[themaclad]

Another new ground today, a trip into the east of Lancashire were the six fingered ones live, Dingleland. A journey which should have taken about 60 minutes took 90 minutes due to the inability of drivers on the M6 to keep a safe distance from each other, add in a couple of wrong turns by yours truly it was almost a pleasure to actually find Victoria Park home of Nelson FC a North West counties side based a couple of miles from Burnley.
Visitors today were runaway league leaders Runcorn Linnets. Surprise No 1 the ground was fantastic, set next to a river, tree lined, with a row of terrace houses over looking the ground, a decent playing surface. Surprise No 2 I knew the home sides first team coach, went to his 21 st birthday about 15 years ago, top bloke he is as well.
Both sides have had a recent chequered histories, Nelson folded about four years ago due to general apathy in the area, reformed two seasons ago and instantly won promotion to Division 1 of the NWCL. Runcorn were formed by supporters of the old Runcorn FC who at one time were a considerable non league force having won the FA Trophy and also destroyed a few league clubs in the FA Cup at the old ramshackle Canal Street ground.
Runcorn started impressively and hit the post twice in the first 10 minutes, they played passing football , they were playing the home side off the park and looked as though they were going to win handsomely, but a few rustic tackles later Nelson started to get a toe hold in the game and after 25 minutes took the lead.
The goal was slightly controversial as the home side were given a throw in when the ball didn't look to have gone out. A long ball up field caused panic at the back for Linnets and ex league player Joe O'Neil never looked like missing. (1-0) This prompted a discussion between the defenders it appeared that Richard Head was at fault.
A huge advantage was given to the Linnets minutes later when an off the ball incident resulted in home forward Wright being sent off, as he wandered to the tunnel Wright complained that the officials were both clucking hit houses or something like that. Runcorn bemoaned their luck for the third time as the woodwork was struck again. On the stroke of half time the Linnets lost the ball on the half way line and surprisingly were outnumbered, on strolled Morrison, his shot took a deflection and in she went. (2-0)
Both managers berated the referee on the way to the tunnel, must have disagreed with some decision probably.
Nelson got their tactics spot on in the second half, defended in numbers and broke when they could, Linnets lacked the width and the intelligence to break them down and the only way they looked like scoring was from a dead ball and sure enough the hapless official gave a penalty, White scored it game on. (2-1)
White's interest in the game became a watching brief as he also got a red card for handbags at a corner, ten a side but still the Linnets piled forward but still looked short of ideas when it got to the penalty area. The Linnets fans were less than impressed with the home sides time wasting tactics but you couldn't blame them they had worked their socks off to warrant a desrved victory.

Nelson 2 Runcorn Linnets 1 Att 190