First competitive meeting with Ashton United yet history is on our side
- dbettley
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
RUNCORN Linnets v Ashton United
EmIrates FA Cup Third Round Qualifying
Saturday, September 27th 2025, ko 3pm
APEC Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, Runcorn, WA7 6GJ.
History trail
Ashton United's back catalogue of FA Cup games includes three meetings with our predecessors, two against Runcorn AFC and a third against Runcorn FC Halton.
All ended in Linnets victories.
The first in 1983-84 brought a 1-0 verdict in the First Round Qualifying with Runcorn success being repeated in 1998-99 by a 5-3 win in the Fourth Round Qualifying at Canal Street. Then in NPL Premier, Linnets went on to play Stevenage Borough, who were at the time in the Conference, in the First Round Proper, losing 2-0 in an away replay after a 1-1 draw at Canal Street.
The tie against Ashton as Runcorn FC Halton was in the Third Round Qualifying of 2002-03, Linnets triumphing 3-0.
Ashton have twice reached the first round proper of the FA Cup, their last appearance coming in 1955-56, when as a Lancashire Combination side they lost 6-1 at Southport of Football League Division Three North.
That result at Haig Avenue remains a club record FA Cup defeat, although it was equalled in the first Qualifying Round of 1968-69 at home to Witton Albion.
Halifax Town, to whom Ashton lhad lost 2-1 in a home replay at Hurst Cross in 1952-53, were also in FLDiv3N side at the time.
The Robins' biggest FA Cup win is 7-2 against Skelmersdale United in the opening match of their 52-53 run.
It was quite a turnaround as they had lost 5-1 to Skem, also in First Round Qualifying, the season before.
Saturday's visitors first competed in the FA Cup in 1947-48, the season after changing name from Hurst FC, who were Cheshire County League rivals of Runcorn AFC.
Hurst's FA Cup debut was in 1927-28.
Ashton have appeared in the Fourth Qualifying three times this century - most recently in 2023-24, losing 2-0 at Kidderminster Harriers.
Runcorn Linnets have appeared twice before in Third Round Qualifying but never been further.
Have we met before?
Although this is our first competitive game against Ashton United, we met as recently as August 2023 in a home friendly with the Robins winning 2-1.
On target for Ashton with the opening goal was Marcus Cusani, who will be wearing Linnets colours this time.
Kielen Adam's (now with Atherton Collieries) added a second for the Robins with Levi Chiduku replying for Linnets in stoppage time.
For many Runcorn fans, Ashton United will be recognised as the final resting place of Runcorn AFC, which as Runcorn FC Halton played their last ever match at Hurst Cross at the end of the 2005-06 season.
By then planning was under way for the formation of Runcorn Linnets as a fans-owned successor club.
Familiar face in away dugout
Ashton United's manager Steve Cunningham is well known to Runcorn Linnets as our former captain, who was a big character at the club in our early years.
He made 46 appearances (including 40 starts), scoring six goals from central midfield, having made his debut on August 9th 2008.
'Cunny' has since managed against us for Colne and now does so for the first time competitively with Ashton United, having also been in opposition as assistant boss at Ashton Athletic.
FA Cup waiting game
On formation, Runcorn Linnets had to wait two seasons to be eligible for the FA Cup but only one to enter the FA Vase.
Our Cup debut was in an Extra Preliminary Round tie on August 17th 2008, when we defeated Rossington Main of Northern Counties East League 3-2 at Wincham Park.
The Preliminary Round took us to Curzon Ashton, where we lost 4-0, the then NPL Division One North hosts going on to the Second Round Proper.
Form guide
Ashton lie ninth in NPL Premier on 13 points from nine games with an away record of one win, two draws and a defeat.
In the FA Cup, they overcame Hallam of NPL East 2-0 in a home replay after a 2-2 draw in Sheffield before knocking out National League North side Scarborough Athletic 2-0 with two Luca Navarro goals.
Linnets have come through twice as many rounds to reach this stage and have yet to concede a goal in this season's competition - after accounting for Clitheroe 1-0 at APEC Taxis Stadium and, away from home, Whitchurch Alport (3-0), West Didsbury & Chorlton (2-0) and Pickering Town (2-0).
In NPL West, we have picked up seven points from nine at home and are on 11 points from six matches overall.
We dropped a couple of places to seventh after midweek results but have at least one game in hand on all but one of the teams above us.
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).
Parking
There is a large free car park on site.
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
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