14^th February 2023, Runcorn Linnets FC v Litherland REMYCA : 2-1

Encouraged by a haul of six well-earned league points in the previous seven days, 329 fans resisted the temptation of a St Valentine's Day candlelit dinner, to be entertained by a Liverpool Senior Cup quarter-final.

Linnets and NWCFL Premier outfit Litherland REMYCA didn't serve up a classic, but nobody could accuse either side of lacking commitment to the objective of a semi-final berth. 

Sam Heathcote put Linnets ahead six minutes before the end of the first half, in which a disciplined and hard-working REMY defence made his close-range header from a corner one of very few clear Runcorn chances.

The visitors' share of a hard-fought cup tie made their 87th-minute equaliser well deserved, and the home fans were relieved to be excused the tension of a penalty shoot-out, when Tom Moore followed up his well-saved header to clinch the winner, with a minute left on the clock.

Linnets set out to attack from the off, and take control of the game, but they were never allowed to do so.

If referee Ryan Bostock had been convinced by James Short's demands for a penalty after just two minutes, a tight battle of attrition might have taken a different turn. But after that, Runcorn efforts to turn possession into chances were severely limited, as they were given precious little time or space on the ball.

Lewis Doyle and Eden Gumbs both tried shots from inside the penalty area that were blocked at close range, and at the other end, a first REMY shot, from Will Dunn's run into the area from the left, flew well wide beyond the far post.

Tackles would be swift and fierce, but mostly fair, from both sides all night. Lewis Doyle and Olly Nugent were warned to calm down, after Lewis had taken exception to Olly's charge in the back after losing out in a 50/50 challenge.

Louis Holden, making only his second start in a Linnets shirt, his first being in the 2-1 win at City of Liverpool in the previous round of this competition in late November, started a four-man move that was halted by a foul on Ollie McFadyen. The free-kick, from wide on the right, was headed clear by Luke Denson.

Eden Gumbs was next to attempt an assault on the REMY area, and he was contacted three times before Mr Bostock awarded a free-kick, just outside the 18-yard line. If he'd waited a moment longer, a fourth would have given Linnets a penalty.

James Short curled the kick around the end of the defensive wall, but it didn't turn enough to make it inside the left post.

As 20 minutes approached, the visitors carved out a couple of chances of their own. From a throw-in on the right, Jonny Foy managed a shot which flashed across goal and out on the far side. Then Nugent was away on a solo run into the area, but Sam Heathcote applied enough pressure to limit his shot to a scuff and it didn't test Danny Taberner.

Litherland were by no means restricted to a defensive siege. Nor were their attacking efforts limited to long-ball hit and hope. They strove towards the clubhouse end with overlapping passes up both flanks, and attempts to find a way through the middle with balls to the feet of Jonny Foy and Nathan Corness, who had worn Runcorn yellow and green earlier this season.

But Linnets matched the defensive thoroughness of their opponents. Isaac Turner, whose appearances had been hitherto limited mostly to cameos from the bench, started the game in place of his suspended vice-captain Sean O'Mahony, and he formed an unshakable central defensive partnership with Sam Heathcote. 

Isaac's sure-footed display was to earn him the Dron & Dickson-sponsored man of the match award.  

Linnets were seeing more of the ball, but passing sequences were failing to gain many yards into the REMY half, as quick pressing by the NWCFL side kept them at bay.

Ryan Brooke looked a frustrated figure as he awaited service to threaten the Forest End goal.

The half-hour mark loomed when Brooky did get to chase a ball into the area, but he was a yard ahead of Lewis Doyle's diagonal ball from the right, off McFadyen's crossfield pass.

Brooky had another chance a couple of minutes later, when Denson dwelt a second too long on the ball. He took two strides towards goal and shot, but sliced it wide of the right post.

The Runcorn threat was mounting, but there was no clear feeling that 'it's coming', as calm, collected and effective Litherland defending continued.

The next Runcorn assault was frustrated by a tug on the shirt of Ryan Brooke that earned Luke Denson a yellow card.

A blocked McFadyen ball into the area was deflected for a corner from the right, and James Short's kick was met by a Sam Heathcote header from six yards that flew unchallenged into the net. The goal was scored through a rare hole in the REMY rearguard.

The Runcorn lead going into the break was about right on the balance of play, but it hadn't been easy. And there was no reason to believe that the tie was anything like over.

There was still time for REMY 'keeper Jack Reynolds to hold on to Ryan Brooke's header from Lewis Doyle's cross, and for Sam Heathcote to latch on to a loose ball 25 yards out, only to fire well over the bar.

The second half started with an extended spell of long box-to-box balls both ways, with either defence preventing  their progress any further.

Linnets strove to settle down and keep the ball, but REMY showed no willingness to let them do so.

Ten minutes into the half, Matty Birchall's advance up the left won a corner, from which Tom Moore almost emulated Sam Heathcote's decisive header. But Jack Reynolds made a great reflex save to push the ball on to the bar, and Tom's follow-up header cleared it by a foot.

The first personnel change came with Eden Gumbs giving way to Adam Moseley.

Linnets were managing more possession, but they were still penned in the middle third, and multiple passing sequences were involving the back four and Tabs as much as Brooke, McFadyen, Birchall or Moseley.

It was the 61st minute when Litherland threatened Tabs' area for the first time in the half, but he safely gathered a free-kick from wide on the left. They were quickly back on the attack, but Jonny Foy handled the ball in his effort to control it and shoot.

Paul Foy was subbed by Tom Lawless after 64 minutes.

Forward balls by Linnets were being rushed, under defensive pressure, and they either outran their target, or forced crosses by Moseley from the left and McFadyen to the right to be similarly rushed.

On the break, Nathan Corness got away from Heathcote and Turner to make the penalty area, and he might have done better than a shot which skewed well wide of the right post.

Linnets returned to REMY territory, where Louis Holden was cautioned for a late and heavy attempt to regain the ball after losing out in a 50/50 challenge.

Another yellow was collected by Luke Denson for a foul on Adam Moseley, as he met James Short's pass just outside the area.

Ally Brown replaced Louis Holden, before the free-kick was launched into a crowded six-yard box. Tom Moore went down, and did seem to have been tripped as he pursued the ball, but the referee decided otherwise.

REMY broke away, and Tabs was hurt as he won a one-on-one challenge at the edge of the area.

Treatment got him upright again, and play restarted with a drop ball.

Jonny Foy did leave the field, replaced by Elliot Taylor.

After Ryan Brooke's heels were clipped, 30 yards from goal, Sam Heathcote headed down into the middle of the area, but Jamie Hay cleared, and Litherland kept and passed the ball for a while, without breaking the resolve of the Runcorn defence.

A REMY corner from the left swerved out of play and back in, with a number of men poised to exploit it.

Short, Moseley and Brooke plugged away up the left to prise an opening, but with only five minutes to play, there were no signs of tiredness among the well-regimented visiting defence. It looked increasingly as though that Heathcote goal would be the decider.

But a rare moment of defensive generosity at the other end followed a shot blocked at close range, giving Will Dunn the space to deliver an equaliser, in the 87th minute. 

Only the harshest of pundits could argue that Litherland hadn't deserved the prospect of a penalty shoot out. The timing of the leveller didn't encourage the Linnets fans behind the clubhouse goal to fancy a twelve-yard lottery.

But their team didn't relish the prospect, either, and they went rapidly on the attack in search of putting the game to bed.

Matty Birchall's ball from the left was relayed by Ollie McFadyen to Ally Brown on the right, He passed Dooley towards the goal line and crossed into the area, where Reynolds made a great save from Tom Moore's powerful header. Unfortunately for the 'keeper, that power brought the rebound back to Tom, and he tucked the ball into the bottom left corner.

Parity had been restored for barely two minutes, and this time there would be no more slips at the back from Runcorn, as REMY came at them again.

Linnets had one more chance themselves, as Ollie McFayden ran on to a long through ball, but he was offside.

The last five minutes of the night had been a consolation for those who like to see end-to-end excitement, but defences win matches and trophies every bit as much as clinical finishing.    

There were those involved in post-match discussions who felt they had witnessed a poor game, but I felt that was an unfair evaluation of a match in which the defensive arts had held sway over attacking flair.

Perhaps I was more favourably prejudiced by my own memories of being a centre-half, who was never good enough to be paid for it. 

But any such negativity was also dismissive of an impressive REMYCA performance, which made Runcorn work considerably harder to secure a win than had been demanded by either of their last two NPL West opponents.  

A third victory in the space of eight days set up a semi-final showdown, against opponents still to be decided, in Runcorn Linnets' first tilt at the Liverpool Senior Cup.

It also added to Runcorn confidence, in preparation for Saturday's visit by promotion play-off rivals Workington.  

Runcorn Linnets:Danny Taberner, Louis Holden (Ally Brown, 75 mins), James Short, Tom Moore, Isaac Turner, Sam Heathcote, Ollie McFadyen, Lewis Doyle, Ryan Brooke, Matty Birchall, Eden Gumbs (Adam Moseley 55). Subs (not used): Josh Roberts (GK), Jamie Rainford. 

Attendance:329.

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