Just two games survived the downpours this week after storm Barra battered the UK. Regardless of this there was still the usual high-quality football on display in #MatchweekTen, with two local derbies’ providing the action.
NORTH DIVISION
Runcorn Linnets travelled to Skelmersdale United in the ‘Key Matchup’ for #MatchweekTen and extended their winning run to seven games after a convincing win. The #ESPFACheshire side scored four second-half goals to seal a 6-1 win that extends their lead at the top of the North Division to eight points. The game started off at a very high tempo and both sides were looking to get the ball down and stamp their mark on the game early on. Jamie Whittaker had a couple of left footed efforts early on with one of them shaving the cross bar. This should’ve been the warning that Skelmersdale United needed to sure things up at the back but after 25 minutes Runcorn Linnets found the opening they were searching for through Adam Moseley. Lucas Wilson whipped in a ball from the right wing that wasn’t dealt with by the Skem United back line and Moseley was on hand to convert the chance. Just eight minutes later, Kane Hackett doubled Runcorn’s lead when he drove a low shot into the back of the Skelmersdale United net.
After a corner wasn’t cleared, Reece Jones made some room for himself on the left-hand side of the box after faking a shot and clipped in a cross that struck the bar, but Hackett was on hand to turn the ball home. In the second half, Runcorn Linnets upped their game and started creating more and more chances thanks to some great link up play from their front three. Reece Jones converted a brilliant free kick to make it 3-0 before Skelmersdale United pegged one back through Dominic Evans. A late double from Joel Raven and a tidy finish from Kai Philpott sealed the game for Runcorn Linnets who continue their excellent run and remain the only team in the ESPFA to have won every game so far this season. After the game, #ESPFACheshire student and Runcorn Linnets academy defender Will Faulkner said: “I thought in the first half we were a bit shakey, I think we started off really slow and felt we were still in the changing room really but we showed as we got through the half we started to get the pace up in the game and started to show our class with the two goals we scored.” For Skelmersdale United, Dominic Evans admitted after the first goal a few heads dropped that lead to a lack on intensity in the remainder of the game. He said: “In the first 15, we came out strong. They were worried, we knew we worried them and then as soon as the first goal went in, we started to slip away. The intensity dropped and we started to fall.
In the other game from the North Division, Mickleover got back to winning ways with an emphatic 6-2 victory over #ESPFADerbyshire rivals Belper Town. A brace from both Conley Bowman and Dylan Samaringa rounded off a comfortable win for Mickleover. This is their first win since #MatchweekThree and takes them level on points with Ossett United above them in fourth spot.
Team of the week
Well done to all the students who were nominated by their coaches for this week’s edition of #TeamOfTheWeek and also a special mention to #ESPFADerbyshire student Reece Perry who was chosen as the #PlayerOfTheWeek for #MatchweekTen after a brilliant performance in the middle of the park for Mickleover.
The Highlights Show
You can catch all of #MatchweekTen’s goals and match highlights in this week’s edition of The Highlights Show.