President's Cup semi-final, first-leg:

Blyth Spartans 2 Runcorn 1

RUNCORN were unable to add to their three wins in the North East this season but have only a one goal deficit to overturn when the second-leg of this President's Cup semi-final is staged on April 7 at Canal Street.

In a repeat of last season's final, which Blyth Spartans won by a 4-2 aggregate having won both legs by a single goal, Runcorn battled bravely in driving rain to keep the tie alive.

On a pitch that became little more than a quagmire, the Linnets got off to a tremendous start with a goal after just nine minutes.

Darren Oliver pounced on the edge of the box to lash a fierce drive into the roof of the net.

It proved to be the catalyst for a frantic opening 15 minutes and an entertaining first-half as Blyth stormed back into the game.

They almost levelled within two minutes when Willie Moat's corner was cleared back to the striker by the head of Gary Randles.

Moat's return cross then saw Oliver clear John Gamble's header off the line only for Spartans to find the net from the resultant corner.

Steve McGargle's flag-kick saw Blyth skipper, Gamble, head home from close-in though Runcorn keeper, Mark Morris, protested he had been impeded by Gustavo Di Lella.

Paul Fleming got past Michael Farrey on the right and his low cross was turned past his own post by Gamble.

Randles then headed past the post but it was the home side that should have taken the lead when Kona Hislop's cross found Moat unmarked, eight yards out, but the front-man headed over the bar.

John Tinkler's 22 yard goal-bound shot struck Tony Ward and Hislop created space for himself just inside the box only to shoot straight at Morris.

Runcorn had another scare when Fleming cleared a McGargle corner off the line after a goal-mouth scramble, with Morris booked for dissent after complaining he had again been baulked when attempting to come for the cross.

It was all Blyth pressure at this stage and yet another goal-line clearance from Fleming prevented Willie Wilson's header from finding the net.

Runcorn had found it difficult to cope with a succession of home corners and it was another McGargle flag-kick that resulted in the winning goal after 40 minutes.

Central defender, Gamble, was again the

Beneficiary

this time latching on to a half clearance to drill an 18 yard shot through a crowded penalty area.

Gamble was only denied his hat-trick when his powerful header from Di Lella's corner brought a fine full length save from Morris.

As conditions deteriorated Runcorn tightened up defensively, through Morris had to be alert to hold on to Di Lella's 20 yard drive.

A Steve Walker push on Paul McNally allowed goal scorer, Oliver, to try his luck from 40 yards but the effort flashed well wide of Jones' left-hand post.

Runcorn grew in confidence and from the second of two successive Oliver corners centre-back, Peter Ellis, was agonisingly close to a 73rd minute equaliser with a back-post header.

Carl Ruffer's 25 yard shot was easily held by Jones before Morris had one more anxious moment in the dying minutes when a well struck Farrey shot from the corner of the box saw him fist the ball to safety.

Runcorn Mark Morris, Danny Salt, Tony Ward, Darren Oliver, Peter Ellis, Carl Ruffer (c), Paul Fleming, Paul McNally, Richard Irving, Gary Randles, Liam Watson, Subs: Matty Brooks, Danny Worthington, Alan Blair.

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