Easter excursion to Trafford for promotion-chasing Linnets

Trafford v Runcorn Linnets

Pitching In Northern Premier League West

Friday, April 3rd (ko 3pm)

Shawe View Stadium, Shawe View, Manchester, M41 5DL

Preview

The first of two big matches over the Easter will see Runcorn Linnets travel to Trafford on Good Friday before welcoming Bootle to the APEC Taxis Stadium on the Bank Holiday Monday.

For Linnets, it's a third game in four against a team battling against relegation, the difference being that Trafford are giving every indication that they can escape.

That they have spent the season in such a lowly position has mystified Linnets fans as our next opponents had been impressive in defeat at the APEC in August.

Like the forthcoming encounter, this had unusually been a game rescheduled for a Friday and we had to come from behind to snatch a 2-1 win.

Matt Davies's 45th-minute opener was cancelled out by Ryan Brooke, our captain for the night, 12 minutes after the restart but we were made to wait until the 84th for Scott Bakkor to earn victory.

Past visits

Trafford were adversaries as early as our second season. Our first visit to Shawe View was on August 25th 2007 when we lost 2-1 in front of a crowd of 171 in our 45th match as Runcorn Linnets.

At the end of the season, Trafford were promoted to the Northern Premier League as champions - beginning an unbroken run of membership which is now in its 18th season and includes two as a Premier Division outfit.

We had to wait until April 20th 2019 for our next visit after we had joined them as a Step 4 side. The 0-0 draw in NPL West was our 656th match.

We have since played them away from home a further seven times with two wins, two defeats and another three draws.Spoils have been shared in each of the last three seasons.

Storm Darragh was at work when we visited last season, in December 2024. Naim Arsan's late goal direct from a corner earned a deserved point after Trafford skipper Harry Norris had opened the scoring in the first half.

Form guide

Trafford are unbeaten on their own ground in six matches, their last Shawe View defeat being Boxing Day's 0-2 loss to Avro.

They have since picked up five home wins and a draw - scoring 19 goals (including fours against Atherton Collieries, Kidsgrove Athletic and Lower Breck), while conceding only twice.

This only goes to show that they will be much tougher opposition than their third-from-bottom placing suggests.

Trafford's 2-0 loss to Avro at Christmas is their only home loss in the last eight and that run has significantly improved their league record in front of their own fans to W6 D4 L8 F32 A26.

Linnets will want to bounce back from Saturday's 3-0 defeat by APEC Taxis Stadium visitors Bury, knowing that a play-off spot remains a more than realistic goal.

Five points separate second from sixth with fourth-placed Runcorn still having to entertain two of the other contenders - including Stalybridge Celtic, who overtook us into third with Saturday's 2-0 Bower Fold victory over Trafford.

Bootle, who will travel to the APEC on Easter Monday, are seven points below Michael Ellison's team in seventh spot.

We have won two and lost two of our last four aways since triumphing in the first couple of road trips on Michael Elllison's return at the start of the year.

How to get there:

By car - There are various routes to Shaw Viewe (Postcode: M41 5DL). The two on Trafford FC's website involve the M60 as follows:

M60 anti-clockwise exit at Junction 10 (Trafford Centre) and turn right towards Urmston B5214. Straight across two roundabouts.

At first set of traffic lights turn right into Moorside Road and at next roundabout take second exit into Bowfell Road. At next lights turn sharp left, then immediately right into Pennybridge Lane next to the Bird-in-hand pub, parking on left after 100 yards.

Or

Leave M60 at Junction 8. Then take

A6144(M) towards Lymm, Partington and Carrington. At second set of traffic lights turn right on B5158 towards Flixton.

Remain on B5158, crossing the railway bridge at Flixton Station and turn right at next set of traffic lights, passing the Bird-in-Hand pub.

Take immediate right into Pennybridge Lane. Car Park is approximately 100 yards on the left. 

By rail - Chassen Road Station in Urmston is described as a short alk from the ground. For details of the Good Friday train service from Runcorn East or Runcorn, visit www.northernrailway.co.uk

Admission

Adults: £10, Concessions: £6, Under 16s: £2.