Deja vu despair for Linnets as Witton run away with victory at New Year again
- dbettley
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Runcorn Linnets 0 Witton Albion 5
Report by Dave Bettley
Linnets fans arrived for the New Year's Day fixture at APEC Taxis Stadium thinking that the start to 2026 couldn't be any worse than the opening match of 2025.
How wrong they were.
Even the ignominious four-goal pounding Linnets had taken on home ground against the same opponents 12 months earlier was surpassed as the hosts turned in an inept performance nobody had seen coming.
A team that had taken three consecutive clean sheets and been largely impressive at home was blown out of the water by a Witton side, which dominated from start to finish.
Runcorn have come such a long way under Brad Cooke's management that it would be an exaggeration to say that this was back to square one.
But it certainly felt like a big backwards step and one which the boss was at a loss to explain.
They were outgunned by an in-form Albion side, which was far superior in all areas and caught Runcorn's defence on a real off day.
Linnets had been lacklustre in an attacking sense in the scoreless draw at Bootle on Boxing Day but able to fall back on a well-organised rearguard effort.
Six days later, that same defence looked all over the place with Witton adding three second-half goals to the pair, which had put them firmly in control at the break.
Linnets were in peril well before falling behind in the 22nd minute.
Early dominance from the visitors brought its rewards with James Lawrie planting a left-wing corner onto the head of Freddy Garbutt - the tallest player on the field - who glanced the ball in for the first of his devastating hat-trick.
Garbutt extended their advantage in the 33rd minute - sliding in at the far, right post to bundle in a scuffed shot by the strong-running Alfie Bairstow.
Runcorn had produced very little of substance in the first half, their best and only worthwhile effort being a shot from the left by Naim Arsan, which flashed wide.
No.10 Sean Miller, restored to the starting line-up after injury, and effervescent right back Joe Ferguson tried to spark a revival as Linnets mounted their first spell of significant pressure towards half-time.
But generally, there was little threat or quality in their build-up play and none of the purpose that was on show from the increasingly confident visitors
The second half brought shoots of recovery and a change in shape before the hour mark a glimmer of hope as substitute Lewis Doyle set up James Steele.
By now providing Scott Bakkor with much-needed support as Linnets went with two up top and three at the back after the withdrawal of central defender Peter Wylie through injury, Steele did well to connect with the bouncing ball.
But 'keeper Cameron Terry was equal to the shot and so too a header by Markell Foulds from the resulting corner.
Linnets fans were howling for a penalty when Steele was flattened by Terry as the 'keeper tried to punch clear a high ball the 70th minute but caught his one-time Widnes team-mate instead.
But once Bairstow and the lively Tom Hoyle had combined in a right-to-left move which ended with Edwards slotting home, that was pretty much it from the hosts.
Garbutt completed his treble with a far-post header from a cross from the right by left back Joel Leta in the 78th.
Midfielder Lawrie polished off the job ten minutes later, dispatching a half-clearance left-footed into the right corner from inside the D.
Runcorn might have pulled a goal back in stoppage time when Oskar Rosenblatt - despite being manhandled inside the box - turned the ball into the path of Steele, whose effort was blocked.
Otherwise, Linnets had gone down without a whimper and in a manner completely out of character for a Brad Cooke side.
The fact that they went into New Year with a game in hand softened the blow slightly as did defeats for Shifnal Town and Stalybridge Celtic - the teams on either side of them.
Such performances have been the exception rather than the rule; only ten goals had been conceded in as many home NPL West games ahead of this second league defeat at Murdishaw.
But if fans have learned anything down the years, when Linnets mess up they tend to make a total hash of things, particularly when drawing a good crowd.
This nightmare was played out in front of 854 - comfortably Runcorn's highest in the league so far with Witton contributing well to that.
Results from their festive Bank Holiday fixtures should serve a big reminder that if you allow your guard to slip and don't put the effort in ahead of anything else, then you will get punished.
Linnets will look to put things right at home to Chasetown on Tuesday.
Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Joe Ferguson, Matty Rain, Peter Wylie (Oskar Rosenblatt, 57 mins), Harvey Washington, Markell Foulds, James Steele, Eden Gumbs (Jacques Welsh, 46 mins), Scott Bakkor, Sean Miller, Naim Arsan (Lewis Doyle, 56 mins). Subs (not used): Lewis Crane, Dec McLoughlin.
Attendance: 854.
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