POTTER MOLDS VICTORY FOR RUNCORN

NEWCASTLE TOWN 1 RUNCORN LINNETS 2
EVOSTIK 1 WEST @ LYME VALLEY STADIUM
6 APRIL 2019 --- 3PM

ACTION FROM NEWCASTLE V RUNCRON LINNETS WITH VISITNG KEEPER AT FULL STRETCH

A cheeky overhead kick from Freddie Potter with three minutes of 'normal time' remaining secured the goal that gave Runcorn Linnets a vital three points in their promotion chasing season.  The
visitors made hard work of it against a stubborn and resolute Newcastle Town who had shown little as an attacking force but it was the visitors lack of a clinical finish that looked to be denying them three points that was until Potter sent the green and yellow army quite literally potty.
New Saturday same story all standing to Derby but the normal bus on wheels to Stoke this time out would grace us with 2 carriages, I know say it quietly somebody at EMT may not know!  Arrival in the smashing old station that is Stoke on Trent saw a regular connection made from outside for Newcastle Under Lyme town centre via the old industrial Stoke town centre a shadow of its former self.  The 15 minute journey and 1pm arrival allowed a brief look around an impressive little town centre and research allowed for a visit to Smiths Chippy for a further sampling.  The impressive sign declaring 'money cant but you happiness but you can but fish and chips and that's more or less the same', who can argue with that one.

MAIN STAND AT NEWCASTLE TOWN

The walk to the ground was about twenty minutes through the Lyme Brook Valley Park which was symbolised by the notice boards being unreadable due to graffiti, over long grass and a selection of dogs visiting.  It should be a complimentary area to the town but looked uncared for although
I guess its a budget cut austerity issue it is a potentially great asset though.  Towards the top end and our destination shines out with beyond it rugby and cricket grounds this area looks the better cared for part of the recreational area.

A THING OF BEAUTY

Newcastle Town and their ground create a unique or is it obscure facility with a steep velodrome around the pitch which sits in a bowl and the stands sit flush to the oval walkway above the cycle track.  The club had been on the 'to do list' but sub-sectioned along with the 'running track' clubs but after many positives from other visitors todays was the time to grab the proverbial bull by the horns and I must say it was a favourable impression I came away with today.  Certainly in places, behind the goals, you are a long way away but the height all around the pitch does make up for this with a commanding view of proceedings.

FLAGS, WRIGHTS PIES, CYCLE TRACK AND OH YES FOOTBALL

A friendly welcome on the turnstiles was given and then after purchase of programme and goalden goal ticket the circuit, quite literally began.  Climbing the steps to stand on top of the cycle track the walkway takes you around to the far side with a stand of around three step height beyond the far goal and back to the business end the deep but narrow stand is the main selling point with to its side by the half way line two small enclosures and a hospitality cabin behind these are the changing rooms and the clubs bar and of course the catering facilities.  The initial entrance is also of note as you come in at pitch level but for viewing purposes everything is above you via a climb.
Noteworthy here is that the bar was opened by Sir Stanley Mathews in 1991 and amongst a few plaques on the wall outside was one for Tommy Godwin being very worn and difficult to read I decided to look him up and found a cyclist from Stoke and obviously the major relevance to the velodrome here at the stadium.  Tommy was born on 1912 in Fenton, Stoke on Trent and at the age of 12 took a delivery round for a local grocers to his heart which of course undertaken with a bike which saw his interest in cycling grow.  At 14 he took part in a 25 mile time trial, during his increasing mileage intake he achieved in 1939 a world record in yearly mileage of 75,065 and just to top that in 500 days he completed 100,000 miles at an average of 200 miles a day, a remarkable feat.  Interestingly Tommy worked for a pie makers in Burslem at one stage and became a vegetarian and was also tea total.

5.9 FOR ATRISTIC IMPRESSION

Although there is always some unknown fact or personality discovered on the hopping circuit we were here for the main event and with around 50% of the crowd made up with Linnets fans it would be as ever a lively afternoon, for on our previous crossing of paths they are always passionate and committed to the cause and today I would even make the case for them getting their side over the line with the late goal.
The first half was about Linnets trying to break down the Newcastle defence and it didn't happen they went close though as early as five minutes when Ronnnie McCarthy saw his 25 yard free kick strike the post there were also penalty claims turned down before the interval.

1-0 TO RUNCORN LINNETS AS HICKEY CONVERTS A TRICKY ONE

The breakthrough came just ten minutes into the second half Kristian Holt headed back across goal and at the far post Antony Hickey a yard out avoided contact with his hand the ball striking the left side of his chest and for a moment stuck on the line as it bounced up he avoided any potential further contact with his hand and as though under threats from the Runcorn player it spun back over the line. 
The opener had been a long time coming with patience and hard work but within three minutes Town were level a long through off the right found the head of Chris Smith who rose to beat Scott Thomas.
The last twenty minutes saw the game open up with Hickey missing a sitter when clean through firing wide of the mark at the other end a joint header from Joshua Glover and Ben Fraser saw Thomas push the ball onto the bar.  As the game opened up at last, Jordan Cole forced Thomas into another save while for Runcorn the bar came to the rescue of Newcastle.

HICKEY TO WRAP IT UP NOT THIS TIME

The clock was running down as Newcastle looked to play out time one final push was required and the winner came for the tangerine clad, not literally, visitors with the ball hovering around the danger zone it fell to substitute Potter who with back to goal tried the extraordinary with an overhead kick 8 yards out he found the bottom corner of the Newcastle goal.  Queue scenes of wild celebration and if the players had the strength at this stage to scale the cycle track they would have been with the fans however on this occasion both stood at a distance celebrating the three points that very much keep the visitors season alive.

LINNETS STRIKE THE BAR BEFORE THE LATE WINNER

An intriguing ground with a friendly bunch all around, the lively Runcorn Linnets supporter portray a love of their 'cooperative' fans lead club and I shall watch their closing games to check on promotion progress.
Return bus 25 to the station all went well and we were away from the Potteries just after 5.30pm and back at back at 7pm from a very enjoyable jaunt.