Two wins for Linnets

RUNCORN erased the memory of heavy defeats at Barnton in two of the last three pre-seasons – coasting to their first away victory of the Hallmark Security League Premier Division campaign in this first competitive meeting of the clubs, writes Dave Bettley.

Now unbeaten in their last five games, the rapidly-developing visitors climbed another two places to eighth in the table as braces from Kyle Hamid and Paul Shanley fully rewarded a dominant display.

Two hundred Linnets fans made the short journey and it was more than worthwhile as the Yellow and Greens were on top from the start.

However, it needed a penalty just before half-time – the first of two converted by skipper Hamid - to break the resistance of the home side, who also posed the odd threat on the counter attack.

Linnets ‘keeper Tom Hunt continued to show the confidence he has exuded since joining the club with the season two games old.

He made an excellent blocking save in the first half and, with the Linnets’ scoring done, kept out a spot-kick to preserve a second successive away clean sheet.

Michael Ellison made just the one change from the XI, which had come from behind to win Saturday’s home game against Padiham.

Antony Hickey, who had twice been a substitute since returning from a three-game ban after his FA Cup dismissal at Hemsworth, got a recall on the right wing.

Bev Burey was given a breather on the bench, after setting a hot pace in the opening month.

On a surface of less than predictable bounce, the Linnets had penned in their hosts in the first half without delivering the final ball to round off their promising approach play.

It meant that the hosts’ ‘keeper Matt Conkie – well known to Linnets fans from his days with 1874 Northwich – wasn’t really tested and his first tough task was to pick the ball from the net after Hamid’s first penalty on 43 minutes.

Mark Houghton, whose running and set-up play as the central striker was once again impressive, got away on the Barnton left and Shanley met his cross at the back post to play in Hamid – only for the captain to be checked as he tried to get a shot away,

The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot although it looked a little doubtful. The question was who would be the taker with Shanley and Hamid having both missed their previous penalty kick against Cammell Laird and Irlam, respectively.

Hamid, who had twice scored from the spot in the same Lairds game, was the nominated player and he beat Conkie from 12 yards without any problem – leaving the veteran ‘keeper to bemoan his luck after a run of early-season penalties against him, all of them being scored.

Prior to that, the clearest opening had fallen to Barnton, 10 minutes from the break, with Lee Vaughan going through on his own only for Hunt to rescue Runcorn by smothering the shot before it had travelled too far – great anticipation and positioning from the stopper.

The Linnets were arguably less in control territorially as the second half started to unfold but by coming into the game more, Barnton only left spaces for the Linnets to exploit. How clinically they did it.

Houghton, in the inside right channel, released Hickey and with the goal opening up to him, the wide man could have been forgiven for having a pop himself.

But instead, he unselfishly steered the ball across the six-yard box for Shanley to convert at the far post.

After seemingly being hampered by a knock to an ankle sustained in the first half, Shanley was by now back on full throttle. A two-goal lead after 72 minutes became three four minutes later.

Tony Donaldson did well to spot and even better to delivered a superb defence-splitting pass, just off centre, to send the left winger clear - Shanley again leaping in absolute delight again after slipping his shot convincingly past Conkie.

Barnton conceded their ninth penalty in as many games when Shanley was obviously impeded and Hamid beat Conkie again.

With three minutes left, the Villagers got a spot-kick of their own but their chance of a consolation goal was spurned as Hunt saved brilliantly, diving to his right, to keep out Steve Hughes’ effort.

The award followed an attempted recovery challenge by new defensive signing from Southport, Vita Mbdokele soon after he had come off the bench for his debut. From the opposite end of the field, it didn’t look as though Runcorn could have any complaints.

There was still time for Steve Foster, another of three subs introduced at the same time, in between the third and fourth goals, to go close with a shot which just cleared the crossbar.

After giving the players a rapturous reception on leaving the field, Linnets’ travelling fans snaked back home in their cars along Northwich Road feeling very happy at the way things are progressing.

No fewer than eight players received Player of the Match votes on the Travel Club minibus and that tells the story of an excellent team performance.

The winner, incidentally, was young left back Danny McKenna who continues the excellent form which made him the club’s first-team Player of the Month for August.

