Avro were forced to settle for a point after a hard-fought battle against play-off rivals Runcorn Linnets at the Apec Taxis Stadium
It was a tough start for the Ro as the host created chance after chance, pressuring Cam Mason into making some early saves. Eventually, in the ninth minute, the Linnets’ early chance paid off as the ball was played towards the far post, where it found Sean Miller. Miller, with his first touch, sent the ball flying into the top left corner to put his side ahead.
Not long after Linnets took the lead, The Ro found themselves with an opportunity to score themselves. Avro would whip the ball into the box for one of the awaiting attackers but instead fell to Ryley Smith outside the box. Smith put all of his laces through the ball, sending it into the bottom right corner of the net to make it 1-1.
In the 23rd minute, Linnets thought they had taken the lead once again after Miller managed to work the ball around Cam Mason and tap it towards the open net. Luckily, Fortune Maphosa was there to clear the ball off the line and keep the score level.
Nearing the end of the half, Runcorn had one last chance to take the lead through James Steele. Steele had an excellent run down the left flank, managing to shove his man away and keep control of the ball before having a shot on goal. Luckily, for the Ro, the winger took too long to shoot, allowing Fortune Maphosa to slide in and steal the ball away just in-time.
A minute into the second half, Miller attempted an outrageous volley from outside the area. Surprisingly, the shot went flying towards the bottom left corner and forced Cam Mason to get low and smack the ball away from the net.
Around the 50th-minute mark, Avro debutant Darrhyl Mason attempted a shot from long-range after being given the space to have a shot. His shot managed to bounce back on target and forced Yusuf Mersin into smacking the ball out for a corner.
In the 74th minute, Darrhyl Mason had a great run on goal, finding himself in a 1-on-1 with Mersin. Darrhyl Mason managed to slot the ball past the keeper and into the bottom left corner to make it 2-1 to the Ro and score his first goal in an Avro shirt.
Five minutes after going behind, the Linnets played the ball into the box, praying for someone to knock it in to tie the game up. Luckily for the hosts, Harry McGee won the scramble for the ball and tapped it into the net to make it 2-2 with ten minutes left to find a winner.
Lineups:
Runcorn Linnets – Mersin, Ferguson (45” McGee), Arsan, Welsh, Rooney, Wylie, Irwin, Doyle (85” Crane), Bakkor, Miller, Steele
Subs not Used – Graham, McLoughlin, Rosenblatt
Avro – C. Mason, Ehimamegiho, Modi, Maphosa (85” Hickman), Fitzpatrick, Morrow (57” Owen), Smith (85” Bell), Cottrell, D. Mason, Simms (57” Molloy), Davidson
Subs not Used –
Written By: Ross Lunt
