1^st October 2022, Runcorn Linnets FC v Colne : 2-0 Sponsored by Mark Buckley

Colne came to the APEC Taxis Stadium for only their third league away trip of the season, having secured 1-1 draws at both Trafford and Widnes. This one ended in a first defeat on the road, as Runcorn took the spoils with a goal late in each half.

Linnets couldn't claim to have dominated, but they did have the upper hand for most of the afternoon. They deserved their half-time lead, thanks to Sam Heathcote's first goal for the club since joining in the summer, but as Colne rallied over the final 20 minutes or so, the outcome remained in doubt until Jamie Rainford converted from the penalty spot in the last minute of normal time.

The early exchanges promised a gritty and potentially bad- tempered encounter, with Colne keen to employ arms and elbows. The game started with a quick end-to-end pace, but trips and shirt-pulls were as plentiful as legitimate tackles.

Linnets attacked tbe Clubhouse End, after Colne had won the toss and chosen to play with the blustery downfield wind behind them. It took five minutes for the first chance of the game to materialise.

Striker James Hooper made his first start for the club, following a 25-minute debut as a substitute against Bootle that was devoted chiefly to defence, as ten Linnets battled for a point after James Short's red card only eight minutes into the second half.

Today he had his chance to show his attacking prowess, and he had the first shot of the day, clearing the bar from just inside the penalty area, from Eden Gumbs' cross from the left.

Eight minutes had elapsed before a first Colne attempt on goal. Oliver Roberts volleyed well wide from Sean O'Mahony's headed clearance.

Referee Elliot Bell had stern words with Mateusz Kardacz for his shirt-pull to halt Jamie Rainford's progress into the Colne half, and Hooper collected the free-kick in the area, but was crowded out by Luke Stowe and Glenn Steel.

Linnets were steadily building possession and forward pressure, and a great Short cross from the left was chested towards goal by Ally Brown. It didn't test Colne's on-loan 'keeper Andre Mendes.

A decent chance for the Lancastrians followed a corner from the left, which was forced by Owen Watkinson's run. It was cleared by Sam Heathcote, and then by Sean O'Mahony, but when the ball was lofted into the area again, Sean misread the bounce, allowing a shot by Lucas Weaver that he hooked wide of the far post.

A phase of high balls both ways fell prey to the wind, making attempts at passing accuracy something of a lottery.

The Linnets defence was looking confident, after their excellent firefighting efforts four days earlier, but after 20 minutes, a string of four passes across their own area looked a touch risky under close Colne pressure. James Short carried the ball safely forward, however, and found Zack Clarke for a run up the right flank.

His cross was a touch too deep to be met by Gumbs, Rainford or Hooper as they charged on goal.

Runcorn possession grew, but it lacked a moment of inspired incisiveness to break through the rearguard in red.

On 23 minutes, Brown and Clarke combined to win a corner from the right. Short's kick was headed down towards the foot of the far post by Heathcote, and blocked. Sidi Sanogo's low shot bounced up from the turf, and Rainford hooked a dipping shot over Steel, which drew 'oohs' from the home fans behind the goal as it just cleared the top left angle.

James Short was instrumental in much of the Runcorn threat through the middle of the half, and he delivered two crosses from the left within a minute, but there wasn't a Linnet in place in the area to meet either of them.

Shorty then made a chance for himself, from a Sanogo pass, when he cut inside from the left past three opponents and shot forcefully for the top left corner. It flew inches wide.

Ten minutes before the break, Louis Hayes played a ball from halfway to set Eden Gumbs free into the area, but Tom Fagan launched a perfectly-timed tackle to avert the danger. Jamie Rainford blasted a follow-up shot narrowly over the bar.

Runcorn opportunities were increasing in frequency, and those for Colne had been conspicuous by their absence for a good 15 minutes.

It appeared that the key ingredient for the home side to secure three points would be a measure of clinical finishing, or perhaps a mistake by the visitors.

It was the latter that broke the deadlock, after 43 minutes.

A shove in the back on Zack Clarke, 35 yards out, led to a free-kick that was flighted into a crowded penalty area. Andre Mendes shouted "'keeper's!", which prompted his defenders not to challenge for the ball. From my elevated position above the stand, it was clear that the ball was anything but the 'keeper's, and the head of Sam Heathcote got to it first with the greatest of ease, to put Linnets in front.

A second might have been added on the stroke of half-time, when Clarke was bodychecked at the right corner of the penalty area, and Short curled the free-kick inches over the left angle of post and bar.

The one-goal lead at half-time was the least Runcorn deserved, based on possession and chances, and the home fans hoped they would press home their advantage after the break.

After an enterprising first 45, Eden Gumbs would play no part in it. A hamstring twinge prompted a safety-first substitution for Lewis Doyle. For Colne, Jack Doherty replaced Lucas Weaver.

Linnets attacked early, with Clarke, Hayes and Brown invading the Colne area, and Short's shot being deflected for a corner. Mendes held on to Heathcote's header.

