15^th August 2015, Glasshoughton Welfare v Runcorn Linnets FC : 2-2

Runcorn Linnets' Emirates FA Cup journey started with a frustrating afternoon at Glasshoughton in Yorkshire, with the men from Cheshire squandering a lead, before fighting back with a superlative strike from Mark Houghton to force a draw, remain in the competition, and earn a home replay on Tuesday evening.

The Linnets faithful arrived in Castleford in their numbers, to be greeted by the team news that Danny Cross and Jamie Buckley would be replacing Freddie Potter and Adam Donohue in the starting line-up.

Both Glasshoughton Welfare and the Linnets started well, and the early exchanges were open and entertaining. Home 'keeper Matt Stables and visiting stopper Richie Mottram were forced into early action, before the lively Kurt Sherlock made Stables save again.

Sherlock got his deserved reward for good early-season form on thirty minutes, firing home from fairly close range to send the visiting fans into delight. The Linnets had the upper hand for the rest of the half, Michael Simpson shooting wide, and Sherlock going close once again. You felt the visitors would need a second goal, but it just wouldn't come, and Morley cleared off the home line to keep the deficit to a single goal at the break.

Welfare came out for the second period looking a rejuvenated and more organised unit, and took control. Pollock equalised, heading home from close in. Kurt Sherlock rattled the bar from distance, but unfortunately no "Russian linesman" was on hand to give a goal as the ball bounced down onto the line!

Pollock grabbed his second to give Glasshoughton the lead, and for a period it looked as if The Linnets were going to be falling at the first hurdle.

Substitute Mark Houghton was the Linnets saviour, expertly curling home from outside the box in the 85th minute.

Both sides had chances for a last-gasp winner, but the draw was a fair result, and it's back to The Millbank Linnets Stadium on Tuesday for another bite at the cherry.

Glasshoughton Welfare: Stables, Coyles, Morley, Seed, Williams, Carr, R Fish, Middleton, Cawley, Pollock, Prudhoe. Subs: Blackburn, Snaith, Fish.

Runcorn Linnets: Mottram, Brislen, Atherton, Humphreys, Buckley, Ellison, Simpson, Hamid, Sherlock, Smith, Cross. Subs: Halfacre, Robinson, Houghton.

Attendance: 180

NB. The views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Runcorn Linnets FC or its Board.