Runcorn Town (26-09-2015)

Runcorn Town 5 – 0 Squires Gate (NWCFL Premier), Saturday 26 September 2015

Train ticket (Manchester-Liverpool South Parkway) = £12-30
Train ticket (Liverpool South Parkway-Runcorn) = £4-40
Entry = £5
Programme = £1-50
Tea x2 = £2
Total = £25-20

For the second week in a row, I was heading to Merseyside, this time to see Runcorn Town. The trip represented something of a nostalgic visit down memory lane, passing places I’d been to in my student days – Spike Island and the remnants of Holly Park (which is now the plush new Liverpool South Parkway station). As with last week, I deliberately ‘broke’ the train journey, and saved £1-70 in the process!

Runcorn is about an 8 minute ride from Parkway, and the ground was c1 mile away so this was an easier one today. After wandering down to the Mersey and a brief meander into the centre, I headed off to the ground. As I walked I became very maudlin, pondering back on my student days and other things – today (a bright sunny day) was not a day for such miserable thinking, so I banished such negativity as I reached the ground. The ground was buried at the back of a sports ground which sat next to a chemical works (Ineos? Viridor?). The ground’s name – the Pavilions – obviously came from the impressive club-house/community centre which guarded the track down to the pitch. In fact, there was even an old pitch, together with a robust-looking stand and the obligatory metal railing. There is probably a story there, but I couldn’t find any reference to it in the programme or club history.

The game should be a straightforward win for Runcorn, as they sat in the play-off positions, whilst Squires Gate (of Blackpool) had only 4 points so far. The away side registered the first effort when Riley headed over after a quick counter-attack. After that, it was almost all the home side – named the ‘small team from Weston’ on one of the pitch-side signs. On 7 minutes, Marvin Molyneux made it 1-0 with a simple header. After further efforts from Paul Shanley (it looked like it scraped the post) and a volley from their number 6, Runcorn doubled their lead when Ablewhite fired in a rebound after a solid save from Fletcher. Squires Gate barely created a single meaningful chance, with Riley just about squeezing out a weak shot from the edge of the ‘D’ and their striker flicking a header just wide. Then a ruthless Runcorn made it 3 when Shanley confidently slid the ball past the beleaguered away keeper. Molyneux then found himself clean through after a defensive error, but could only force a save.

There were some bright spots for Squires Gate, who were beginning to ‘touch and play’, as they forged some good passing moves in midfield. Cook on the right wing cut inside, and curled a left-footer just over. Just as they were starting to get a foothold, Squires Gate conceded again, with Shanley rifling in a low shot on the near post.

The second half was far more evenly matched, even though the game as a whole was over. Runcorn’s Molyneux headed onto the post early on, before Cook hit a right-footed shot just wide. Paul Shanley was excellent for the home side, taking the ball with confidence, showing great strength and tenacity. The Blackpool side then had a glut of half-chances, with McKendrick’s ambitious lob just flying into the arms of the keeper. He had another shot which flew ‘just over’ (I say that a lot but in this case it really was a matter of inches). Sadly, they could not convert, and Runcorn’s ruthlessness was emphasised when their substitute (12) slid it to Stephen Milne who made no mistake with the finish. The away side continued to threaten with the odd free kick and half-chance – with Riley’s set-piece tipped over by the home keeper. The main event at that point was when the referee blew for full-time before 90 minutes was up!

So this was a bit of an anti-climax. The game was over by half-time, and though Squires Gate looked much better in the second period, they were ill-equipped to cope with a tough and efficient Runcorn team. I ambled back to the station – no rush this time – and managed to get the 18:03 from Parkway, arriving through the door at 20:10. The list of grounds is getting shorter…

Liverpool (20-09-2015)

Liverpool 1 - 1 Norwich (Premier League), Sunday 20th September

Tea = £1-90
Mint tea = £2-20
Sandwich = £1-50
Ticket = £47
Train = £15-85
Bus to Anfield = £4
Programme = £3-50
Total = £75-95

So we're back at Anfield for the post-Gerrard era. Once again the team's early season form has been patchy, despite more and more investment over the summer.

The great thing about Liverpool's Autumn games is that nearly all the ones we are going to fall on Sundays due to Europa League...which means that I can do a non-league game on the Saturday. Today we'd made excellent savings on the train thanks to some advance tickets, costing £15-85 each!

So it was in relaxed mood that we arrived at Anfield, and after some photos of the developing Main Stand, we went straight inside to a familiar block MX. We were right next to the Norwich fans who had brought a big contingent despite the distance. No matter what happens to the fortunes of the team, Liverpool are still regarded as a 'big' club to visit.

On the pitch, the home side started well, seizing the ball with desire and attacking with pace. The best opportunities were crafted by Moreno's work on the left, with Milner firing into Ruddy's hands and then just wide. Sturridge, back after a long absence, looked ropey and lacking in sharpness. At one point hd got himself into a complete tangle when trying to shoot (and when hd should have let Coutinho have the ball). The Brazilian was excellent too, heading just wide after another swift move. At the Kop end, Norwich's best chances came with a header which drifted just wide, and when no 10 forced a save from Mignolet.

So far it was a familiar story. Plenty of possession but little real bite. Norwich seemed to come out more confident and for the first 5 minutes of the second half the Reds' defence was in disarray. Cameron Jerome was looking like a real threat up front. Then came the breakthrough for the home side when Danny Ings superbly controlled a through ball and rolled it past Ruddy with his second touch. I was pleased to see a young English striker score for such a big club again. But Liverpool's concentration wavered, and within 5-10 minutes Norwich had equalised. Mignolet came rushing out of his goal for a corner, completely missed the ball, allowing Russell Martin to control the ball and loop it over him to nestle in the net. Another defensive lapse had cost the home side.

Shortly after Norwich's 6 forced a fine save from the Liverpool number 1 - Mignolet is capable of moments of brilliance like that but cannot get the basics right (like catching a ball!). Coutinho had a gilt edged chance when he ran clear, but was foiled by a great one handed block by Ruddy. The Reds had plenty of possession and some of the passing in midfield was terrific but there was no end result. Thanks to some lacklustre finishing and determined defending, Norwich held on for a point. It hadn't been a bad game of football and there were several bright spots for Liverpool - the performances of Ings, Milner and Clyne for instance. As we headed off for the bus, slowly parading like penguins round the Main Stand, this felt like Groundhog Day. Liverpool FC - 'work in progress'.