Then Hooper turned two defenders to shoot, forcing a tip over from Mendes. Short's corner was pulled back outside the area, and O'Mahony fired over the bar.

Seven minutes into the half, Colne had their first chance for some time. A corner from the left was headed out by Ally Brown, and Fagan attempted an overhead kick that ballooned way over.

After a lengthy break for attention to Tom McCann, play resumed with the home team looking composed, and confident to spend more time on the ball.

McCann's knock caused him to give way to Harry Jones after 65 minutes, and just afterwards, Linnets replaced James Hooper with Dapo Olarewaju, who had missed the midweek Bootle game after tweaking a groin in the warm-up at North Shields.

Colne had their best chance of the game in the 68th minute, as a prod forward from a loose bounce inside the Runcorn half set Doherty on a free run on goal. O'Mahony caught up, and did just enough to put the Reds' sub off balance, forcing his shot wide of the right post.

The last 20 minutes were the most even period of the game. Colne had previously been largely on the back foot, securing insufficient possession. Now it was shared more evenly, and both sides took it in turns to advance on goal.

Olarewaju and Hayes set up a Rainford shot that swerved on the wind, but it was held well by Mendes.

A Colne corner from the right was headed on by Heathcote for a throw-in on the other side.

Rainford covered 40 yards with the ball up to the left corner flag, but Bradley Knox tracked him all the way and conceded a throw-in. That produced a cross from which Olarewaju headed a foot wide of the far post from close range.

Dapo was causing headaches among the Colne ranks up the right-hand side, and he was consequently drawing increasing numbers of fouls. One produced a 20-yard free-kick, just right of centre.

James Short reprised the surprise tactic that had produced a goal in the recent 4-1 win over Skelmersdale United, by drilling the kick low as the defensive wall jumped. But this time it caught a boot and skewed wide.

Into the last quarter of an hour, Zack Clarke tried a shot almost identical to Rainford's eight minutes earlier, with an identical result. Mendes held on, as it swerved on the wind.

Colne won two corners in quick succession. The first came from a six-man passing sequence outside the Linnets area, Brown diverting Doherty's distant shot. The second was headed away by Heathcote.

Linnets didn't look flustered, but their fans were feeling that another goal would be needed to put three points in the bag.

With ten minutes to go, Mr Bell produced a yellow card for Kardacz's umpteenth foul on Dapo Olarewaju, just beyond the right side of the penalty area.

Dapo continued to plague the opposition on that side, and he beat Kardacz and Stowe twice each to cross into the area. But Sidi Sanogo was the only Runcorn man there, and he was hustled off the ball by a blanket of defenders.

Kardacz was subbed by Charlie Russell with seven minutes remaining, and it was Ally Brown's turn to pick up a yellow card, when he clattered Russell's heels to halt his sprint into the Linnets half.

The free-kick led to a Colne corner from the right. Heathcote and O'Mahony conspired to repel it, and a follow-up shot from distance.

Colne continued to plug away for an equaliser, and Danny Taberner palmed away yet another corner.

The home fans wanted to see the ball in Linnets possession, and they were rewarded as Olarewaju and Rainford swapped passes through the middle and out to the right wing. Dapo's cross for the advancing Short ran just too close to the 'keeper.

Three Runcorn throw-ins up the left-hand side used up more seconds, as the game passed into added time. The last of them set up a Sidi Sanogo charge into the area, and when he was sent sprawling, Mr Bell had no doubt that it was a penalty.

Jamie Rainford stroked the spot-kick into the bottom right corner, with Mendes diving the other way, and it was all over bar the shouting.

The shouting came from Dapo, as he was kicked across the shins with an audible crack by Stowe, just inside the Linnets half. Stowe's yellow card was the final event of the game. Home fans were baying for a red, but from my close vantage point, the challenge was late, but not vindictive.

The referee had it right, as he did most important decisions on the day.

Runcorn captain James Short will miss the next three games, due to his red card against Bootle, and the fact that he would be missed was highlighted by his entirely justified winning of the man of the match award. It was adjudicated and presented by match sponsor Mark Buckley, who was celebrating half a century as a devoted Linnet.

The win took Linnets to a formidable fourth position in the league, just four points behind leaders Macclesfield, and with a game in hand on Mossley and Leek Town in between them.

With a free midweek, Linnets will have seven days to prepare for the Isuzu FA Trophy third qualifying round, and a rare home draw, against NPL East outfit Ossett United. Colne, also enjoying a good cup run, will head to Hyde United in the same round. Runcorn Linnets:Danny Taberner, Ally Brown, James Short, Louis Hayes, Sean O'Mahony, Sam Heathcote, Zack Clarke, James Hooper (Dapo Olarewaju, 66 mins), Jamie Rainford, Sidi Sanogo Fofana, Eden Gumbs (Lewis Doyle, 45 mins). Subs not used: Sam Turner, Josh Roberts (GK), Isaac Turner.

Attendance:485.

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