Are we up for the Cup?

Nantwich Town v RUNCORN LINNETS

Cheshire Senior Cup (Quarter-final)

Tuesday, January 20th 2026 (ko 7.45pm)

Swansway Stadium, Waterlode, Nantwich, CW5 5BS

Our defence of the Cheshire Senior Cup is again on the line as we pay our second visit of the campaign to Nantwich.

'Under new management' signs have been posted by Nantwich, as well as ourselves, since the league meeting at Swansway in mid-November.

That ended in a 2-0 Runcorn win with goals by Dec McLoughlin and Scott Bakkor.

The then team bosses Jon Moran (Nantwich) and Brad Cooke (Linnets) resigned within hours of each other at the turn of the year.

Lying 10th in NPL West compared to Runcorn's fourth place, the Dabbers are under the caretaker control of Mark Feighery, Moran's former assistant.

Michael Ellison is looking to extend a run of three wins in eight days since resuming at Linnets after a near six-year gap.

History trail

Runcorn Linnets lifted the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time last season, memorably defeating Stalybridge Celtic 3-0 in the final at Chester's Deva Stadium.

Adam Moseley, who scored a hat-trick on the night, has since moved on to Wigan Athletic but nine of the 11 starters from the tie remain on the scene.

The other exception is Luke Wall, who hasn't featured for us since August due to overseas working commitments.

Although it was our maiden county cup triumph, our precedessors Runcorn lifted the trophy 12 times and in five consecutive seasons in the mid to late 1980s.

Nantwich are six-time winners of the competition.

Their first triumph was in 1932-33 against ICI Alkali and their latest in 2018--19, when defeating Cammell Laird 1907.

Then Cheshire League club Nantwich's 4-3: defeat of Runcorn in the 1975-76 final at Gresty Road, Crewe, as a major shock.

It denied the Linnets a hat-trick of titles after wins over Macclesfield Town and Altrincham in the previous two seasons.

Runcorn were champions of the Northern Premier League in 75-76 - at the time the highest level of non-league football in the North of England.

It was three years later that football outside the Football League went national with the formation of the Alliance Premier League.

Nantwich's 2017-18 CSC triumph, the first of two in succession, was achieved on our ground.

We had been invited by the Cheshire FA to host the final in which the Dabbers overcame Stockport Town 3-0.

Surprisingly, the Runcorn Linnets and Nantwich Town have met just once before in the competition.

In January 2017, during Ello's first season as manager, we went down 2-1 at home in front of a 215 crowd. 

Form guide

The Dabbers have already defeated Cammell Laird 1907 4-0 and our tenants Northwich Victoria 1-0 at at the APEC in this season's competition.

We won 3-2 (Naim Arsan, Marcus Cusani and Adam Rooney our scorers) at Winsford United in the second round after being excused from the first on receiving a bye.

Since our last visit, Nantwich have played 10 in all competitions - winning five and losing five.

They have won their last three in NPL West - against Stafford Rangers, at home, and away to Kidgsrove Athletic and Congleton Town.

The vastly-exoerienced former EFL striker Byron Harrison scored his 50th Nantwich goal in Saturday's 2-0 victory at Congleton.

How to get there

By road - From M6 J16, take the A500 towards Nantwich. Head straight across at the next four roundabouts onto the A51 towards Nantwich Town Centre and then straight ahead through the traffic lights and over the railway crossing.

At the next roundabout, go straight ahead, then left at the next mini-roundabout, passing Morrisons supermarket on the right.

Continue straight ahead at the next roundabout, following the road to the next crossroad traffic lights.

At the next set of lights, there it's a right turn for the ground.

Other routes, avoiding the motorway, are available.

By train - Services to Nantwich from Runcorn and Runcorn East both involve changes.

Car parking

There is limited car parking on a first-come, first-serve basis with additional parking in the town centre – the nearest next to Nantwich Swimming Baths, a five-minute walk from the ground.

Admission

Prices for this match have been reduced:

Adults - £9

Concession (Over 60s) - £6

Junior (U16s) - £3