip was forced just wide following a fingertip save from Priestley. However, as the visitors pressed higher up the pitch, the Reds were increasingly forced into a rearguard action, and were often unable to clear the ball beyond the halfway line.

Town captain Thomas Spearitt had a shot deflected wide by Picton, and a double Runcorn substitution was made for the subsequent corner on sixty-five minutes, as the visitors sensed a comeback. For the remainder of the match, AFC Liverpool somehow managed to deny their opposition.

For all the excellent defensive work by Sinnott and Valentine, the Reds couldn’t seem to escape wave after wave of blue shirts bearing down on their goal. Runcorn Town were also the architects of their own downfall as Shanley, Sean Breen and Leon Williams all managed to miscue shots which really should have turned the match in their favour.

Attacking perseverance from Carl Peers and substitutes Joshua Purcell and James Robinson in the later stages helped to ease the pressure on the Reds. Robinson was unfortunate to lose his footing with only the keeper to beat in the eighty-sixth minute, and couldn’t quite lift a shot over Priestley sixty seconds later.

The hosts were determined to see the match out, but the nerves of the home supporters were frayed as Keddie had a final header punched over the bar by Jones deep into injury time. The resulting corner thankfully came to nothing, and AFC Liverpool could breathe a sigh of relief at the final whistle as they took an important three points. The Reds move up to fourth spot in the league and travel to Brocstedes Park on Saturday to face St. Helens Town.

AFC Liverpool 2-1 Runcorn Town
Girvan 27’ Shanley 45+1’
Barry 45+2’

AFC Liverpool: 1.Ryan Jones 2.Michael Girvan 3.Muktar Mahama 4.Jack Sinnott © 5.Tomas Stewart (15.Neville Picton 27’) 6.Carl Peers 7.Nathan Valentine 8.Sean Calland (Joshua Purcell 64’) 9.Ronnie Morgan (14.James Robinson 84’) 10.Francis Barry 11.Ryan Cox
Unused Subs: 17.Ryan Dobney 18.Steve Williams

Runcorn Town: 1.Philip Priestley 2.Andrew Potter (12.Jack Webb 65’) 3.Christopher Lester 4.Christopher Lawton 5.Stephen Latham 6.Thomas Spearitt © 7.Paul Shanley 8.Mark Keddie 9. Sean Breen 10.Samuel Houghton (16.Leon Williams 74’)11.Lee Roberts (17.Jack Irlam 65’)
Unused Subs: 14.Michael Haughton 15.Daniel Clarke

Attendance: 160