Runcorn Linnets 2 Atherton Collieries 1
Report by Dave Bettley with photos from Kelly Jones
Linnets began a pivotal eight days, which could yet define their season, with an unflattering victory over struggling Colls.
Two superb finishes earned Linnets their first win of 2025 at the fourth attempt but on the balance of play, it should really have been more convincing.
Instead, a giveaway goal deep into stoppage time saw a comfortable lead halved by the 10-man visitors.
This was the first of two successive home games for Runcorn against teams currently occupying relegation places, Stafford Rangers providing the opposition in the second on Tuesday.
The outcomes of these matches, plus next Saturday's trip to Newcastle Town, may well shape the direction of Runcorn's so far inconsistent campaign in a tightly-packed Pitching In Northern Premier League West.
Three of the next four games are on their own ground.
Linnets began this return Friday night outing against Colls in 10th place but in victory jumped back to eighth.
They were down to ninth after Saturday's games but still well in sight of the play-off positions with results having been favourable.
Manager Antony Kay made three changes to the team which had started the 2-0 defeat at Mossley the previous Saturday with Eden Gumbs, Jacques Walsh and Adam Moseley all being recalled.
Karl Clair, Jaden Jones and Harvey Washington were the players making way.
The game had some parallels to last weekend's game at Seel Park. In both cases, the home side were worthy of their victory but left it late to press home their advantage after already being one goal to the good when their visitors were left a player short by a red card.
Furthermore, as on Saturday, the eventual winners opened the scoring in almost immediate response to their opponents fatefully spurning a clear opportunity.
On this occasion, Colls' Danny Lafferty missed the target with a left-foot shot from inside the box after a well-worked move, orchestrated by Aaron Dwyer from a short corner on the right.
Linnets were fortunate that the chance had fallen to a centre half.
Runcorn had been playing the more controlled football but lacked any great urgency.
Perhaps spurred into action by their narrow escape, Runcorn promptly went in front in the 39th minute, benefitting from a positive foray from midfield by Lewis Doyle.
Although Doyle couldn't engineer a strike on goal himself, the ball found its way to Luke Wall on the edge of the area.
He turned sweetly to steer a left-foot shot of real quality beyond Sol Honor, the big Colls goalkeeper being beaten low to his right.
Visiting striker Kielen Adams was sent off with the second half only seven minutes old for violent conduct against Linnets central defender Callum Grogan.
It was an off the ball incident, missed by many in the crowd, but not by referee Tom Harland.
Adams had already been on the wrong end of a decision in the first half, when the game was still goalless.
He unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty, believing he had been caught by Gumbs as the Runcorn left back tried to clear the ball.
On first view, the striker might well have had a case. But if Gumbs did connect with his man, he barely put a foot wrong otherwise.
With their extra player, Runcorn dominated possession, sub Jaden Jones joining Wall in tormenting the beleaguered away side.
Linnets were largely camped in Colls territory but somehow unable to convert their superiority on to the scoresheet.
In a further throwback to Saturday, defender Peter Wylie again came agonisingly close to improving his meagre Runcorn goals tally.
This time, it was the thickness of the right post, rather than athleticism from a goalkeeper, which denied the advancing right back.
On his home debut, hard-working loan striker Dean Adekoya could have opened his Linnets account when played in through the middle.
But with defenders around him, he had to act quickly and didn't get enough purchase on a low drive, which Honor was solidly behind.
Runcorn delivered the second goal they had been threatening in the 82nd minute.
Doyle showed immaculate technique, getting on top of his shot to hammer home from a right-wing cross to the left side of the box.
The Linnets No.8 almost had another soon after but the Colls 'keeper was this time equal to the effort, turning it around the right post.
The second goal would prove crucial, however. With the three minutes of stoppage time almost up, Passant gifted the visitors a goal by completely miskicking - allowing the lurking Dwyer to pounce as the 'keeper tried to make up for the lapse with a despairing dive.
Passant had earlier produced the save of the game at close range to deny the same player - Colls' top performer on the night - when instinctively stretching out to his left to palm away the ball one-handed.
Late niggle crept into a game, which had been clean until Adams's dismissal.
Beyond the 90-minute mark, just before Colls scored, Runcorn sub Ryan Brooke was booked after a wrestling match with Lafferty, although it was far from one-sided.
The Colls No.5 had already been cautioned.
Simmering ill feeling threatened to spill over after the final whistle with jostling in a throng of players from both sides making their way to the dressing room.
But the referee Harland was able to restore order without needing to brandish any further cards.
Linnets man of the match Doyle had collected the other of the three issued during the game.
Having achieved only their second double of the season through their first victory of 2025, Linnets now await Tuesday’s visit from the only side in the division they are yet to encounter in this, or indeed, any season.
To whet the appetite, there were many epic encounters between Linnets and Stafford in the days of the original Runcorn club, not least two controversial FA Trophy semi-finals back in the 1970s with both going in favour of Rangers.
The twice-postponed fixture is a 7.45pm kick-off at APEC Taxis Stadium.
Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Peter Wylie, Naim Arsan, Jacques Welsh, Callum Grogan, Jack Grundy, Adam Moseley (Jaden Jones, 58 mins), Lewis Doyle, Dean Adekoya (Ryan Brooke, 77 mins), Luke Wall (Lewis Nolan, 89 mins), Eden Gumbs. Subs (not used): Karl Clair, Przemek Staniszewski.
Attendance: 483.
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