Rough justice

Although Runcorn earned a replay with a goal in the third minute of injury time, many of their vociferous supporters in a crowd of 3,948, the highest of the season at Haig Avenue, must have gone home convinced that two earlier incidents cost the non-League side victory over Southport in Saturday’s first round FA Cup tie

The first was an injury to goalkeeper Mal Rawlinson shortly after his side had taken the lead, and the second—referee Neil Midgley’s refusal to award a penalty when Barrie Whitbread was brought down in the Southport area two minutes from the end.

Rawlinson sustained a badly bruised arm saving at the feet of Southport skipper Tommy O’Neill, and eventually had to leave the field after 72 minutes.

Defender Tony Murphy took over in goal with Phil Spencer, the substitute, coming on to fill the gap in Runcorn’s ranks.

Runcorn, a credit to the Northern Premier League, deserved the replay on their own ground at Canal Street this evening (7.30).

It was Runcorn who finally made the initial breakthrough five minutes after the restart. A Murphy free kick was touched sideways by Mike Scott and Whitbread cleverly jabbed the ball into the net.

Five minutes later Southport sent on substitute Phil Ashworth in place of the ineffective Gary Cooper, but it took them until the 67th minute to wipe out Whitbread’s goal. Then Brooks headed past the handicapped Rawlinson from a Geoff Gay corner on the left.

In the 77th minute an astute through pass from Jones was collected by O’Neill, who ended a determined run into the penalty area with an accurate shot.

Tim Rutter took a throw-in, Howard put over a low cross, and Lyon cashed in on slack marking.

Player-manager Hugh Fisher summed up Southport’s performance when he said: “We did not start to play until after they had scored.”

Referee Midgley booked three players, Eric Snookes (Southport) and Runcorn’s Dave Rylands and Phil Spencer, all for dissent.