Cheshire 0 Runcorn Town 1

NEW joint manager of the Cheshire Football League representative team, Jimmy Bush, claims the side has an exciting year to look forward to despite defeat to Runcorn in midweek.

The Cheshire outfit played their first game under the new management at Irlam and featured 10 players from Warrington teams.

Liam turner and Alex Hardman turned out from Warrington Reserves, Craig Hall and Rob Hope from Eagle Sports, Craig Hoyland, Lee Vaughan and Ben Slater from Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds, Alex Lowe and James Dyke from Rylands, and Jordan Rigby from Grappenhall Sports.

Cheshire were on top in the first half but failed to take advantage of having the upper hand.

Eagle’s Rob Hope created some chances, first when his effort from 20 yards was deflected wide, and then when he sent George Burgess through down the left before the cut-back fell to nobody.

However, the chance of the half was created by Hoyland who rolled the Runcorn centre back and cut it back to be stroked home, only for the defence to intercept.

Runcorn grew in the second half and Cheshire’s flow may have been disrupted after five substitutes were made on the hour mark.

It took until the last 10 minutes for Runcorn to make their second-half dominance pay, when a 25-yard strike was deflected and found the top corner of the Cheshire net.

“Out of the 16, we had 11 lads playing for the inter-league for the first time and they were all superb,” joint manager Bush said.

“We seemed to have a nice balance all the way through and, although by the end Runcorn deserved their win, we certainly pushed them close.

“We have an exciting year to look forward to, as the national cup starts, and no doubt, as that comes round, a lot more players will come into contention, making the selection headaches a bit worse."