RUNCORN LINNETS FC 1, CONGLETON TOWN FC 0
(Northern Premier League Division One West)
The Linnets were formed as recently as 2006 as replacement for Runcorn FC Halton, who folded as a result of financial difficulties.
The new club was to be run by a supporters trust, the workings of which were interestingly explained in some enthusiastic detail by their chairman on the Congleton Town podcast.
They joined the North West Counties Division Two, initially ground-sharing with Witton Albion, (writes Mike McLaughlin).
In 2010 they were able to move to a newly-built ground, the Millbanks Linnets Stadium.
They were an immediate and sustained success, progressing through the levels of the North West Counties to reach the Northern Premier League in 2018. They continued to prosper, failing only to gain another promotion last season in the play-offs.
This season, however, they have faltered, citing a bad run of injuries.
Heavy defeats to Hednesford and Witton have contributed to them lying in 21st place with a 0-2-2 record.
On Saturday they anticipated players returning and looked to spark their campaign into life.
The sun was beaming generously down on the Apec Taxis Stadium “a lovely set-up, very hospitable people “ enthused one experienced Bears fan.
An attendance of 564, not exceptional for the Linnets, had assembled as the Bears team was announced: Parton, Fregapane, Morris, Williams, Ryder, Chadwick, Sankey, Hartshorn, McCarthy, Garner-Knapper and Needham, with Hampton, Porter, Arnold, Hall and Stringer in reserve.
It looked a strong group.
Battle commenced immediately.
Fight
It was obvious that both teams were determined to concede nothing, to fight for every ball and every inch of territory.
Play was fast and fierce, but there was little sustained constructive play and little pattern from either team. Free-kicks were frequent, regularly punctuating the game.
Injuries to players on both sides paused play and added to the irregular nature of proceedings.
McCarthy, Needham, Knapper and Sankey all had goal opportunities.
Runcorn shot high or wide or offside and the interval arrived with a blank scoreline.
The second half opened at a fierce, frenetic pace.
The two sides went at each other hard.
Neither could settle into any flow or rhythm.
It was not that it was not sought, it was simply not allowed.
On 76, a Linnets player, wide on the left took quick aim at goal. His shot arced like a rocket, high into the far top corner of the net.
Unstoppable, a thing of wonder.
The Bears roared back, loud and hard.
They pressed consistently.
The Manchester United loanee in goal for the Linnets was busy but not unduly worried.
His centre backs were not for moving or conceding anything.
The Linnets took the welcome points, the Bears current momentum paused.
Post-match reactions were varied.
The Linnets manager said that his team had not played particularly well but were “dogged and had given everything”. His two centre backs had been heroic, particularly late on in the game.
The Linnets line was “its a deserved victory in glorious Murdishaw sunshine, some real fight on display against tough opposition”.
“X” commented: “End to end game, and a great advert for the NPL”.
Horrible
Not for the first time in his life, the vastly experienced Ray Ogden disagreed.
“A horrible, scruffy game with nothing coming off for either side. Their keeper was marginally the busier, but not really over-troubled.
“The least said about the game the better … neither team deserved to win.”
Meanwhile, more measures to improve non-league football and its culture were announced.
There are new penalty points accumulations. These will be for dissent, violent conduct and threatening behaviour. When the threshold of accumulated points is reached, bespoke support is provided. Clubs have to prove that they are responding. If no improvement is apparent they could be removed from the competition.
Continued league points deductions will be implemented in the event of repeated incidents of serious misconduct such as spectators discriminatory abuse.
Revamped sinbins are also being introduced, and the offence of dissent will now be treated as a standard caution with the additional punishment of time in the bin.
A new grassroots code of conduct clearly sets out expectations of behaviour: “Enjoy the game. Give respect. Be inclusive. Work together. Play safe”.
