13^th August 2022, Runcorn Linnets FC v Widnes : 3-1 Sponsored by Cheshire Fillers

For the second season in succession, Linnets opened their Pitching In NPL West campaign with a home derby against Widnes. 

Despite it being holiday time and scorching weather pushing the thermometer into the 30s, 631 turned up to herald the new season, and the vast majority were hoping for something similar to last season's 2-0 opening-day victory.

They got their wish, as Linnets ran out 3-1 winners, but it wasn't until a ten-minute spell early in the second half that they ever looked comfortably in charge.

After a great first Runcorn goal for Nialle Rodney, and Lewis Doyle burying the rebound when Jacques Welsh's penalty hit a post, the three points looked assured. 

But Widnes were spurred on by the two-goal margin to throw caution to the wind, and a defensive lapse allowed a one-touch Dylan Glass goal from a corner.

It left Runcorn fans with a nervy last 15 minutes, but there was no panic among their team, and something of a 'supersub' last half-hour from player-assistant manager Jamie Rainford, was instrumental in sealing the victory.

The heat made a blistering early pace to the game unlikely. But it had an extremely slow and disjointed start, thanks to an under-inflated ball, displaced sprinkler covers, essential drinks breaks, and players staying down interminably after seemingly innocuous challenges.

It was perhaps more forgivable than usual, and nobody else on the pitch took much exception to the chance of a breather.

A more unusual delay ensued after ten minutes, when referee Stephen Rushworth summoned Sam Turner for a conversation that appeared to result in the Linnets winger being sent off.

There was no card shown, however, and it transpired that Sam was guilty of a dress code violation. He was wearing white support shorts, rather than the green required to match his kit. To save his embarrassment, the problem was rectified, albeit temporarily, by hitching them up. 

The referee was apparently as keen as anyone for exertions to be paused regularly. It isn't often you see play stopped because a player, in this case Widnes' Stephen Rigby, had been struck in the back by a football. Of all things. 

Two early James Short free-kicks, after fouls 35 yards out, found Sam Heathcote for a downward header that was cleared, and Ben Halfacre, who was offside.

The first Widnes effort materialised after 15 minutes, Luke Sephton's low, long-range shot being held by Danny Taberner.

Excitement mounted when Sidi Sanogo won a 50/50 challenge inside his own half to spark a Jacques Welsh run into the Widnes third. He found Sam Turner wide on the right, but his cross curled over the bar.

Shortly after the half-hour, Widnes created a decent chance when McMilan, in the middle, passed wide left for Kian Bell. His cross was met by Sephton at the edge of the area, but his shot ballooned way over the bar.

It was followed by a promising spell of possession up the Runcorn right, between Ally Brown, Sidi Sanogo and Sam Turner. A poor clearance by former Linnet Michael Burke allowed Brown a threatening cross, which found the head of Ben Halfacre. He was offside.

Ten minutes from half-time the game had its first corner, which showed how little time had been spent within range of either goal.

It came from the Runcorn right, and was headed down across a crowded area by Sam Heathcote, but Burke got there next and cleared.

Sanogo, Doyle and Welsh were regularly winning possession in midfield, but the slow pace limited passes to teammates in static positions, so that keeping the ball rarely resulted in gaining much territory.

The final action of the first half led to calls from the Widnes camp for Heathcote to be red carded, after he prevented Sephton from breaking away into the Runcorn half, by pulling an arm. The result was a yellow, which was surely the right call. Who 'prevents a definite scoring opportunity', fifty yards from goal?

The steamy conditions didn't promise a marked increase in pace or urgency in the second half, but that is what materialised. From the restart, Doyle and Sanogo were chasing and tackling everything inside the Widnes half, and if that was a strategy designed to put the opposition off their stride, it worked.

After a foul on Sidi 35 yards out, James Short's free-kick sailed just wide,  through the gap between the far post and the crowd of target men closing in.

Just four minutes into the second period, Sean O'Mahony's ball up the left to Short was crossed to the penalty arc. Nialle Rodney won an aerial challenge with Tom Stephens, flicking it over him, and then turned to pick up the loose ball himself. He buried his shot past Owen Wheeler's dive and into the bottom right corner, for a highly memorable first goal in a Runcorn shirt. Statisticians would award him both a goal and an assist to himself.

Jacques Welsh sought to double the advantage quickly, with a run up the left to the corner of the penalty area, and a curling cross towards the far post. It ran too fast for the incoming Halfacre. 

