Runcorn Linnets v. Witton Albion

2022-08-30T14:00:00Z2022-08-30T15:45:00Z

Admission Prices confirmed as follows:

Adults: £10, Concessions: £7, 18 Years old & Under: Admitted FREE.

Please ignore the admission prices on the match posters on Runcorn Linnets website - they are last season’s prices.

Witton make the short trip to Cheshire neighbours Runcorn Linnets on Bank Holiday Monday in a Northern Premier League West Division fixture.

Linnets enjoyed an excellent season last time around only to miss out on promotion, losing the Play Off final to Marine but have had a mixed start to the season taking four points from their first four games.

Their latest league game saw them go down to a narrow defeat at Prescot Cables at the weekend, so they will be wanting to put a run together in the next few weeks.

Witton are looking to make it three wins in a row following Saturday’s victory over Workington, after progressing in the FA Challenge Cup the previous week in what looked like a tricky tie against Tividale.

There are expected to be a number of faces familiar to Witton supporters within the Linnets squad particularly the likes of Ally Brown, James Short, Lewis Doyle and assistant manager Jamie Rainford who is also registered as a player.

The last two games have seen Albion striker Joe Duckworth hit form with four goals and he will be looking to continue in that vain as Witton go in search of three more points.

The two clubs have a history of coming up against each other, particularly in their Cheshire League and early Northern Premier League days but, competitive games between the two in recent years seem to be a rare event especially since Runcorn came under the guise of Linnets although Witton did open the new stadium a few years ago.

Games between the two clubs have tended to be eventful in the past and this one could be just as interesting.

Kick off at the APEC Taxis Stadium is 3pm.

RUNCORN LINNETS FC,
THE APEC TAXIS STADIUM,
STOCKHAM LANE,
MURDISHAW,
RUNCORN,
CHESHIRE
WA7 6GJ.

Directions: Follow Runcorn Road/A533 for 6.6 miles. At Whitehouse Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Chester Road/A533 and contine to follow A533. Parts of this road maybe closed at certain times or on certain days. After 0.4 miles on approaching the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Murdishaw Avenue and continue for 0.3 miles. Turn right onto Stockham Lane - Restricted-usage road. The football stadium will be on the left after 486 ft. (Total Distance - 11.0 miles).

Admission is either by Tickets bought online or by Cash payments at the turnstiles. Turnstile 1 is for Cash and Card payments only. Anyone who has bought their ticket online should enter the stadium by way of the main entrance where the ticket will be scanned and checked.

Admission Prices: Adults: £10, Concessions: £7, 18 Years old and Under: Admitted FREE.

Matchday Programme: £2.

Social Club: The Clubhouse is inside the stadium. The Bar will be open from 1pm.

Refreshments: The Tea Bar is located inside the Clubhouse.

Linnets currently in bad shape they can’t buy a goal. With Duckworth working his magic again I can’t any other result beyond a comfortable win this afternoon.

Witton team news and latest score updates will appear here as and when they become available.

Team news: Witton make one change to the starting line up that beat Workington on Saturday. Sam Billington comes in for Ben Harrison who is not involved. Jack Tinning is still missing through injury whilst Will Igoe and Elliot Rokka are not involved. Harry McGee comes into the squad for the first time on the bench.

Witton team:

Ollie Martin, Mike Koral, Taylor Kennerley, Kingsley Williams, Lee Jackson, Oliver Hitchcox, Vani Da Silva, Prince Haywood, Joe Duckworth, Cameron Fogerty, Sam Billington.

Subs: Calum Huxley, Harry McGee, Jordan Darlington, Joshua Paterson.

Runcorn Linnets have three former Albion players in their starting line-up - Ally Brown, James Short & Lewis Doyle whilst striker Jamie Rainford starts on the bench.

Latest Score from The APEC Taxis Stadium:

15 minutes played - still goalless.

Half Time Score from The APEC Taxis Stadium:

Runcorn Linnets 0 Witton Albion 0.

Today’s Attendance: 696.

Yellow card:

Witton’s Kingsley Williams on 47 minutes.

Yellow card:

Runcorn Linnets Lewis Doyle on 48 minutes.

Witton Substitutions:

Vani Da Silva replaced by Calum Huxley on 65 minutes.

Sam Billington replaced by Harry McGee on 65 minutes.

GOAL

Latest Score from The APEC Taxis Stadium:

Runcorn Linnets 1 Witton Albion 0.

Former Albion defender Ally Brown gives Linnets the lead on 80 minutes.

Witton Substitution:

Kingsley Williams replaced by Joshua Paterson on 88 minutes.

Yellow card:

Runcorn Linnets Oladapo Olaweraju on 90 minutes.

Yellow card:

Witton’s Taylor Kennerley on 90 minutes.

Full Time Score from The APEC Taxis Stadium:

Runcorn Linnets 1 Witton Albion 0.

Just about the right scoreline, we had the better of the first half and Runcorn the second half, Witton missed two glorious chances 1 in each half Billington hitting over when easier to score and Duckworth lobbing it wide with keeper well off his line.

Another game where we were not strong/physical enough and our 4 3 3 was mostly 4 5 1, leaving Duckworth isolated especially second half!

Definitely missed Harrison and Tinning for height today and we sorely need a striker to play with Joe Duckworth, please don’t sign anymore lightweight small tricky players we are over-run with them.

Runcorn effectively out fought us for the win today plus they caught us out overplaying and losing possession. The league is going to be very tight this season I think barring Macclesfield! So we need to improve quite quickly to stay in touch but it’s work in progress, given we needed a brand new squad!

We now need to scout/sign players we actually need in the 11, not squad players.

Always looked like a game that one goal would win and unfortunately they were the ones that got it (courtesy of ex Albion full back Ally Brown).

Agree with much of what CJ says, although it looked to me like Duckworth’s lob was on target, but bounced over the crossbar.