Runcorn Linnets manager Dave Wild downplayed the importance of his side’s win over Macclesfield on Tuesday night.
Linnets came from behind to beat the league-leaders and title favourites after a brilliant strike from Ryan Brooke plus Jamie Rainford’s 10th Northern Premier League West goal of the season.
Lewis Fensome headed Macclesfield in front before the break but the Silkmen were then forced to make do with 10 men after Kane Drummond’s red card on the stroke of half-time.
The win for Runcorn Linnets sees them keep the pressure on Workington and Leek Town but the gap between themselves and their opponents sits at eight points after their win.
“Obviously pleased, I don’t want to be a negative guy but I’m downplaying it because we are mid to the end of November and it’s just three points, another game,” Wild told Off The Park.
“We expect to win at home, just because it’s big old Macc Town it’s no different. Really pleased with the three points, really pleased with the performance, pleased that we’ve turned it around after being 1-0 down.
“There was some real standout performances from different players, Tom Moore stepped up massively, Dapo was superb again, three points, pleased with it and onto Ramsbottom.”
The manner in which they fell behind frustrated the manager as James Berry’s drilled corner was nodded in from close-range by Fensome at the back post.
He added: “I’m frustrated to be honest, I think everyone knows I’m a stickler for not conceding off set-pieces and we’ve conceded one again, it’s starting to annoy me a little bit now. If you seen the size of us, we shouldn’t be conceding off set-pieces as regularly as we have been but it is what it is, it gives us something to work on.
“I thought for the 90 minutes, we were the better team, I’d be very surprised if anyone disagrees with that, I’m not saying we were absolutely superb and were banging it around but we were dogged, stuck to our task and did exactly what we wanted and needed to do, three points is all we want.
“I’ll be totally honest, I don’t know if it was or wasn’t,” Wild said of Drummond’s red card. “We’ll be on the receiving end of them – we have been at Workington.
“I don’t think it affected the game too much, Macc still attempted to go on the front foot with putting Tom Clare on and going direct but we can match it and mix it with anyone like that, testament to Sam and Sean at the back.
“It will have affected the game in some aspects because Kane is a very good player so it helped us in that sense but it’s part of the game but it’s also tougher sometimes, especially being 1-0 down so testament to the lads.”
Brooke expertly caressed his free-kick into the top corner, beating Liverpool loanee Marcelo Pitaluga, shortly after the break to restore parity.
“Yeah, about time he did something like that really,” Wild joked. “I’ve made no secret how happy we are to bring Ryan back, I thought his performance was outstanding today from minute one to 95 so really pleased with him, a great finish.
“Macc are a great side, it’s no secret that they’ve got the ability to get a strong side but I personally think they haven’t got what we’ve got which is a real togetherness and it showed with blocks on the line, bodies on the line.
“We’ve got what a lot of teams want and that’s a real togetherness, dig each other out the trenches and get through games so I’m really proud of the lads.”
[Featured Image: Runcorn Linnets]