The goal quickened the pace of the game as a whole, as Widnes had to find a way back into it. But Brown and Short kept the doors closed on the flanks, supported by cover from Welsh and Doyle, as O'Mahony and Heathcote repelled everything Widnes could throw at the middle, in the air and on the ground.

The Linnets defence was sparing Danny Taberner a busy summer's afternoon.

Up in the al fresco media eyrie, we were grateful for a gathering breeze, although it was anything but cool. It appeared to be enough to support a much quicker pace on the pitch than earlier, and that profited Runcorn when Rodney's sprint up the right won a corner off Bell.

As Lewis Doyle sprinted into the area to attack the set piece, he was tripped by Jack Hatton, and Mr Rushworth had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

Jacques Welsh's kick had all of the power required, but it cannoned back off the goalkeeper's right post. Massed groans from behind the clubhouse goal turned instantly into a celebratory roar, as Lewis Doyle met the rebound head-on, and smashed a shot into the top right corner. 

Five minutes of concerted but fruitless retaliatory pressure from Widnes, were punctuated by Ben Halfacre's substitution by Jamie Rainford.

Despite the fact that Linnets were already two goals to the good, and it didn't stay that way, the playing presence of the Runcorn assistant manager was to prove decisive.

He remained in the Widnes half as his teammates absorbed visiting pressure, and held the ball up when it was cleared, as they joined him on the attack.

Five minutes after his introduction, Rainford relayed the ball up the right to Rodney, via Sanogo, resulting in another corner.

After a bout of pinball in the area, Rodney fired in a fierce shot on target, which was blocked by the legs of 'keeper Wheeler.

With 17 official minutes remaining, Daryll Grant replaced Sam Turner. He was to become a thorn in Widnes sides up the right wing, chasing some lovely balls ahead of him from the centre circle by Rainford. 

Before that could pay any dividends, though, Widnes halved the deficit. 

They had two attempts in quick succession from outside the area, with Taberner off his line after chasing a cross. They were scrambled away, but it resulted in a corner from the left.

Jesse Dowling took it low into the near side of the area, where Dylan Glass met it first time and found the net inside the near post.

It was one of only a handful of times that the Runcorn defence had left a window open for a shot on target.

Only 15 minutes after replacing Stephen Rigby, Glass exploited it beautifully.

Widnes tails were up, and the home fans feared a disappointing turnaround. 

Glass was involved again when he was unmolested in heading down for Sephton to shoot, but wide of the right post.

Widnes had three more goes in quick succession to level proceedings, all from a corner on the right, after Welsh had intercepted Tom Ruffer's attempted cross.

The defence held firm, until Sephton found the side netting.

Linnets attacking endeavours were more on the break during the final ten minutes, with Sanogo joining Grant on the right to trouble the Widnes defence, and Rainford loitering with intent to their left.  

With five minutes to go, Sanogo found him, and when Jamie was tackled, Lewis Doyle followed up and boomed the loose ball over the bar from 22 yards.

Eden Gumbs joined the fray two minutes later, allowing Nialle Rodney to receive a fitting ovation for a great afternoon's work.

Added time was ticking down when an O'Mahony clearance reached Rainford, ten yards inside the Widnes half. There weren't enough advancing teammates for Jamie to launch another meaningful pass ahead, so he drew upon the powers of the seasoned striker he is, to charge past his one marker, step to his right, and lash home a shot before Wheeler could advance enough to narrow the target.

The two-goal margin, and Runcorn fans' breath, were restored.  

A minute later, Rainford found a similar position for a surefire clincher, but this time he had Sanogo charging through the middle to his left. He passed inside for Sidi to shoot powerfully, straight on target, but Wheeler made a fine save. The final whistle prompted celebrations of an excellent 3-1 win to launch the league season. 

It was a surprise that under such punishingly hot conditions, the second half had been a far more enterprising and entertaining affair than the first. 

We would have to wait just three days for the second league outing of the season, with a potentially emotional return to Mossley for Linnets boss Dave Wild.

The forecast promises a delightfully chilly 21 degrees, and rain. Blessed rain.

Runcorn Linnets:Danny Taberner, Ally Brown, James Short, Lewis Doyle, Sean O'Mahony, Sam Heathcote, Sam Turner (Daryll Grant 73), Jacques Welsh, Ben Halfacre (Jamie Rainford 64), Sidi Sanogo Fofana, Nialle Rodney (Eden Gumbs 87).  Subs not used: Oladapo Olarewaju, Josh Quarless.

Attendance: 631.

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