Goalscorer supreme Ryan Brooke crowns memorable Linnets fightback with record-breaking winner

Ryan Brooke breaks Runcorn Linnets' goalscoring record with a matchwinning 77th for the club. Picture by Peter Cantwell.

Runcorn Linnets 3 Stalybridge Celtic 2

Report by Dave Bettley

Ryan Brooke's expression says it all as his landmark strike clinches a memorable victory with Lewis Crane, right, sharing the delight of his fellow striker. Picture by Ben Jackson.

Some football games inevitably live long in the memory for one reason or another.

This will certainly fall into that category - not only for Ryan Brooke setting a new all-time goalscoring record at Runcorn Linnets.

A healthy Non-League Day crowd just short of 700 witnessed a gripping contest, which was an absolute treat for the neutral yet put the affiliated through the wringer.

Agony turned to ecstacy for Runcorn and vice-versa for their visitors, who were blitzed by three late goals after seemingly having the points in their grasp.

Trailing 0-2 with 18 minutes remaining, it looked as if Runcorn's chances of reaching the play-offs for the fourth successive Pitching in Northern Premier League West campaign were effectively over.

But for the second time against Stalybridge this season, Runcorn wiped out a two-goal deficit to take the spoils.

In keeping their promotion hopes alive and kicking, Linnets dealt a severe blow to those of the Tamesiders, who trail the now seventh-placed Yellow & Greens by a point.

Ryan Brooke carries the ball back to the centre circle after launching Runcorn's comeback with his first goal in the 72nd minute. Picture by Bobby Hancox.

Brooke netted two of the three home comeback goals to depose Mark Houghton at the top of the club's aggregate scoring charts.

The talismanic striker's matchwinning 84th-minute header raised the bar to a new high of 77 Linnets goals, Brooke having achieved the feat in 137 matches.

He had briefly been level with Houghton on 76 goals after reviving Runcorn's fading hopes of a top-five finish by heading home the umpteenth cross of the match from Luke Wall, whose trusty left foot had already produced some absolute beauties.

The 72nd-minute effort galvanised the hosts and within five minutes defender Joe Ferguson had, in contrast to the prolific Brooke, conjured up his first strike in a Linnets shirt.

Joe Ferguson's spectacular equaliser gave Linnets momentum to go on to win tne game. Picture by Peter Cantwell.

It was a magical effort too by the right back from another of Wall's right-wing deliveries - Ferguson teeing it up for himself to score with a spectacular bicycle kick into the roof of the net.

Ryan Brooke and Joe Ferguson celebrate with Linnets back on level terms. Picture by Bobby Hancox.

The momentum was suddenly all with the hosts - and goal king Brooke provided the crowning glory.

Naim Arsan had repeatedly taken up good crossing positions on the left, the supply line to the Welsh winger only being strengthened by the introduction midway through the half of on-loan Chester midfielder Reece Daly for a belated Linnets debut.

Daly had first registered with Runcorn towards the end of 2021-22, under his now Deva Stadium boss Calum McIntyre, but only as cover and without featuring in the team.

Reece Daly will be with Runcorn Linnets for the rest of the season after signing on loan from Chester. Picture by Peter Cantwell.

This time taking the field within 24 hours of signing, Daly combined well with Arsan, whose perseverance paid off with six minutes of the 90 remaining.

Holding on to possession inside the box, he wriggled to the deadball line to find the quality of cross he had been seeking.

Brooke did the rest.

The first half paled into insignificance after all the excitement of the second, but it was not without chances at both ends.

Neither side was too far off with their finishing yet the 'keepers weren't severely tested.

Arsan had come closest for Linnets with far-post efforts at each end of the half, both flitting agonisingly wide when goals looked certain.

Slow-starting Stalybridge took all of 19 minutes to take a pot at goal but there followed a flurry of visiting shots.

The biggest danger for Linnets was averted by left back Eden Gumbs' brilliant covering tackle when Joe Duckworth had been on the brink of scoring.

After the break, Ferguson used his pace to rescue Runcorn.

They'd thrown bodies forward for a free-kick and were in jeopardy as Joe Duckworth broke into the clear.

By then, Celtic were already a goal to the good, Duckworth's ball in from the right having picked out Lewis Rawsthorn to touch home at the near post in the 54th minute.

Runcorn were unhappy that referee Matthew Friend hadn't awarded a foul in the lead-up for a challenge on Adam Moseley, arguing they had gained no advantage from play being allowed to continue.

Visiting fans were in raptures 10 minutes later, when Jack Irlam instinctively converted Rawsthorn's diagonal pass into the area after a quick and incisive Celtic passing move.

All smiles from Ryan Brooke (right) and team mates on leaving the field at full-time. Picture by Peter Cantwell.

Runcorn were on the brink of their first defeat since Brad Cooke's appointment - albeit in the manager's absence, due to an engagement planned prior to his arrival early last month at APEC Taxis Stadium.

Runcorn's fightback under Cooke's assistant Rob Sadler made it nine games without defeat for the still relatively new management team and 11 unbeaten in all.

It was no help that six of the seven teams above Linnets before kick-off also won.

But Cooke's men can only control their own results while hoping, with the weeks now running out, that there is still time for rivals to slip up.

Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Peter Wylie, Eden Gumbs, Jacques Welsh, Joe Ferguson, Callum Grogan, Adam Moseley (Reece Daly, 66 mins), Lewis Doyle (Lewis Crane, 81 mins), Ryan Brooke, Luke Wall (Jorge Dwyer, 85 mins), Naim Arsan. Subs (not used): Harvey Washington, Jay Lee.

Attendance: 689.

The message rings out loud and clear at full-time. Picture by Bobby Hancox.