Despite getting off to the best possible start, an Andy Hurst goal after only 13 seconds, GNE were well beaten by Runcorn who responded with 3 goals before half tme. The 2nd half performance was better than the 1st but it would have been difficult for it to have been any worse.
I'm struggling to find the words to describe how inept that 1st half performance was.
ReplyDeleteThink I'll sleep on it....
Not a luxury I had - this was written in the Runcorn clubhouse!
ReplyDeleteRuncorn Linnets 3, Glossop North End 1
North End threw away the perfect start on Tuesday when capitulating meekly to the Linnets after taking the lead after 13 seconds. It was a terrible showing by the Hillmen, one they will quickly want to forget.
Yet it had all started so well when Dave Young put in a hopeful ball from the back that was missed by Bain at the back. Hurst anticipated the centre half’s slip and got behind the defence, finishing sweetly, lobbing the ball over the keeper.
It was a rampant start that belied what was to come. And it could have been more, as Jay Gorton had a shot deflected wide, and Alex Elliott missed when presented with a glorious opportunity from the edge of the 6 yard box. The keeper was beaten, but with just players on the line to beat, Elliott shanked his shot.
There were only 7 minutes gone, and it looked as though it was going to be an easy evening, but to get one of those, you have to do the simple things right, and Jamie Kay presented Runcorn their opening goal when attempting to take on Whyte on the half way line rather than clip a cleared corner back from where it came. Whyte robbed him, and sprinted towards the Glossop goal. Yates was left with two players to deal with, and all Whyte had to do was square it to Fildes, who tapped in.
4 minutes later, Runcorn had the lead, and it came from some lovely crisp passing at the edge of the area, which ended with a 1-2 into the box which Sherlock had entered unmarked, and he was able to clip past Cooper.
North End were rocking, and their passing game began to fail, gifting possession to Runcorn at will. The lack of fluency wasn’t presenting the home side chances, but was knocking the Hillman confidence with every ball that went astray. Then, on 40 minutes, came a killer blow.
Atherton beat Yates on the right touch line, and drove into the box, running parallel to the goal line. Glossop defenders failed to address the man, Kay inexplicably running away from Atherton, and instead the Runcorn man arrowed straight for goal and shot into the corner.
Glossop tried to rally in the second half, and whilst that fluent passing game was still missing, they did at least create a few chances. Adam Oakes went closest on 53 minutes when he cut in from the right and unleashed a left foot drive that hit the bar and bounced to safety. Hurst shot wide, and Kharas had the ball pinched off his toes when he looked to shoot from an angle. Young also had a shot from the edge of the area go just wide.
North End were making problems for themselves though, giving the ball away in vital areas. The ever dangerous Fildes and Atherton were giving them a torrid time in defence, and North End sat off and allowed them to turn and run at them.
With ten minutes left the ball fell to Gorton at the edge of the area, and when his poke goal wards just went the wrong side of the post, you finally felt the game was up for Glossop. Despite Kharas hitting the top of the bar in the last minute, a goal would have put a gloss on a poor performance that would not have been deserved.
No arguements from me on any of that.
ReplyDeleteOur passing was dreadful all night - how does that work on a flat pitch playing a team wearing yellow!
The midfield were non-existent -
does Rick Bailey (and Morro) really make that much difference?
What planet was Jamie Kay on?
The only positive was Kharas - worked as hard as anyone on the pitch, created something out of nothing late on when he hit the bar and was a handful all night.
Glad to see the back of Runcorn for another season.
I felt for Adam Trennery, brought on to add a bit of width, and Jamie ignored him all night, always passing inside.
ReplyDelete