Runcorn Win Penalty Prize

An exciting LCFA Senior Cup tie between AFC Liverpool and Runcorn Town went to the wire on Tuesday evening, with the visitors going through following a penalty shootout.

The game was end to end from the first whistle and had so many twists and turns. Runcorn took the lead on 14 minutes, when a long throw from the left was headed on and Connor Spiers had the easy task of firing home unmarked on the back post. AFC worked hard to get back in the game, having an appeal for a penalty turned down and then the visiting keeper was forced into a good save from the resulting shot. Elliot Taylor shot wide from distance on 23 minutes and three minutes later AFC drew level. It was another long throw that did the trick, as Matty Brown's throw into the box was not dealt with and fell to Deacon Smalley to blast the ball home.

Deacon gets his 1st goal for AFC

Sadly for AFC they only remained level for less than two minutes, as a long ball was misjudged by the defence and Spiers ran through to calmly finish and claim his 2nd of the match. Spiers went close again with a shot from the right edge of the area but it went over the bar. In the first minute of added time, Caleb jones curled a cross in to Taylor who controlled the ball, turned and finished well to ensure that the sides went in level at half-time.

If anything, the pace of the game increased again in the 2nd half. Taylor shot straight at the keeper and moments later, Caleb Jones hit an effort wide, as AFC began to get the upper hand. Jones went close again forcing the keeper to push the ball round the post. Ebbrell in the visitor's goal, was called into action again, when saving well from a Mark Madden header. Joel Skillen had a shot from the edge of the box that lacked the power to test the keeper fully. In the 83rd minute, the ball fell for Elliot Taylor out towards the left touchline, he cut in and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner, for what looked the winning goal. However, two minutes from the end of normal time, Spiers picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and hit a wonderful strike past Parkinson, to complete his hat-trick and ensure that the tie would be decided on penalties.

It was the visitors who came out on top in the spot kick lottery, as only Liam Paton out of the four AFC penalty takers was successful. Always a cruel way to lose a game and particularly so after such a fine 2nd half performance, but credit must go to a strong Runcorn Town side who kept going until the very end.

The Non-League Reds are back in Cup action on Friday evening at the Berry Street Garage Stadium. This time it is another local derby in the Macron Cup, against Maghull in what is sure to be an exciting encounter. Please get down to support the lads if you can. It will be greatly appreciated.

FINAL SCORE - AFC Liverpool 3 v 3 Runcorn Town (1-3 on pens)

LINE-UP - 1. Parkinson 2. Wright-Ocana 3. Giblin 4. Brown 5. Fisher-Jones (c) 6. Smalley

7. Jones 8. Rooney 9. Taylor 10. Madden 11. Davies

Subs used - Skillen, Lancaster, Hinnigan, Paton, Jamieson