Liverpool 4-1 Runcorn
A strong Liverpool XI produced an impressive display to beat off a
determined challenge from Runcorn at Canal Street. The biggest winners on the night were undoubtedly Runcorn who
boosted their chances of staying at their Canal Street ground thanks to a healthy crowd of 2,531. This fixture was a gesture by Liverpool to help
raise funds to keep Runcorn at their Canal Street ground.
Gérard Houllier paraded Pegguy Arphexad, Titi Camara,
Vladimir Smicer, Rigobert Song and Djimi Traore, with Camara in particular delighting the crowd with his
individual skills.
Highlight of the evening was a virtuoso performance by
Liverpool’s Republic of Ireland Under-21 international winger Ritchie Partridge. Although he didn’t get on the
score sheet he entertained the crowd with his electric pace and dribbling skills.
Liverpool almost opened the scoring in the third minute when a trademark Camara back-heel let in Smicer who was denied a certain goal
by a superb interception from Runcorn' s Tony Ward.
The home side then showed their attacking prowess and skipper Paul McNally skipped past Song down the left before curling a shot just over
Arphexad' s bar.
French left back Grégory Vignal also caught the eye for the Reds both in
defence and attack. He almost scored too when a scorching low drive from 30 yards was deflected just wide.
Partridge then showed his trickery down the right and was unlucky to
see his low cross cleared from the six yard box, but Liverpool’s pressure began to tell and they were rewarded with the opening goal on 21
minutes.
Smicer’s searching long ball sent Camara racing down the right. He did
extremely well to keep the ball in and found Alan Navarro who produced an explosive finish into the top corner beyond the reach of Runcorn
keeper Mark Winstanley.
Another Smicer-Camara link almost produced a second goal, but the Guinea striker’s low drive was brilliantly kept out by Winstanley.
Almost on the stroke of half time Runcorn equalised against the run of
play. Mike Smith curled in the corner from the left and found John McAllister who leaped high above Traore to send a bullet header past
Arphexad.
The second half started fairly even with both sides close to an opening.
Firstly Smicer’s cross from the right was met by Reds Under-19 striker Ian Armstrong, who was unfortunate to see his effort on the stretch
drift just wide.
Stephen Wright then called Traore into defensive duty at the other end
when he made a tremendous interception to stop McAllister going through after a slip.
The Reds regained the lead though on 58 minutes following a spell of
frantic pressure on the Runcorn goal. A sweet turn by Camara fed Armstrong who was denied by a fine point blank stop from substitute
keeper Mark O’Conner.
Then from the resulting corner O’Conner produced an equally good save
to keep out Michael Foley’s 20-yard curled effort, but the pressure was just too much for Runcorn. Camara drifted out wide to the right and
produced a pinpoint cross to the head of Armstrong who made no mistake.
Runcorn came straight back at Liverpool and had a glorious chance for
the equaliser when they were awarded a penalty on 63 minutes after Vignal was judged to have pushed Mike Moseley. However, Pegguy
Arphexad is an expert when it comes to saving penalties and he kept up his reputation from his Leicester days, making a fine save by diving to
the right to keep out Smith’s spot-kick.
The crowd wanted a goal from Camara to round off their night and he almost obliged. A typical run saw him burst past three defenders before
he was pushed wide and then set up Armstrong whose shot was blocked.
That was to be the last action for Camara who left the field along with
Smicer to a standing ovation on 65 minutes, with youngsters John Miles and Chris Thompson given a run-out.
Both Liverpool substitutes made a good impression. Minutes after coming
on Miles almost created a goal for Armstrong who saw his effort brilliantly cleared off the line by Mike Tomlinson.
Partridge deserved a goal for his contribution on the night and he almost
produced what would have been a goal to cherish. Blistering pace like a greyhound down the left, he cut past four defenders and curled an effort
destined for the top corner, only to see O’Conner make another fine stop.
Liverpool were not to be denied though and scored two goals in quick
succession to round off an entertaining evening. On 79 minutes Vignal' s excellent cross from the left found the diving Stephen Wright who sent a
header past O’Conner.
Straight from the restart Thompson ran through to score a fine individual
goal to make it 4-1. The score-line was a little harsh on Runcorn who ran out of steam near the end, but they can take credit for giving the Reds
a good workout.
A good night’s entertainment from Liverpool and the beneficiaries were
Runcorn who took a step closer to saving their Canal Street ground.
Liverpool: Arphexad, Song, Vignal, Wright, Traore, Navarro, Smicer (Thompson 65), Camara (Miles 65), Armstrong, Foley, Partridge.
Subs not used, Crookes, Otsemobor.
Runcorn: Winstanley (O’Conner 55), Ward (Ryder 32), Ness (Watson 75),
Price (Nolan 66), Ellis, McNally (Moseley 49), Tomlinson, Benson (Lunt 69), McAllister, Whalley (Salt 66),
Smith (Chantler 75).
Attendance: 2,531.
Scorers: Navarro, John McAllister (Runcorn), Ian Armstrong, Stephen Wright, Chris Thompson