The club's injury crisis continues with the news that Robbie Moore sustained a recurrence of a recent groin strain during Tuesday's game at Barrow and is considered doubtful for tomorrow's game at home to Nuneaton Borough. Ged Nolan and Kieran Durkan also complained of ankle and hamstring strains after last night's training session in Speke. Better news for the club is Matty McGinn, missing for the Cumbrian game with the effects of a knock at Harrogate last Saturday, appeared to come through the same session. Lee Parle however is still under treatment for an infected heel. The rest of the injured players are in improving states of rehabilitation apart from Lee Kissock and Carl Furlong who remain long term casualties.

Runcorn FC Halton Manager Alvin McDonald has added yet another new face to the Linnets’ increasingly competitive squad with the signing of goalkeeper Ashley Timms from Manchester City. Timms is the twelfth signing that McDonald has made since being appointed manager just over six weeks ago.

Timms, 19, started his career at Atherton L.R. before Manchester City snapped him up. He has also had trials with Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic and Oxford United and is a highly regarded goalkeeper. Timms has also had some experience of playing at this level after making a few appearances for rivals Altrincham last season, and has more recently played for Mossley.

McDonald decided to bring in Timms to increase the competition for the number one jersey at the club, with Tony McMillan previously the only keeper on the Linnets’ books.

He said “We have known since we first came to the club that we needed cover for Tony. If something was to happen to him, say a bout of flu on a Friday night, then we would not be able to bring anybody in.

“We have been waiting for the right person to come along and when we found out that City had released Timms, we were interested. His is 6ft 3 and again is a young lad and will be a good addition to the squad.

“Tony has been playing very well of late and will remain first choice at the club. Timms has to bide his time and when the opportunity of a run in the first team comes, he needs to grab his chance and make the jersey his own.”

A 7th minute goal from Kieran Durkin put Barrow out of the National Conference Cup and put Runcorn through to the next round against Conference outfit, Carlisle.

Runcorn played well, and stretched Barrow for most of the game. Runcorn supporters were nonplussed at the seemingly uneven refereeing decisions which saw 6 bookings against Runcorn players, and none for Barrow. Ged Courtney was on the receiving end of two of those bookings, and was sent off with around 20 minutes to go.

Courtney's first booking was for deliberate handball, but his second was the result of a bizarre sequence of events which also resulted in 'keeper Tony McMillan getting shown the yellow card. Courtney attempted to get a deflection off a Barrow player from around 25 yards out, but it failed to make contact, and the ball managed to hurtle through a crowded penalty area without touching anybody until McMillan had to get behind and save it. This was deemed to be a back-pass by the referee, and in the ensuing mêlée of objection, pushing and shoving, involving most of the players on the pitch, Courtney received his second yellow card, and McMillan was booked.

Runcorn FC Halton Manager Alvin McDonald has continued to shape Runcorn into his own side with another raid on Unibond Division One side Gresley Rovers. McDonald, who signed midfielder Karl Brown from Gresley last month, have returned to the club to snap up 21-year old versatile defender Jimmy Turner.

Turner has been in impressive form for Gresley this season and will make a useful addition to the Linnets increasingly impressive squad. He can play anywhere in defence and has being showing his versatility recently by playing on the right side of Gresley’s midfield.

He started his career at Championship side Derby County, before moving to Conference Proper outfit Forest Green Rovers. He joined Gresley earlier this season and has quickly made himself a first team member with some impressive displays.

McDonald said, “We have been aware of Jimmy for some time. He is good friends with Karl [Brown] who we signed last month, and they were at Derby County together in the youth team.

“He is a player who we think will add quality to the squad, and he is only young which gives us something to build on. Hopefully he will be at the club a long time and can help take the club forward.”

Runcorn are still suffering from a number of injuries, the most obvious of which are Lee Kissock with a broken fibula, and Carl Furlong is still out with his hamstring injury.

Mike Garrity is still complaining about soreness to his ribs but hopefully he will be up and running very soon. Ellis is still struggling with his ankle and so more rest is prescribed.

At the Harrogate match there were a few casualties; Matty McGinn took a blow to the side of his leg in a block tackle early on which restricted his movement from then on. Lee Parle is still going through the 'pain barrier' with his infected heel but was eventually incapacitated with a blow to his calf yesterday. Also Robbie Moore took a knock and has suffering the effects of a dead leg which can be difficult to overcome with only a couple of days treatment before the Barrow match.

There is some good news though. Tom Spearitt, Anton Lally and Martin Molyneux are all now back training with the squad and are looking for match minutes.