Runcorn Linnets 1-2 Southport

Runcorn Linnets 1-2 Southport

Pre-Season Friendly

Tuesday 13th March 2021

This wasn't my first option for a random midweek game nor was it my second choice either but every now and again it makes for a pleasant change to wander off the beaten track and explore new territory.

The result was a fair reflection of what unfolded. Despite Runcorn Linnets taking a well-earned early lead, Southport battled back to emerge victorious courtesy of goals by the excellent Connor Woods (who was the Sandgrounders' best performer in my eyes) and then Dylan Vassallo in the second half.

My initial plan for the night was to venture up to Spennymoor Town - only for their game to be cancelled due to a positive Covid-19 case. 'Plan B' - a trip to Barton Town versus Rossington Main had already fallen by the wayside for the exact same reason before a quick browse of the fixtures then led to indecision. Eventually, the offer of a lift to Merseyside and a visit to Runcorn proved to be the clincher and within a couple of hours we'd arrived at the quaint Millbank Linnets Stadium which is handily located right next to a retail park which includes a pub.

Southport nowadays compete two divisions higher than the Linnets though at times you could hardly tell the difference between the two sides.

The visitors had a lot of early possession but weren't able to force anything clear-cut. Instead, it was Runcorn who looked far more dangerous with their No.7, Dapo Olarewaju, causing mayhem with his pace down the left flank against Southport's trialist right-back who he easily beat on several occasions.

Opportunities were then shared at either end with Jordan Archer and A.Trialist going close for Southport, whilst Joe Lynch forced a save from Cameron Mason at the other end before somehow heading over from the rebound.

Halfway through the first half, Runcorn then took the lead. It was Ryan Brooke who was officially credited with the goal, having been allowed to stretch his legs down the left channel and cut into the box where his close-range attempt took a wicked deflection off the trialist right-back which ultimately took the ball past a wrong-footed Mason at his near-post.

Southport responded well and went within a whisker of an equaliser on 34 minutes when Jack Doyle's curling effort was tipped onto the upright and an equaliser soon followed. The Linnets cheaply conceded possession whilst trying to play out from the back, losing the ball straight away on the edge of their own box, and after a lay-off, Connor Woods picked his spot perfectly to make it 1-1.

As is normal for pre-season, the interval saw a plethora of changes from both teams and the Sandgrounders produced a much more assured display in the second period.

Within minutes of the re-start, Runcorn's substitute 'keeper had almost committed a huge gaffe when his poor clearance fell straight to Woods who immediately attempted a speculative half-volley which needed a superb save. The wide player set-up substitute Niall Watson only a couple of minutes later but the frontman was unable to convert when he ought to have done better.

At times, it was almost a battle between the two No.7s with Olarewaju and Woods undoubtedly the two players on the pitch who were standing out above the others.

On 55 minutes, the net seemed destined to ripple once more when slack Runcorn marking at a set-piece resulted in Woods being able to head goalwards from an unmarked position though his effort was once again met with a very good save from the home 'keeper.

Olarewaju was then forced off having pulled up in obvious pain, with suspicions of a hamstring injury, in a one-on-one battle on the flank with Southport's right-back and it was amidst a period where goalmouth action was sparse.

In the final quarter-of-an-hour or so, the Sandgrounds rallied once more - with Woods looking still looking every bit as dangerous when he cut inside from the right. Eventually, their pressure was rewarded when a well-worked passing move culminated in Dylan Vassallo drilling a low drive beyond the 'keeper from Marcus Carver's neat lay-off on the edge of the box.

Runcorn responded well to the setback - breaking into the box and forcing a half-chance of their own within a couple of minutes of going behind, but ultimately their further efforts proved futile as Southport held on to record a deserved win on the night.