Dave Bettley reports on Runcorn Linnets' 3-2 midweek win over Prescot Cables...

LINNETS struck twice in the closing minutes to smash Prescot's fine recent record in the Liverpool Senior Cup.

Man of the match James Hooper completed the stirring late Linnets first-round fightback with his second strike of the night.

It ended Cables' run of four successive final appearances, including two victories, in the cup that is being contested for the first time since 2019.

The visitors had looked set for more success when they took the lead in the 83rd minute.

They had earlier clawed their way back into the tie with a second-half penalty equaliser in response to Hooper's stunning 29th-minute opener, his first goal in the Yellow & Green.

But substitute Dapo Olarewaju exploited a Prescot mistake to level the scores in the 86th minute and with the game entering stoppage time, Hooper fittingly crowned Linnets' maiden appearance in the competition with the winner.

The evening had begun with a pre-match presentation to right back Ally Brown, who had completed a century of games for the club in Saturday's 1-1 Pitching In Northern Premier League West draw at Glossop North End.

Although top scorer Jamie Rainford was rested, returns for Lewis Doyle and Louis Hayes gave a more familiar look to the Linnets line-up.

It would be their midfield companion Sidi Sanogo, who lit up the early stages – he seemed to be everywhere.

There was little to choose between the sides before the interval with each enjoying two or three opportunities, but the only goal came from a sublime Sanogo through ball which Hooper was in no mood to waste.

The striker's finish was just as exquisite as the pass as he curled it left-footed high into the goal.

But Prescot wouldn't relinquish their grip on the trophy without a fight and for much of the second half, they looked favourites to progress.

They had found a way back from the spot in the 47th minute.

Runcorn striker Ryan Brooke was penalised for hauling down Prescot's recent recruit Tom Owens – a former Linnets midfielder – as the hosts defended an in-swinging left-wing corner to the near post and James Foley made no mistake from 12 yards.

The leveller was followed by sustained Prescot pressure, with Kyle Sambor leading the charge on the right wing and Runcorn looking increasingly disjointed.

Seven minutes from time, Cables must have thought they had won it when an audacious backheel from John Murphy foiled left back James Short's attempts to see the ball out of play on the touchline.

It enabled Josh Gregory to fire in a cross which caught out Runcorn's defence and Jack Goodwin drilled the ball home.

Jubilation soon turned to despair for Prescot, however, as Linnets rallied to turn the match on its head again and Olarewaju seized on a mishap in the Prescot defence to equalise.

With a penalty shoot-out beckoning, the rebound to a blocked shot by Brooke fell to Hooper, who scored through the tightest of gaps with the aid of an upright.

Linnets, who handed a home debut off the bench to Under 21s graduate Macauley Clifton, had not only avenged a league defeat at Prescot earlier in the campaign but also salvaged their unbeaten home record for the season

The prize in the Liverpool Senior Cup is a second-round trip to NPL West rivals City of Liverpool, who won on penalties at North West Counties League Premier Division outfit Burscough.

Runcorn are in home action again this Saturday against Belper Town of the NPL Premier Division in the Isuzu FA Trophy.

Runcorn Linnets: Taberner, Brown, Short, Doyle, O'Mahony, Heathcote, Hooper (Turner, 90 mins), Hayes, Brooke, Sanogo (Olarewaju, 69 mins), Clarke (Clifton, 79 mins). Subs not used: Gumbs, Roberts (GK)