Runcorn Linnets 0 Witton Albion 4
Report by Dave Bettley with pictures by Neil Thornton
After an encouraging end to 2024, New Year began ignominiously as Runcorn Linnets were convincingly beaten by their former landlords.
Witton were full value for their victory at APEC Taxis Stadium, repeating the scoreline from the earlier league meeting of the teams at Wincham in August.
Linnets were not without their chances in the first half and although they trailed 2-0 at the break, it seemed as if there was still something left in the game for the hosts.
Unfortunately, it all fell apart after the interval with Runcorn's attacking threat subsiding.
Witton, having been the stronger and more incisive in attack throughout, were ultimately not flattered by the familiar margin of victory.
Callum Grogan had been handed his full debut at the heart of Runcorn's defence after a very late appearance as a substitute in Boxing Day's victory at Bootle.
Peter Wylie stood down, although he joined the action midway through a first half in which the hosts lost two defenders to injury.
By the time Harvey Washington limped off to be replaced by Wylie, Runcorn were already two goals in arrears.
Into stoppage time, Eden Gumbs came on for Sam Barratt, who had hurt a shoulder.
Witton were in front by the seventh minute. They had won two successive corners, neither being cleared effectively and, from the ensuing third, Albion player-manager Ben Harrison rose high above the home rearguard to score.
The centre back's header crossed the line before Linnets could intervene.
With Lewis Doyle in midfield and left back Naim Arsan featuring in Runcorn's best moves, Witton 'keeper Louie Fallon was busy enough at this stage.
He was forced to turn an Arsan shot around his right post for a corner from which Linnets should have equalised. Washington's header went over the crossbar from almost underneath it.
But Albion were getting some dangerous balls into the Runcorn box and from one such instance, their lead was doubled.
Nick Hepple found a good position to get in a shot, which Tom Myles did well to save but the visiting centre forward's rebound effort was more convincing.
Two down after 19 minutes, Runcorn were left with it all to do.
Again, Fallon was called into action with a tipover save from Karl Clair's 20-yard free-kick.
Clair also took the resulting flagkick, Doyle unable to get a clean connection right-foooted at the near post when using his left mjght have been the better option.
Grogan struck the woodwork from beyond the far post after another left-wing corner but Witton continued to threaten.
Albion's newest signing Max Harrop had a shot charged down by Barratt to optimistic penalty claims for handball - with Myles diving across his goal line to gather before the away side could pounce.
Runcorn were denied by Fallon again, Brooke starting and almost finishing a move involving Clair and Moseley.
The Linnets talisman's shot from an acute angle to the right of goal was fingertipped to safety.
Four minutes from the break, Witton were the thickness of the woodwork from settling the issue in double quick time.
The elusive Damola Sotona was impeded on the edge of the box and Harrop's free-kick rattled the bar.
Runcorn were still in with a chance but their second-half performance needed to be perfect and it was nothing of the sort.
Moseley and Wall out wide and Brooke in the middle struggled to make any impact and as the Witton defence held firm, Runcorn looked nervy in possession and increasingly erratic in their passing.
When Clair was replaced by Jaden Jones in the 52nd minute, Doyle found himself in a deeper role with fewer opportunities to link the play from midfield to attack.
With Runcorn reduced to moving the ball laterally and invariably losing possession, Joel Bailey, Harrop, Isaac Graham and Hepple all had shots for Witton, each of them off target.
But Harrop duly lashed home a clinching third goal in the 71st minute from a left-wing break.
Runcorn had been unable to put a shot on goal at the Clubhouse End or provide Przemek Staniszewski, a 58th-minute substitute for Brooke, with any worthwhile service.
The home debut-making striker was, however, closest to connecting with a right-wing cross by Moseley as it fizzed across the six yard box, begging for a finish.
Salt was poured onto Runcorn wounds in stoppage time when ex-Linnet James Hooper was awarded a very dubious penalty. It appeared that he had gone down voluntarily rather than under the weight of any challenge.
But Owen German rammed home the spot-kick to confirm Witton's clear superiority.
Manager Kay apologised to supporters after the game, admitting that the team had let fans down with their performance.
It was also revealed that on-loan 'keeper Myles had played his last match for the club, after being recalled before the game by Manchester United.
Next up for Linnets is a short trip to league leaders Widnes on Saturday.
Runcorn Linnets: Tom Myles, Sam Barratt (Eden Gumbs, 45+2 mins), Naim Arsan, Karl Clair (Jaden Jones, 52 mins), Callum Grogan,
Harvey Washington (Peter Wylie,
24 mins), Adam Moseley, Jacques Welsh, Ryan Brooke (Przemek Staniszewski, 58 mins), Lewis Doyle, Luke Wall. Sub (not used): Lewis Nolan.
Attendance: 761.
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