FA Trophy giantkillers pay return visit to the APEC
- Dec 15, 2025
- 5 min read
RUNCORN LINNETS v Clitheroe
Northern Premier League West
Tuesday, December 16th, ko 7.45pm
APEC Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, Runcorn, WA7 6GJ
We entertain Clitheroe for the second time this season after first welcoming them on the opening Saturday in the Emirates FA Cup.
Naim Arsan's goal was not only decisive in a 1-0 extra preliminary round victory but propelled Linnets on a club record-breaking run which took us to the fourth and final qualifying round.
Clitheroe have been opponents in all seven of our Step 4 seasons so far and there has been an wide spread of results in our home fixtures against the Lancastrians.
We have won two, lost three and drawn two with our biggest victory and heaviest defeat coming on their two most recent visits.
The season before last, we recovered an early deficit to triumph 5-0 on our way to second place in the table but last season conceded three without reply as we finished in 11th spot - our lowest NPL position.
Clitheroe have been playing at this level since before we were formed. This is their 22nd successive campaign as a second-tier NPL club - their first being in. 2004-05. We were founded two years later on 2006.
Performances over their last four seasons have been their best in terms of consistency as they have made the top 10 each time.
2022-23 brought their highest placing of fourth and a promotion opportunity through the play-offs.
We ended up one point behind them in fifth, raising the possibility of us being paired in the final.
However, Clitheroe were beaten 2-0 in their semi-final at Workington, where we were left disappointed - by a 2-1 final defeat after extra-time.
With a reputation for being enigmatic, Clitheroe can on their day be more than a match for anyone.
However, they arrive in a mid-table position - one which is a little misleading, seeing that they have played fewer games than most teams in the division - 19, like ourselves and Avro.
Clitheroe's current shortfall is largely because of their Isuzu FA Trophy progress which continued on Saturday with a headline-grabbing third-round victory on penalties against National League visitors York City.
In a remarkable finish, Clitheroe had taken an 89th-minute lead through Leon Creech but the Minstermen hit back a minute later.
Previous home meetings
Saturday 17th November 2018
Northern Premier League West
Runcorn Linnets 2
Paul Shanley (23)
Kurt Sherlock (45 pen)
Clitheroe 1
Harry Cannon-Noren (47)
Attendance: 399
Tuesday 10th March 2020
Northern Premier League North West
Runcorn Linnets 0
Clitheroe 1
Kieran Feeney (78)
Attendance: 256
Saturday 10th October 2020
Northern Premier League North West
Runcorn Linnets 1
Sean O'Mahoney (62)
Clitheroe 1
Craig Hobson (50)
Attendance: 305
Saturday 12th March 2022
Northern Premier League West
Runcorn Linnets 0
Clitheroe 0
Attendance: 683
Saturday 25th March 2023
Northern Premier League West
Runcorn Linnets 1
Sam Heathcote (90)
Clitheroe 2
Reece Webb-Foster (33)
Abimbola Obasoto (74)
Attendance: 697
Saturday 10th February 2024
Northern Premier League West
Runcorn Linnets 5
Will Saxon (37)
Mackenzie O’Neill (40)
Oliver Molloy (49)
Will Saxon (56)
Eden Gumbs (85)
Clitheroe 1
Sefton Gonzales (15)
Attendance: 531
Saturday 5th April 2025
Northern Premier League West
Runcorn Linnets 0
Clitheroe 3
Danny Wilkins (29)
Leon Creech (56)
Jordan Windass (83)
Attendance: 544
Form guide
Clitheroe have had a mixed bag of results in NPL away matches this season with four wins, four defeats and two draws so far.
They shared the spoils at Lower Breck on their most recent travels.
Victories have come at Shifnal Town, Bootle Darlaston Town and Wythenshawe Town.
Although beaten 4-0 at Avro, Clitheroe's three other defeats on opposing grounds have all been by one goal.
We have won four on the trot since our only league defeat of the season to Shifnal Town two month ago.
Six out of eight West Division matches at APEC Taxis Stadium have brought us victories with Vauxhall Motors, currently second in the table, being the only other team to deny us - in a 2-2 draw on the first Tuesday of the campaign.
Our 19-point tally is the ninth best home return, although we have played two or three games fewer than the eight teams above us in the rankings.
We are equal top home scorers in the division, Vauxhall and Stalybridge Celtic matching our 25 goals.
But we have played just eight league matches in front of our own fans compared to the 11 completed by the two other sides.
Steele off the mark
James Steele became the 29th player to appear for Runcorn Linnets in our 30 matches this season - and our 17th different scorer in all competitions, when he netted a stoppage-time goal in the weekend's 3-1 defeat at Sporting Khalsa.
How to get here
By car - postcode for APEC Taxis Stadium is WA7 6GJ.
By train - Runcorn is served by two railway stations, Runcorn (Liverpool Lime Street to London line, also with services from Chester and Birmingham) and Runcorn East (trains to and from Manchester, Chester and North Wales). Both stations are served by buses running close to the stadium, although Runcorn High Street bus station (10-minute walk) offers a wider choice for passengers using Runcorn Railway Station.
By bus - the ground is a short walk from the Runcorn Busway - alight at Orniston Bollingbroke Academy (Halton High School) and follow pathway on the opposite side of the busway from the school to Murdishaw Avenue and cross into Stockham Lane. Many local services (including Shopping City circular) run on the busway as well as those from Widnes, Warrington, Liverpool and Chester.
A local taxi service is provided by APEC Taxis (tel 01928 575757).
Car parking
There is a large free car park on site.
Christmas in the community
After the postponement of the Lower Breck game, we are extending the deadline for donations to the Halton Christmas Toy Appeal and also our own collection of gifts for those living in local care homes. Items, new and unwrapped please, can be brought to the clubhouse at this game and also Friday's home fixture against Atherton Collieries.
Club shop
Don't forget to pop into our Linnets shop on matchdays. There are plenty of Christmas gift ideas inside! You can also visit our online store.
Bar and catering
The licensed clubhouse bar offers a range of alcoholic and non-alcholic drinks while hot food, tea, coffee and soft drinks and confectionery are on sale from the tea bar.
Admission
Adult - £11
(£2 discount for Halton Leisure Card holders)
Concession (Over 65s) - £8
Juniors (18 and under) - £2
Tickets can be purchased in advance here
Comments