FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Sunday 21st September 2008

What a difference one week makes in football, last week against opposition from two league’s above Bacup Borough put in a top drawer performance and fully deserved their victory, sadly the complete opposite came from this FA VASE defeat.

On a glorious hot afternoon at Wincham Park the visitors started well and were unlucky not to have taken an early lead when Runcorn conceded a free kick, Matthew Cross took the kick which Dominic Slavin shot inches wide of the post, another early chance followed when Nicky Taylor found Tommy Taylor in a wide position, Taylor put in a quality ball which his strike partner Slavin headed goal bound but Ross Boyd tipped the effort over the bar for a corner.

At this stage of the game Linnets were very much second best, however on twelve minutes Michael Young produced a goal from nothing which seemed to stun the young Bacup team, the ball was delivered from the Runcorn left, Young was given to much space from his marker and by this he struck his shot well into the corner of the net giving the 6ft plus frame of on loan keeper Lee Bracey no chance.

Three minutes later Bacup had a great chance to get back on level terms, Tommy Turner proved too strong for the last defender working himself into a 1v1 with the Linnets keeper, Taylor shot across Boyd in goal but agonisingly saw his effort whistle past the post, at the opposite end Runcorn forced a succession of corners from which Young had lost Matthew Andrews earning himself an opportunity which Bracey saved.

On thirty five minutes it was Young again causing Andrews a problem before delivering a quality ball in which got deflected against the post before coming back and striking the unlucky Marley before going into the net, football purist state to win cups one needs luck, well on the evidence of this goal Runcorn should order their suits for Wembley now.

The second half brought very little in way of chances for the visitors as Runcorn took the initiative, one of only a couple of chances came as a result of defender Ryan Marley winning the ball before pushing on to release Turner who’s effort was well saved by Boyd, this and a late Lee Ellis effort which went well wide were the only second half chances whilst Runcorn capitalised on mistakes coming from the Bacup midfield, on sixty six minutes Kyle Harrop in possession of the ball passed direct to a Runcorn player squandering possession cheaply, the ball was knocked wide before being crossed in to Ged Courtney who had created space away from Davey Luker to smash the ball past Lee Bracey, four minutes later it was four, this again came from sloppy play from Bacup, first of all Matthew Cross struck the advancing player who ran in behind before finding Telfer advancing through midfield, who then played the ball wide right for the advancing Young who’s cross deceived Bracey looping over him into the far side of the net.

After the disappointment of going out of this year’s FA Vase competition we spoke to Manager Brent Peters who had this to say “Football is about attitudes and preparation as well as the technical ability in ones play. For me all those ingredients on this day were sadly lacking from Bacup Borough, it seemed to me that following last week’s terrific effort that my lads felt they had to just turn up and winning would be a formality, that attitude as cost them and the club big time, Runcorn were well prepared mentally, obviously up for the game more than us, probably more so after seeing our win against Cammell Laird, Runcorn’s mentality got them the result they fully deserved, as for my lads they were a huge disappointment, our passing was wayward to the point that it did lead to Runcorn’s third goal, our marking in the defensive third was poor again costing us the first, & third goal, whilst both were good strikes we were know where near tight enough, Runcorn’s second and fourth goals had an element of luck attached to them although both good balls in from wide area’s something our wide players failed to do all afternoon, equally I must question my wide players lacking in their defensive duties allowing crosses to be delivered from the flanks, their second, third and fourth were delivered from wide areas. Without taking anything away from Runcorn I know the quality, the work ethics that my team posses, this team have set high standards, sadly those standards dropped today big time, I would like to say that we were on top of our game but we have got well and truly beaten by a better side on the day, yes Runcorn were better on the day not because we were on top of our game because sadly we were not, Runcorn’s attitude and preparation were spot on, had ours have been without being unfair to our opponents, we would have had far too much for them to handle, instead it was a case of after the lord mayor’s show, something that these young lads must learn just cannot happen “

Team: Lee Bracey, Davey Luker, Matthew Cross, Ryan Marley, Matthew Andrews, (Martin Cosgrave), Warren Collier, Matthew Hampson, Nicky Taylor, Kyle Harrop (Lee Ellis), Dominic Slavin (Jamie Rother), Tommy Turner

Subs Not Used: Ben Blundell, Steve Sheils

Goals:

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