6^th December 2022, Runcorn Linnets FC v Trafford : 2-1 Sponsored by In memory of Thomas Jones

Trafford came to APEC Taxis Stadium to face the current leaders of the Pitching In Northern Premier League West form table.

Linnets had secured 16 points from their last six fixtures, including victories over Macclesfield and Leek Town, the clubs holding the top two positions in the league prior to kick-off.

A stunning 2-0 win at Leek's Harrison Park on Saturday had moved Linnets up to third place, and completing a league and cup double over Trafford was enough to lift them to second, just three points behind title favourites Macc.

Linnets replicated the result of the Emirates FA Cup meeting at Shawe View back in August, again going two goals ahead before being pegged back, and seeing out a 2-1 win.

Trafford shaped the first attack of the game, with Mulholland, Worrall and Barlow carving out a second-minute chance for Burke, but he had strayed offside.

There would not be too many similar away threats in a scruffy first half.

Linnets responded a minute later, when Ryan Brooke passed left to Dapo Olarewaju, who tried a sweeping shot from crossing territory. It cleared goalkeeper Matt Cooper, but also the far end of the crossbar.

Runcorn began to settle more on the ball, keeping Trafford on the back foot for five minutes or so. Brooke, Sidi Sanogo and Ally Brown repeated a triangle of passes on the right-hand side, before Sam Heathcote delivered a high ball into the area from 30 yards out. Cooper caught it in the air.

As Trafford broke away from their own third, Matty Barlow screamed in vain for a foul when tackled by Sidi Sanogo, but he recovered to catch up with his teammates in the Linnets half and hooked a distant shot well wide of the right post.

A scrappy opening 15 minutes saw neither side able to take lasting control, and the next chance fell to Louis Hayes, who drove the ball over the top right angle from 25 yards, from James Short's pass.

More Runcorn chances followed, but the Trafford defence kept them distant and speculative.

Lewis Doyle snatched a shot wide, after James Short had crossed from Dapo's pass back from the left corner flag. Then a corner from the right reached Jamie Rainford in the six-yard box, a point-blank block diverting his shot over the bar, for another.

Cooper palmed out Shorty's in-swinger from under the bar, and Sam Heathcote volleyed the rebound high.

Both sides were achieving short spells of possession in the opposition half, with neither defence permitting clear chances to result. But Linnets looked a little more composed and assured on the ball, no doubt buoyed by their recent winning form.

On 28 minutes, Ryan Brooke received the first of the game's two yellow cards, for falling on Rob Worrall as he shaped to pass forwards into the Linnets area.

The 30-yard free-kick was deflected out for a corner, which presented Burke with a shooting opportunity from just outside the area. He opted to chip the ball back into the crowd instead, and the chance was lost.

Brooky was back on the attack two minutes later, heading on goal from Shorty's cross from the left, but he couldn't direct it with enough power to worry Cooper.

The game had turned scrappy again, with too many passing sequences by both sides interrupted by challenges that ended in lazy rather than heavy fouls.

With six minutes of the first half remaining, it was tardy defending that proved costly for Trafford.

Olarewaju's cross from the left was blocked, then another by Short found the six-yard box. Brown, Rainford and Brooke all had close-range attempts foiled by frantic rather than decisive defending, and the ball dropped into enough space for Ally Brown to convert with ease.

The goal was something of a gift, but the Runcorn lead was a fair reflection of the balance of play.

Trafford tried to hit back quickly, Morgan and Burke advancing in tandem up the right. Burke's ball to the near post was flicked up and over by Ollie Ford from inside the six-yard box.

Just before the break, Burke had a chance of his own when he chased a loose ball into the Linnets area. He appeared to be well offside, but it was a successful challenge from Danny Taberner, rather than a whistle, that denied him.

Despite a couple of protracted first-half involvements by both teams' physios, referee George Eaton added no stoppage time, and Linnets had a 1-0 half-time lead that was just about deserved.

Trafford manager Danny Caldecott appeared to have instructed his men to make a positive start to the second half.

Mike Burke might have done better with a cross into the six-yard box, which he squirted wide after pausing too long on the ball.

Linnets fans were concerned to see Ryan Brooke limping towards the bench, just four minutes into the half, to be replaced by James Hooper. Brooky later reported a minor tweak to the groin, his substitution precautionary.

