Disallowed 'goal' is big talking point as Linnets draw a blank

Bootle 0 Runcorn Linnets 0

Harvey Washington directs a header goalwards in the second half but the ball is deemed not to have crossed the line.

Report by Dave Bettley; pictures by Kelly Jones

Linnets dropped from third to fifth in Pitching In Northern Premier League West as a result of a dour Boxing Day draw.

The sides cancelled each other out from the start and hopes that play might open up as the contest progressed didn't materialise.

The plus points for Linnets were that they averted a straight hat-trick of away defeats and kept a third successive clean sheet in the process.

But there was a big negative surrounding a disallowed second-half goal.

Harvey Washington's soaring header from a Matty Rain corner on the right was deemed not to have crossed the line.

However, those close to the incident reckoned the ball was well over before being blocked by a defender.

Sean Miller got another half hour as he continued his comeback from injury.

This was a second consecutive December 26th meeting of the clubs at Berry Garage Stadium with the weather being kinder than in 2024, when fog had dimmed the view of spectators.

That said, crisp conditions turned decidedly colder once the sun, greeting the players at kick off, had gone down.

Linnets made three changes from the side, which had beaten Atherton Collieries a week earlier.

A heads up for striker Scott Bakkor and Bootle defender Matthew Fenton.

Top scorer Scott Bakkor returned after the knee injury sustained in the home match against Clitheroe with Oskar Rosenblatt stepping down.

Central back Adam Rooney was rested under the concussion protocols after the knockout blow he had taken against Colls.

Peter Wylie, on his 32nd birthday, was at the heart of a disciplined defensive performance, which was replicated by Bootle- meaning chances at either end were at a premium.

Naim Arsan and Bootle skipper Jay Roberts, the former Linnets defender, tangle for possession.

Naim Arsan came in on the left wing in place Eden Gumbs.

Both sides had set out with the best of intentions but neither were able to gain any control with defences on top and creativity lacking.

Runcorn had the ball in the net in the first half but Scott Bakkor's effort was disallowed for a push by Washington on Bootle defender Tom Hannigan.

Jacques Welsh had headed a half-clearance from Rain's corner back into the mix.

The best legal chance fell to Bootle as a snapshot by Jack Lenehan flashed wide.

It was the hosts, who looked likelier in the closing minutes of the game.

But their centre forward Courtney Duffus headed wide in the 80th minute - on the rebound to standout midfielder Lewis Earl's 22-yard strike, which had been parried by Bayleigh Passant.

It had long been apparent that the match was destined to end in stalemate.

Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Joe Ferguson, Matty Rain, Peter Wylie, Harvey Washington, Markell Foulds, James Steele, Jacques Welsh (Dec McLoughlin, 71 mins), Scott Bakkor, Lewis Doyle (Sean Miller, 62 mins), Naim Arsan (Oskar Rosenblatt, 62 mins). Subs not used; Eden Gumbs, Lewis Crane.

Attendance: 785.

Midfielder Markell Foulds heads clear for Linnets.