It had been bucketing rain all day in Yorkshire and yet the referee had no hesitation in deciding that this match was definitely on. It was still falling when play commenced but it stopped early on and the playing surface was excellent - testament to groundsman Dave Wakefield.

Curtis Woodhouse was able to name exactly the same team as the one which had won convincingly at Mossley the previous Saturday

Jack Walters put in a teasing cross in the first minute but keeper Bayleigh Passant held it easily. Donald Chimalilo found Jake day in space who in turn moved the ball onto Alfie Beestin but his 18 yarder was again well held.

Chimalilo fouled McCarthy just outside the box on ten minutes but a well worked set piece from the free kick failed to penetrate and it was then McCarthy’s turn to clatter Ioan Evans as Taddy cleared the danger. A Lebrun Mbeka throw found Andy Milne who nodded on for Jake Day to head goalward but an acrobatic save from Passant kept the sheet clean.

The match was already becoming end to end when Alfie Beestin burst into the box and drilled the ball across the goal line but Runcorn cleared under pressure. John Lufudu chased down the right flank before being abruptly floored but Walters free kick was well held by the keeper.

The visitors had a penalty shout waived away as skipper Kyle Hamid hit the ground whilst at the other end Beestin’s through ball was just too far for Day to capitalise. Alex Wiles, a rock in mid field, sent a long ball for Chimalilo but whilst Taddy were getting forward the Linnets back four were stopping any real penetration in the final third.

It was much the same story for Runcorn with Ioan Evans cutting out Sherlock’s pinpoint cross whilst the two resulting corners also found the Tad back four resolute with eventually Michael Ingham hoofing the ball up field.

Andy Milne did well to block the influential Ryan Wade and was a little unlucky to be ignored by referee Dawson when he was clattered in the box from a corner. Chimalilo saw yellow for an uncharacteristic foul whilst Wade was on a one on one with Ingham but
completely miss hit the shot
Kevin Santos tried a spectacular solo run on 33 minutes but Passant got a foot on the ball to deny The Brewers best chance so far.

It looked as if it would be all square at the break but Chimalilo put Taddy in front with the last kick off the half from 25 yards. Seizing on a pass from Beestin, he calmly turned and shot in the same movement curling the ball into near corner of the net. Passant was not happy but there was nothing he or his defence could have done to stop the shot. 1 – 0

It was a close first half – Taddy’s lead would certainly be challenged by the Linnets after the break!

Lufudu stopped a charge down the left as Runcorn set out their stall. Aley burst down the right and screwed the ball back to Wade but the shot was wayward. The Brewers withstood the onslaught and a free kick from Ioan Evans found Chimalilo but his close effort was deflected for a corner.

On 53 minutes the visitors broke on the right side but McCarthy was foiled by an amazing one-handed reflex save from Ingham – the ball spun away needing only a tap in but Lufudu was there . It came back to the Linnets marksman but he cleared the cross bar.

At this stage of the half Runcorn were looking slightly more dangerous. On the hour mark a textbook free kick from Aley landed on the head of Wade but with just Ingham in front of him he nodded the ball over. Hamid was booked for a foul on Wiles ( he really does pick up more than his fair share of bad tackles), Ingham saved well from Brown low at the far post, whilst on 71 minutes Wiles was up ended again, this time by Dobie. Walters free kick was picked up by Mbeka but the shot was high.

It was back where it started now- end to end football. Walters corner was cleared before Mbeka could get his shot away whilst Wade was through from a defensive splitting pass from McCarthy but Walters got a toe to it before he could test Ingham. Evans cleared as McCarthy steamed in

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Day met Walters corner only to see it headed off the line, and then was off target having been put through from Beestin. Beestin’s shot was oh so close before three minutes added time were signalled. Chimalilo tried to lob Passant without success but Taddy had done enough and secured all three points.

The third league win in 11 days sees the Brewers up to second in the table just four points behind Workington but with a game in hand. Taddy do, however, have the best goal difference in the entire league.

On Saturday they travel for the first time ever to AFC Liverpool who ground share at Bootle. This is for a place in the preliminary round of the Buildbase FA Trophy. Kick Off is at 3.00 pm

Barton Willmore Sponsors Man of the Match - John Lufudu

Attendance 221

Ingham, Lufudu, Walters, Mbeka, Evans, Milne, Chimalilo, Wiles, Day, Beestin, Santos (Rose), Subs not used Burn, Pattinson, Oladsun

Report from John Clothier Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley