Our trusty match reporter has put together a season review which is well worth a read.

August – A spot of bother, but unbeaten…

It doesn’t seem 5 minutes ago that the yellow and green army rocked up at Back Common Edge Road, full of enthusiasm for the season’s opener against AFC Blackpool. 45 minutes in, 2-0 down, much of that early enthusiasm had subsided. A second half double from Super Kev combined with the first of a productive season for Sean Pearson stunned the league newcomers though, and got the season up and running. Towey also started what was to turn in to a worrying trend from the spot. His miss was followed up with two more blanks from 12-yards courtesy of Prescott and Ellison, both in the first half of the next game at home to Alsgaer. Incredibly, in the same half of football, we got another penalty and mercifully found somebody who could score them in Sean Pearson. An early Manager of the Month award arrived for Macca thanks to an unbeaten August. Wins against AFC Blackpool, Alsager and Atherton LR were supported by draws against Flixton and Bootle. Although two attempts were required, progress in the FA cup came against AFC Liverpool. The early signs were good, with new and old combining well.

September – (Not) in a league of our own...

A whole month and not a solitary league game. Solid away draws followed up with convincing home performances was the formula used to get past both Mossley and Squires Gate in the FA Cup. The Vase saw progress confirmed against Congleton away and Bootle at home. A late September loss to Warrington in the Senior Cup was to be the first taste of defeat in the season. Memories of bygone days were evoked in the FA Cup, when we were drawn in the North-East against Northern League side Hebburn. The Vase also threw up a tricky tie against league frontrunners Barnoldswick Town. Another Manager of the Month award followed for Macca and deservedly, Goalkeeper of the Month for Richie Mottram. The new custodian not only conceded 1 goal in the whole month, but made crucial saves at crucial times, not least a late penalty save at Squires Gate. Impressive victories against Unibond side Mossley and a typically tough Bootle side started to raise expectations down at the Millbank.

October – Cup exits and that day at Stone...

The aforementioned trip to Hebburn opened the month, but it was ultimately to prove an opportunity missed. A physical team, reduced to 10, but not 9 as they should have been, somehow kept the Linnets’ 2nd half onslaught at bay. Missed chances and unsuccessful penalty shouts both contributed to the exit, but it had been a great run. The Vase unfortunately went the same way with an extra time home defeat to Barnoldswick. Controversy was once again to the fore with both teams ending with 10 men; Towey the unlucky Linnet to see red. Sandwiched in between cup games, a 5-0 away defeat at Glossop provided the first league defeat of the season. October also provided that day at Stone. 13 goals, 3 hat tricks, one in the first 4 minutes from Towey, a broken arm, Athers in goal, a penalty and a few more grey hairs for Linnets fans. An incredible day, but 3 points at the end of it meant 7 from 9 to get things going in the league again. Cup interest was retained in the form of the league cup following a 2nd round win against Ashton Town.

November – The goal that never was...

Other than the traditional postponement at Bacup, November was back to back midweek and weekend league games, offering the Linnets the chance to climb the league. It didn’t quite work out that way though. Despite a solid start in the form of 4 points from Bootle at home and Asthon away, only 3 further points, all from draws, were amassed in the final six games of the month. The month’s, and possibly the season’s, most controversial moment arrived in the unlucky 2-1 home defeat to Ramsbottom. If it wasn’t enough that an early penalty for the visitors was later proved to be well outside the area, Runcorn were then denied both a clear penalty of their own and more importantly, a goal, when Rob Hardwick’s header clearly crossed the line. Although the points return and performances had taken a dip, there were still glimpses of an unbreakable team spirit, namely fighting back for a 4-4 at Silsden. The other draws, frustrating in their nature, came at home to Stone and Padiham. The mood couldn’t help but be lightened upon hearing, that for letting in an average of 2 goals per game, Richie had been awarded a second, slightly more baffling, Goalkeeper of the Month!

December – Two out of three ain’t bad...

As the weather took hold, Runcorn played only 3 games in December. After what proved to be the least productive month of the season in November, the lads showed great spirit to bounce back to form with consecutive 1-0 wins away at Winsford and then at home to Silsden. The latter of the games was particularly satisfying after players and fans had joined forces to clear snow from what proved to be an excellent MLS surface, to enable the game to go ahead. The day encapsulated everything that is great about our club and although the defeat that followed on Boxing Day was disappointing, it proved to be the only blip in 2 months, as the winning form continued into 2012.

January – 100%...

The New Year saw a gradual rise up the league begin. Both scheduled away games at Colne and Flixton succumbed to the weather, but the MLS remained in great order and the three games at home went ahead with no problems at all. With all three resulting in maximum points, the league position started to look encouraging. Runcorn finished the month in 8th place, but still retained anywhere between one and five games in hand on all seven teams above them. The January victories came against AFC Liverpool, Bacup and Squires Gate, and saw us bang in eight goals in the process. A second half comeback from two down against Squires Gate provided the highlight, as Macca’s men really started to gain some momentum. To add to the ever increasing list of awards heading the way of the MLS, Chris Lawton scooped the January Player of the Month, a great achievement, but a more prestigious title awaited Lawton in April.

February – Preccy’s five a day...

An unwelcome cold snap halted the good run at the start of February and it took until the middle of the month to get things underway again. A 2-2 at home against a dogged Maine Road side was followed up with six of the best against 1st Division Eccleshall, to send us into the Quarter Finals of the League Challenge Cup. The month was rounded off with away wins at St Helens and Flixton and Colne at home. Athers’ last minute winner against Colne and Preccy’s nap hand against Eccleshall provided the highlights. More awards came to the MLS as a result of the unbeaten run in February. Macca won his third Manager of the Month and a third Goalkeeper of the Month, this time for Damo, was also presented. The consistent form had seen us rise comfortably into the top six by the end of the month.

March - A month of two halves…

After picking up our third Manager and Goalkeeper of the Month awards of the season in February, and having remained unbeaten since Boxing Day, hopes were high for a visit to Ramsbottom in early March. Despite taking an early lead though, Ramsbottom's 'keeper produced two stunning saves to keep his team in the game and provide the platform for a 4-2 victory. The Linnets' fate was sealed with yet another highly dubious red card, this time for Neil Murphy. A goalless draw followed on a cold night at Alsager, before Runcorn went down 2-1, twice in the space of 4 days. Bacup dumped us out of the League Cup, before Colne avenged their defeat at the MLS only 2 weeks earlier. Failure to hit the back of the net, despite creating plentiful chances, was an unwanted trend that started to develop during the defeats. On the verge of slipping into another November, the lads quickly pulled things round and fired off a series of 4 wins to get things back on track and consolidate our top 6 position. A throw back to the John Williams’ days saw three successive 1-0’s, against St Helens, Bacup and Ashton, before the month was rounded off with another clean sheet, but two goals against Atherton LR. So that left April.…

April – Fifth Gear...

April started well. The run of clean sheets continued at Squires Gate and a solitary goal from Paul Prescott was enough to seal the win on a horrible night at the coast. 8 hours and 4 minutes after conceding the second at Colne on 13th March, the Linnets defence was finally breached again at Barnoldswick. The 6th minute strike from Spencer Jordan was the first of a hat trick that saw Runcorn slip to their first defeat in 6. The defeat was quickly forgotten though, when 602 packed into the MLS to see a comprehensive derby day victory. The win lose pattern continued when Padiham beat the Linnets 3-0, before another good win against a top team at home. A deflected Chris Dykes goal was enough to avenge the defeat against Barnoldswick earlier in the month. Glossop were next up at the MLS, in a busy schedule over the last couple of weeks. A 1-1 draw was about fair, but Sean’s last minute penalty could have nicked all three points. It was the only penalty Sean missed all season and for his very first against Alsager alone, he is well and truly forgiven! A surprising 5-1 defeat to Winsford rounded off the campaign at the MLS, before 3 final points at Maine Road saw the lads finish with 76 points. When Glossop failed to win their last game of the season at Barnoldswick, Runcorn were confirmed as 5th place finishers; a great achievement and fantastic springboard for next season.

Runcorn Linnets Assistant Manager, Dave "Yozza" Hughes, has resigned from his position following the Linnets' last match of the season at Maine Road, with a 2-1 win.

Explaining the reason for his resignation, Dave said "I've had a great time at the Linnets, and have really enjoyed my time there. I'd like to thank Macca, Derek, Lynn, and everybody else at the club, but I think it's time to move on and try and find another challenge. Although I've enjoyed my time as Macca's assistant, I'd ideally like to return to managing a team. I'd like to wish the best of luck to Macca and the lads in the future."

Dave along with Manager, Paul McNally, have provided the Linnets their most successful season in the North West Counties League Premier Division, picking up three Manager of the Month awards, and culminating in the best league position since the club were promoted in 2007.

Everybody at the club would like to thank Dave for his efforts over the last two years, and wish him good luck in his future endeavours.

Runcorn beat Maine Road in the North West Counties Premier League at Brantingham Road with a score of 1-2. Rob Whyte put the Linnets ahead with a close range shot in the 38th minute. Maine Road equalised in the 43rd minute. Kevin Towey put the Linnets ahead with a header in the 49th minute.

Match Report

Runcorn lost to Winsford United in the North West Counties Premier League at The Millbank Linnets Stadium with a score of 1-5. Sean Pearson put the Linnets ahead with a close range shot in the 17th minute. Winsford United equalised in the 30th minute, went ahead in the 39th minute. Winsford United increased the lead in the 66th minute. Lewis Savva sent off in 73rd minute, then Winsford managed to score another two in the last 10 minutes.

Match Report

Congratulations to Chris Lawton who was named as the fans' Player of the Year today. The award is given following a vote cast by fans and is organised by the Supporters Club.