Buildbase FA Vase Third Round - Runcorn Linnets 2 Marske United 3
Sat 2nd December 2017 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
Despite a stirring second half comeback, Runcorn Linnets' hopes of progress in the Vase were ended by Northern League side Marske United at the Millbank Linnets Stadium.
Three down with 15 minutes to go, two goals in two minutes from Daniel O'Brien and Antony Hickey suddenly handed Linnets a lifeline, but in the end the visitors held out for a repeat of the 3-2 win they recorded at AFC Darwen in the First Round of the competition.
The architect of Linnets' downfall was the visitors' Craig Gott, who scored twice and chipped in with an assist for the other goal in his side's victory.
In an entertaining first half that swung from end to end, Marske took the lead on the stroke of half time when Gott curled in a superb free kick to edge his side ahead.
The visitors then took control with two goals in the space of two minutes just on the hour, firstly when Gott crossed from the right and Liam Carling headed home from a yard out.
Less than two minutes later a counter attack from a Linnets corner led to Gott being brought down in the box, and Gott took the resulting penalty himself, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 3-0
But Linnets never gave up, and after Daniel O'Brien converted a penalty moments after Linnets had hit the post, Anthony Hickey added a second with a fine shot over the keeper to set up an exciting last ten minutes.
But despite laying siege to the Marske goal, Linnets just failed to get a dramatic equaliser, and it's the Northern League side who progress into the next round.
Runcorn Linnets manager Michael Ellison said:
"I felt in the first half we were the better side, we had a number of good situations and opportunities and just couldn't find our final ball.
"I thought the decision for a free kick for their first goal was a poor decision, but to be fair, their lad took the free kick really well.
"At half time we said the key thing was to keep the back door shut, because I knew we'd score, we are one of the highest scorers in the league and we always score goals.
"But second half, we had a couple of lapses in concentration, and once we went three down we were just chasing the game.
"We nearly did it and nearly pulled it off, but it was just a little bit much for us.
"Credit to them, I spoke to some of their people after the game and they said how impressed they had been with the way we had played".
Buildbase FA Vase Third Round - Runcorn Linnets 2 Marske United 3
Sat 2nd December 2017 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
Despite a stirring second half comeback, Runcorn Linnets' hopes of progress in the Vase were ended by Northern League side Marske United at the Millbank Linnets Stadium.
Three down with 15 minutes to go, two goals in two minutes from Daniel O'Brien and Antony Hickey suddenly handed Linnets a lifeline, but in the end the visitors held out for a repeat of the 3-2 win they recorded at AFC Darwen in the First Round of the competition.
The architect of Linnets' downfall was the visitors' Craig Gott, who scored twice and chipped in with an assist for the other goal in his side's victory.
In an entertaining first half that swung from end to end, Marske took the lead on the stroke of half time when Gott curled in a superb free kick to edge his side ahead.
The visitors then took control with two goals in the space of two minutes just on the hour, firstly when Gott crossed from the right and Liam Carling headed home from a yard out.
Less than two minutes later a counter attack from a Linnets corner led to Gott being brought down in the box, and Gott took the resulting penalty himself, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 3-0
But Linnets never gave up, and after Daniel O'Brien converted a penalty moments after Linnets had hit the post, Anthony Hickey added a second with a fine shot over the keeper to set up an exciting last ten minutes.
But despite laying siege to the Marske goal, Linnets just failed to get a dramatic equaliser, and it's the Northern League side who progress into the next round.
Runcorn Linnets manager Michael Ellison said:
"I felt in the first half we were the better side, we had a number of good situations and opportunities and just couldn't find our final ball.
"I thought the decision for a free kick for their first goal was a poor decision, but to be fair, their lad took the free kick really well.
"At half time we said the key thing was to keep the back door shut, because I knew we'd score, we are one of the highest scorers in the league and we always score goals.
"But second half, we had a couple of lapses in concentration, and once we went three down we were just chasing the game.
"We nearly did it and nearly pulled it off, but it was just a little bit much for us.
"Credit to them, I spoke to some of their people after the game and they said how impressed they had been with the way we had played".
