Match report: Runcorn Town 1 Squires Gate 2

Don’t miss the latest football news and gossip from leagues in England, Scotland and Europe with footballwire.co.ukGary Pett and Scott Harries scored the goals which lifted Gate to 12th in the premier division table.

Manager Andy Clarkson welcomed back Isaac Sinclair, whose father Trevor was a substitute.

Dan Gray and Dave Rossall also returned to the starting line-up as Gate surprised their hosts by taking the lead after only five minutes.

Ryan Riley beat his man before crossing towards the penalty spot for Pett to sweep the ball home, finishing a move he had started.

Gate went close to a second from Issac Sinclair’s corner but keeper Adam Reid collected the ball on his line.

At the other end, Gate keeper Ben Fletcher did well to push a dangerous cross over the bar and the visitors twice cleared off the line. First Dan Gray came to the rescue, then keeper Fletcher got back to help save the day as Gate held their lead until half-time.

Pett had a golden chance to double that lead five minutes after the restart, when he beat the offside trap but fired wide when one-on-one with keeper Reid.

Gate did score their second on 62 minutes, when they beat the offside trap again and Scott Harries kept his composure to fire home.

Harries could have doubled his tally four minutes later but Reid did well to save at the expense of a corner.

Pett took aim from outside the box but uncharacteristically shot wide.

Runcorn had several late chances as they threw men forward, including a free-kick which was blocked by Harries.

Another goal-line clearance two minutes from time denied Town, though they did pull one back from the last kick of the game as Craig Cairns reacted quickest to poke the ball past Fletcher.

Gate are away again on Saturday to Abbey Hey.

Gate: Fletcher, Gray, Higham, Colquhoun, Rossall, Sinclair, Richards, Ing, Riley, Harries, Pett. Subs: Higham, Sinclair, Charnley, Clarkson.