Last-gasp draw is enough to leave champions in the clear

Runcorn Linnets Under 21s 3 Northwich Victoria Under 21s 3

The sun sets dramatically on a successful season for Runcorn Linnets Under 21s.

Report by Dave Bettley with pictures from Neil Thornton

Alex Ellams has to deal with a high ball into his area while Harry Vernon, Jaden Ditchfield and Wes Wright attack Vics from all angles.

Runcorn Linnets salvaged a point in the fifth minute of stoppage time as the curtain came down on their double-winning North West Under 21s Development League campaign.

Already confirmed as champions ahead of this closing fixture - courtesy of their head-to- head record against Kidsgrove Athletic, who could still have finished level on points - Linnets will now end the season with a distinct advantage over the Championship Division B runners-up from Staffordshire.

Kidsgrove trail by four points with one game left to play - at Southport Academy this Sunday.

A increasingly-heated final APEC Taxis Stadium fixture of 2024-25, which had until a week ago been set to hold the key to Runcorn's title aspirations, saw the Yellow & Greens hold a two-goal lead early in the second half against 10 men.

But Linnets were stung by a stirring fightback from fourth-placed Vics, whose goalkeeper had been sent off two minutes after the break for handling outside his area.

Already behind to Jaden Ditchfield's first-half opener, Northwich conceded a second goal in the 53rd minute as striker Wes Wright netted.

But the visitors, whose first team will be groundshare tenants of Runcorn Linnets from next season, turned the match around when a man down and with an outfield player between their sticks.

They replied within two minutes of Wright doubling the Linnets lead and by the 80th minute were 3-2 in front.

Linnets, who had secured the Divisional Cup three days earlier to add to their title credentials, had to scramble desperately to prevent defeat.

The division's top marksman Lewis Crane got a sighter when heading over the bar from a looping left-wing cross by full back James O'Connor before dranatically coming to the rescue.

Callum Prince and Harry Vernon combined for Crane to head home a right wing cross off the left post for his 28th of the season.

Runcorn U21s boss Ste Ellams, had named an experimental line-up, five first-choice players being rested to the bench.

Asnafi Shamari, Ben Dobbie, Zack Parker, Bala Ibrahim and Billy McNay didn't feature at all.

But every replacement available to Ellams would be needed in the second half to cope with the Northwich comeback and ultimately prevent Vics from inflicting a second league defeat on his team. The Greens had won their home fixture 3-2.

Sam Bignall (pictured above), O'Connor, Jack Ball and Wright had been handed rare starts as Ellams shuffled his successful pack to give fringe players deserved game time.

Runcorn led from the 20th minute of a close first half.

An intricate move involving Ball, Wright (making only hie third Linnets appearance) and Eneil Gumbs worked an opening for Ditchfield to go clear before lashing into the roof of the net.

Northwich could have equalised a minute before the break, the ball having bounced over home midfieldman Arty Benjamin. But skipper Jay Lee got around smartly to make a terrific goal-saving block.

Runcorn Linnets: Alex Ellams, Sam Bignall, James O'Connor, Arty Benjamin, Josh Elverstone, Jay Lee, Harry Vernon, Eneil Gumbs, Wes Wright, Jaden Ditchfield, Jack Ball. Subs (all used): Callum Prince, Cameron Schofield, Lewis Crane, Macauley Clifton, Sam Stephens.