Dapo latched on to a loose ball just inside the Trafford area, and with Cooper well off his line, he tried to control an awkward bounce and get in a shot, but Harry Norris bundled the ball away.

Mike Burke had been Trafford's busiest attacking player, but he had looked unusually hesitant on the ball in promising positions, and he gave way to Max Hazeldine after 58 minutes.

Astley Mulholland was cautioned for a late challenge, bringing the modest card count to one each, which is where it remained.

The game entered its final half-hour with neither side bossing possession, in a spell that was less end-to-end than half-to-half.

But as he so often does, Lewis Doyle was having a big influence on Linnets edging the balance of play between the boxes, winning balls and setting up Hooper, Olarewaju and Rainford for advances towards the Trafford goal.

With 25 minutes remaining, Lewis picked up a stray ball wide on the left, turned inside and played it through to Jamie Rainford in the middle. His 20-yard shot was palmed past the post by Cooper, and from Doyle's corner kick, Sam Heathcote put Linnets firmly in command with a first-time header at the far post, down into the bottom right corner.

Trafford looked deflated, and the goal came between two more substitutions for the men in white. Saj Elhassan had come on for Ollie Ford a couple of minutes beforehand, and before they kicked off again, Ryan Morton replaced Rob Worrall.

There was a half-hearted look to Tom Bentham's shot from Elhassan's ball in from the right, and it limped wide.

In response, the inevitable Lewis Doyle forged forward from halfway, and shot wide of the left post, with Dapo shouting for a pass from his left.

Dapo had played in the last half-dozen games with the residual effects of a nasty ankle injury, which he had sustained in the Isuzu FA Trophy win against Belper Town, and caused him to sit out the following three matches.

The habitual physical attentions of opposition defenders had not aided long-term recovery, and while Trafford's challenges had been fairer than most, Dapo made way for Zack Clarke for the final 18 minutes.

Five minutes later, an industrious midfield showing by Louis Hayes ended, when Adam Moseley became the third pair of fresh Runcorn legs.

Zack worked hard with Shorty on the left, and Adam with Ally Brown on the right, to carve openings that might put the three points to bed, while Hooper continued to battle through the middle with Rainford towards the same end.

Linnets possession, with attacking intent, had them looking comfortably in control, and more likely to score again than to concede.

But it became clear that they weren't home and dry, when Trafford pulled a goal back almost out of nowhere.

Elhassan got away from Short inside the right touchline, and crossed into the area. A moment of apparent indecision between Tom Moore, Sidi Sanogo and Sam Heathcote, as to who should pounce on the loose ball, allowed Matty Morgan time for a shot which ricocheted wildly off Sam, and wrongfooted Tabs.

The goal put the result back in doubt for the final six minutes, plus three more added on by Mr Eaton.

Linnets looked keen to restablish the two-goal margin, rather than to batten down the hatches.

James Hooper made a bid for glory, turning his man just outside the area and hooking a shot on goal, but Cooper had it covered.

Adam Moseley's sprint up the right won a corner, and he picked up Shorty's tap for the two of them to hold on to possession for as long as possible.

Aaron Fleming's tackle won a throw-in from a deflection, and that set up Trafford's last chance to grab a point.

Their appeals for a last-gasp corner were rejected, and Linnets were in no hurry to take the throw-in that resulted from Tabs' goal-kick being returned towards the Forest End.

The final whistle signalled a Murdishaw Massive rendition of 'We're gonna win the league'.

There is a long way to go for that to become a realistic prediction, but Linnets were up to second place.

Victory in Saturday's home fixture with Newcastle Town, and a slip by Macclesfield against Ramsbottom United, would leave the Silkmen ahead by only their admittedly impressive goal difference.

Lewis Doyle added to an equally impressive collection of Champagne, with yet another Dron & Dickson-sponsored man- of-the-match award.

Runcorn Linnets: Danny Taberner, Ally Brown, James Short, Lewis Doyle, Tom Moore, Sam Heathcote, Dapo Olarewaju (Zack Clarke! 72 mins), Louis Hayes (Adam Moseley, 78 mins), Jamie Rainford, Sidi Sanogo Fofana, Ryan Brooke (James Hooper, 49 mins). Subs not used: Macaulay Clifton, Louis Holden.

Attendance: 530.

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