Athersley Rec 1 Runcorn Town 4

By Paul Watson

RUNCORN Town progressed to the first round proper of the FA Carlsberg Vase with a 4-1 victory at Northern Counties East outfit Athersley Recreation.

The win maintained the Weston Point outfit’s unbeaten run in cup competitions this season, and sets up an away tie at either fellow North West Counties League side Nelson or Northern League side West Allotment Celtic in early November.

Athersley had beaten two North West Counties League sides in last season’s competition, but the prospect of them adding a third was made harder after eight minutes with Lee Bennett dismissed after a two-footed lunge on Mark Keddie.

After 17 minutes Jack Webb curled in an effort from 25-yards which found the top left corner with goalkeeper Penn well beaten.

Keddie headed wide and Webb shot over when well placed but the second goal arrived after 27 minutes when Spearitt’s cross was tapped in by Shanley at the back post.

To an extent Athersley’s attempts to shore up an exposed defence worked, with Town’s chances for the rest of the half limited to a Breen shot which hit the right hand post, while at the other end keeper Stuart Plant was a virtual spectator.

The home side regrouped and five minutes into the half Daniel Joynes netted at the second attempt after Plant’s initial excellent save.

Keddie was struggling to shake off the knock that was caused by the early sending off but he did well just before the hour mark to get on the end of Shanley’s flick on, with Penn making a good save.

The home side came close to levelling on 65 minutes when Adam White shot wide when well placed.

The third Town goal, which effectively killed off the game, came after 74 minutes.

Shanley made a run across the box to try and create space for a shot with Daniel Monfred’s foul giving away a direct free kick.

Toone curled his shot into the top corner.

With the game all but won, Simon Burton gave some playing time to Chris Thompson, Danny Clarke and Jack Irlam.

Town kept possession well in the closing stages and won a penalty with two minutes left after Penn clobbered into Webb, with the home keeper’s red card seeing the home side reduced to nine men.

Toone made no mistake from the spot to complete the scoring, with Town’s love affair with the Vase continuing into November at least.