WARRINGTON Town were dumped out of the Cheshire Cup as they were hammered 5-0 at home by lower league Runcorn Town.
Town’s recent good run of form of seven leaguye games unbeaten came to an abrupt end, with their worst performance for a number of years against a Runcorn team featuring eight former Town players in their matchday squad. 
Manager Shaun Reid named a near full strength squad, including handing a debut to full back Karl McKenna and it was Town that had the first chance of the game, midfielder Phil Mooney heading narrowly over the bar. The visitors were awarded a penalty in the 10th minute, when keeper Andy Robertson was adjudged to have committed a foul on the edge of the penalty area, and Runcorn striker James McShane stepped up to send Robertson the wrong way to score.
Despite their lower league status, Runcorn were taking the game to Town, but were lucky not to give a penalty away soon after, former Town defender Darren Kinsey felling Allan Collins in the penalty area, with referee Mr Gibbons signalling for a corner, despite Kinsey getting nowhere near the ball. A minute later, and Runcorn almost added to their lead, McShane shooting straight at Robertson, when through on goal. Town full back Phil Doran was next to go close, shooting too close to former Town keeper Karl Wills in the Runcorn goal. Runcorn extended their lead in the 37th minute, when former Town striker Stuart Wellstead, was played through on goal, and ghosted past Robertson to slot home into the empty net. Three minutes later, Runcorn scored a deserved third goal, a short corner routine found the Town rearguard napping and allowed Runcorn’s former Warrington midfielder Mark Keddie to decisively slam home from 15 yards, for what turned out to be the killer goal just before half time. Despite having more possession, Runcorn could not fashion another chance and they surprisingly lead 3-0 at half time.
Six minutes into the second half and Runcorn extended their lead, Runcorn captain and former Town midfielder Steve Latham played an exceelent throughball, which Paul Shanley coolly latched onto to, before slotting home past the on rushing Robertson and into the empty net. Twelve minutes into the half and Town were indebtted to centre half, James McCarten, who was in the right place to clear a goalbound Runcorn effort off the goalline. Just after the hour, and Runcorn made it five, Robertson making a mess of his attempted clearance, only heading the ball to Wellstead, who rolled the ball home into the unguarded net and two minutes later, should have completed his hat trick, instead he shot too close to Robertson, and the Town number one made a good low save. As the game wore on, two of Town substitutes went close to scoring, firstly winger Ryan Gratton saw his angled shot go narrowly wide of Wills’ upright before 18 year old striker Jimmy Anderson miskicked when well placed from Collins neat flick on. Town went closest to scoring with seven minutes left to play, Collins managing to head over the crossbar from close range, after meeting Gratton’s excellent cross. The last chance of the game fell to Anderson, who shot narrowly wide and into the side netting past the on rushing Wills.
Pictures show (top) substitute Mike Reid and striker Lee McEvilly and below Substitute James Anderson taking on the Runcorn defence.
Town: Robertson, Karl McKenna (d) (Gratton, 62), Doran, Dogan, Flynn, McCarten, Miles, Collins, McEvilly (Anderson, 62), Holden (Reid, 51), Mooney, sub not used: Wells