Runcorn Linnets: Tom Hunt, Danny McKenna, Chris Lawton, Aaron Morris, Danny O’Brien, Ronnie McCarthy, Tony Donaldson, Kyle Hamid (capt), Mark Houghton, Paul Shanley, Antony Hickey. Subs: Steve Foster, Vita Mbdokele, Adam Wade. Not used: Bevan Burey, Sean Carlson.

Attendance: 234.

Runcorn Linnets 4 Padiham 2.

The new-look Linnets got their second win under Michael Ellison’s guardianship at the MLS on Saturday, coming out winners in a thoroughly entertaining encounter with Padiham, write.s Ste Bignall

The torrential rain of Saturday threatened to make this game an attritional affair, but the pitch held up superbly to the demands and neither puddled nor cut up despite the rain being incessant.

Padiham are, of course, managed by former Linnets chargehand and friend of the club Steve Wilkes, and he brought with him some new signings made in the week.

These included Kenny Taylor of the Colne’s NWCL championship-winning side from last season, and the very imposing figure of James Dean up front, a signing that certainly raised some eyebrows considering that we was very recently plying his trade at a much higher level of the non-league game.

It was Padiham, who opened the scoring within two minutes. A cross came in from the right and although the initial shot was half-cleared, it fell straight to Harry Dunn who returned the ball, via a deflection, past Tom Hunt from just outside the box.

This could easily have rattled Ello's men but they calmly kept to the game plan and set about getting on level terms. Paul Shanley had a rasping shot saved before being heavily involved in the equaliser. A great through ball by Ronnie McCarthy was picked up by Shanley, who had cut into the box on the left side.

Although Shanley’s shot was saved, Mark Houghton was on hand to overhead kick the ball into the empty net, under pressure from Padiham’s defenders, on nine minutes. Four minutes later and the home side took the lead via a sublime goal that built up with one touch passes from the halfway line between Hamid, McCarthy and Shanley.

Hamid eventually picked the ball up with his back to goal outside the box before swivelling on the spot and sending a curling effort across the path of the ‘keeper and into the far corner. It was a goal right out of the top drawer!

A frantic opening 15 minutes was rounded off shortly after when Mark Houghton scored his second and Linnets third, coolly sweeping in the rebound from Anthony Donaldson's initial shot.

Tom Hunt made a good save after a shot from distance with the rebound scrambled clear by Chris Lawton before Padiham were gifted an avenue back into the game.

Aaron Morris attempted a back pass to Hunt that lacked the required power and Alex Murphy nipped in to roll the ball under the advancing ‘keeper to make the scoreline 3-2.

Padiham had a great chance to equalise just before half-time when Taylor got in behind the Linnets back four and a ball across to the unmarked Dean would have produced a goal, but Taylor chose to shoot from a tight angle and the shot went just wide.

Unfortunately in doing so Taylor turned heavily on his ankle and ended up leaving the ground on a stretcher. Thankfully, an X-Ray dismissed the early fears of a break, and everyone at Linnets hopes that Kenny is back playing as soon as possible.

Padiham rallied at the start of the second half and it took a good save from Hunt off Dean’s close-range shot and fantastic back tracking by Bev Burey, again snuffing out Dean’s follow-up shot at the crucial moment.

Seemingly not content to just seeing the game out, Ellison made a double attacking change midway through the second half, Burey and Donaldson being replaced by Anthony Hickey and Steve Foster.

Foster was very effective in holding the ball up in the right areas and taking some of the pace out of the game, and he scored Linnets fourth and decisive goal.

Laying the ball off to Hamid before continuing his run towards the box Fozzie met Hamid’s stunning 50-yard crossfield ball perfectly to half volley into the top corner from outside the penalty area on 72 minutes for another high-quality Linnets goal.

The final incident of note was Padiham’s main threat,Dean receiving a second yellow card for an elbow on Hamid, and this ended the game as a contest as a tired Padiham ran out of ideas and Linnets saw the game out with no further trouble to record an excellent home win!

Runcorn Linnets: Tom Hunt, Danny McKenna, Chris Lawton, Aaron Morris, Danny O’Brien, Ronnie McCarthy, Tony Donaldson, Kyle Hamid, Mark Houghton, Paul Shanley, Bevan Burey. Subs: Steve Foster, Antony Hickey. Not used: Adam Wade, Sean Carlson, Vita Mbdokele.

Attendance: 292.