Late show repeat produces another thriller

Joy for Linnets after the final whistle. Picture by Neil Thornton

Chasetown 1 Runcorn Linnets 2

Report by Dave Bettley

At a ground where they had so dramatically snatched victory last season with a last-gasp goal, Linnets struck late again to extend their 100% record at Chasetown to four wins.

But this time, they had to net not just once but twice to take the spoils - scoring in the 88th and 90th minutes of a Pitching In Northern Premier League West game, which had been short of chances.

On the balance of play, Runcorn could consider themselves a bit unfortunate to have gone into half-time trailing as neither side had threatened much.

A home breakthrough in the last minute of the first half had long threatened to remain the difference between the teams.

Linnets spent much of the second 45 minutes pushing and probing in a bid to repair the damage without finding the key to unlocking the Scholars' defence.

But, with time fast running out, substitute Harry McGee - in only a third Linnets appearance - demonstrated his knack for producing game-changing moments either by scoring, or in this case, creating for others.

McGee had been brought on in the 82nd minute, prompting Linnets to go with three at the back as Adam Rooney gave way.

Markell Foulds provided his new boss with a sharp reminder that he had joined the club as a centre back as he reverted from midfield to defence in the reshuffle.

With two minutes left, McGee's measured and incisive through ball in the right of the area gave Scott Bakkor the sight of goal, which the striker had been craving.

The Linnets top scorer's finish - right-footed across 'keeper Nathan Pond and into the far corner - was superb.

It was Bakkor's 16th goal in 26 games, ending a run of four games without him scoring.

A draw would have been a decent return after the lengths to which Runcorn had gone to wipe out the deficit. But they were not finished yet - far from it.

In the final scheduled minute, former Lower Breck midfielder McGee veered between defenders in a stunning manoeuvre to find himself into a a great positon, again in the right of the area.

His low cross was snapped up from almost on the left post by fellow replacement James Steele.

The winger had been left out of the starting XI as boss Ellison opted for more compact formation.

He hadn't had much opportunity to influence the game after coming on, but delivered the coup de grace with virtually the final touch of the 90 minutes.

It was his fifth goal in eight matches since returning for a second Linnets stint.

Picture by Martin Holding

There were still five minutes of stoppage time for Chasetown, who had introduced former Linnets players Joe Thompson and Kevin Spinelli off the bench, to hunt an equaliser.

But new loan 'keeper Yusuf Mersin, who had commanding a £1 million transfer fee when moving as a youngster from Millwall to Liverpool, proved his worth by saving with his legs.

The resulting corner drew 21 players into Runcorn's penalty area, where an infringement by the home side was the last significant act ahead of the full-time whistle.

Runcorn had bolstered the midfield at the expense of width - by doing so stifling Chasetown's ability to attack through the centre.

The hosts were forced to go down the flanks, which were covered by two of the Northern Premier League West's finest full backs in Joe Ferguson on the Linnets right and Matty Rain over to the left.

Runcorn, likewise, found progress hard to achieve, their attacks getting so far but invariably breaking down through the lack of a final ball.

The closest they came was from a Bakkor shot on the left, turned around the near post by Pond, although a 20-yard volley by Sean Miller at a half-cleared corner wasn't far over the bar.

The referee had awarded a foul which wasn't when Chasetown centre forward Joey Butlin was cautioned for a challenge on Miller, which didn't even warrant a free-kick (the yellow card one of three for the home side without reply).

But on the brink of the interval, the official waved play on when Ferguson apppeared to have been impeded near the touchline, midway inside Runcorn's half.

The South Staffordshire hosts worked the ball into a crossing position on the left.

The ball in was headed against the crossbar by long-serving midfielder Jack Langston and with Mersin grounded, Chasetown's right winger George Cater was first to the rebound.

Steeley determination saw Linnets to victory. Picture by Neil Thornton.

The goal left Runcorn facing their first defeat of the new era under Ellìson before the thrilling late turnaround rewarded their persistence - snatching a third straight win for the second-time-around boss to joyous scenes.

Linnets stay in fourth spot but with closer order as second-placed Avro were beaten at home by leaders Lower Breck as Bury, in third, were held by improving Darlaston Town at Gigg Lane.

Linnets entertain Avro in the league next Saturday but before that, they will continue the defence of the Cheshire Senior Cup at Nantwich Town on Tuesday.

Runcorn Linnets: Yusuf Mersin, Joe Ferguson, Matty Rain (Markell Foulds 75 mins), Adam Rooney (Harry McGee, 82 mins), Harvey Wahington, Jacques Welsh, Dec McLoughlin (Lewis Crane, 61 mins), Lewis Doyle, Scott Bakkor, Sean Miller, Naim Arsan (James Steele, 62 mins).

Attendance: 602.