Oscar grabs equaliser as Linnets dig deep for interim boss
Oscar Wright is congratulated on his goal by its creator Noah Roberts, left. Picture by Peter Gallagher Headley.
Runcorn Linnets 2
Congleton Town 2
Reoort by Dave Bettley
Managerless Runcorn displayed welcome strength in adversity to pull back for a draw under caretaker Jacques Welsh at APEC Taxis Stadium.
There was no instant cure for their troubles but commitment and fight were enough to secure a point against fellow strugglers Congleton, who had led against the run of play.
Runcorn averted the threat of a third successive defeat thanks to the enthusiasm of youth.
Two teenage substitutes combined to put the home side back on terms in the 73rd minute and give a scent of victory, which the hosts weren't quite able to follow.
Noah Roberts got in the way of an attempted Congleton clearance after a Runcorn corner from the right.
It enabled him to gain possession and cross to the far post, where Oscar Wright was lurking to grab the first goal of his loan spell from Morecambe.
Conor Harwood is upended for the penalty which brought the opening goal for Runcorn. Pictures by Neil Thornton.
Welsh was extending his leadership beyond the club captaincy with an interim managerial role after Michael Ellison's midweek resignation.
His team selection showed two notable absentes in Matty Whittingham and the injured Elliot Morris.
With Congleton's home and change kits both clashing with Runcorn's traditinal Yellow & Green, Linnets donned purple and navy colours and their guests lime green.
Weather conditions were a real mixture with sunny spells being interspersed with dark clouds and heavy showers.
The constant was a strong wind, which Congleton had in their favour to start with.
Linnets began the brighter, Bears 'keeper Dave Parton soon being summoned into action with a full-length save from Linnets' top scorer Nick Rushton.
Matty Rain, Sean Miller and Rushton then combined to get Conor Harwood in behind Congleton's defence. But the striker's shot was blocked.
Sean Miller steps up from the spot to put Linnets ahead . Picture by Ben Jackson
Runcorn got the breakthrough they had been promising in the 23rd minute.
Rain's cross from the left tempted Parton to advance. But the 'keeper connected with Harwood, instead of the ball, and Miller snapped up the resulting penalty for his first goal of the campaign.
Runcorn's No.10 cekebrates his first goal of the season, having missed the early weeks due to summer surgery. Picture by Peter Gallagher-Headley
As Linnets looked to turn the screw, McGee teed up a Miller pass for himself but screwed his effort wide - before being foiled by a crucial
challenge by Bears stalwart midfielder Peter Williams.
It was enough to prevent the Runcorn player from getting a header on target from an inviting cross by right back Ollie Southern.
It had been nearly all Runcorn but their failure to consolidate the lead proved costly.
Defending from long throw-ins has become an Achilles heel in recent weeks and Congleton centre forward Rob Stevenson's delivery from the left brought a headed equaliser after beng helped on in the air by Bears skipper Julius Ndene.
It was credited initially to Joe Woolley by both clubs and although Kieran Knapper was subsequently named as the scorer on Football Web Pages, Runcorn's video footage suggests it was Woolley's goal.
Interviewed after the game, the Bears frontman seemed to think he had got a touch, although there were also suggestions of an OG.
The Northern Premier League hasn't attributed the goal as yet.
Nick Rushton advances past the Bears' defence. Picture by Peter Gallagher-Headley
Knapper was one of two former Linnets widemen in the visiting ranks.
The other, Taylor Kennerley was substituted early on, along at the same time as Runcorn's Rain, who seemed to have suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury.
Scott Holding came on to play in central defence alongside Jack Byrne, who was making his home debut, with Kian Bell moving out to replace Rain at left back.
Congleton's 36th-minute leveller affected Runcorn's equilibrium and the visitors had their best spell of a game, which Runcorn would also largely dominate after the break.
A Woolley snapshot was a rare attempt by the visitors in open play but Calvin Hare got down to save it, diving to his right.
Harry McGee gets in a header towards goal for Linnets. Picture by Neil Thornton
Normal service was restored in the second half as Runcorn pushed and probed but without carving out the kind of opportunities they had in the first.
Harwood, and later his right-wing replacement Lewis Bell, got in crosses but nothing materialised.
It looked like being the same old story for Runcorn in both penalty boxes when Congleton added another set-piece goal to hit the front in the 62nd minute.
Hare was unable to get to Williams' left-wing corner, which was headed in by Woolley, unquestionably the man on target this time.
An immediate response from Runcorn but already planned was to send on 17-year-old Noah Roberts and Oscar Wright, two days short of his 19th birthday.
Wright's early present was giftwrapped by Roberts but Runcorn's couldn't complete the celebration with a winner. There were no real chances in the time remaining.
Runcorn jumped a place to 15th while Comgleton are off the bottom after four away points from six in five days.
Linnets' next game is on Tuesday (ko 7.45pm) at home to Hanley Town, who ended leaders Bootle's 100% start with a 1-0 weekend home win.
Runcorn are again at APEC Taxis Stadium on Saturday against 1874 Northwich (3pm).
Runcorn Linnets: Calvin Hare, Ollie Southern, Matty Rain (Scott Holding, 27 mins), Jacques Welsh, Kian Bell, Jack Byrne, Conor Harwood (Lewis Bell, 79 mins), Sean Miller (Frank Denison, 79 mins), Lewis Buckley, Nick Rushton (Noah Roberts, 64 mins), Harry McGee (Oscar Wright, 63 mins).
Attendance: 560.