Linnets aim to lower Breck's colours
- dbettley
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
RUNCORN LINNETS v Lower Breck
Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division
Saturday, December 9th (ko 7.45pm)
APEC Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, Runcorn, WA7 6GJ
Founded a recently as 2010, Lower Breck will face off against Linnets, four years their senior, in the first league meeting of two of the Northern Premier League West's youngest clubs.
Only Darlaston Town are their junior, although they were reformed, rather than founded in 2014 - as a continuation of the original club of the same name, dating back to 1874.
Based in the shadow of Liverpool FC's Anfield Stadium, Lower Breck claimed their place in the Northern Premier League after winning last season's North West Counties League Premier Division Play-offs.
They defeated West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-1 in the home semi-final before overcoming Padiham 2-0 in a final,which they also hosted, to justify their runners-up finish.
Promoted alongside champions Bury, Breck had racked up 106 points from 46 games with 33 wins and seven draws.
They finished three points behind the Shakers and nine better off than former Linnets boss Steve Wilkes's third-placed Ramsbottom United.
Breck have picked up where they left off and arrive in Murdishaw with a two-point advantage at the top, although Avro have played one game fewer.
Linnets have two games in hand on the tabletoppsrs and victory on Tuesday would cut the gap between the clubs to four points.
Breck have won only one of their five matches in the last month, although that was a significant 2-0 victory at Bury.
This results sequence began with a 3-0 reverse at home to Avro.
While their last three fixtures have all been drawn, Breck have demonstrated their team spirit and resilience by coming from behind each time - for a 3-3 result at Newcastle Town and in subsequent 1-1 home draws against Shifnal Town and Clitheroe on Saturday.
Skipper Connor Millington said in a recent interview that the players were 'going that extra 10% for each other" and it's a sentiment that will resonate with Runcorn fans, who have witnessed similar togetherness in our own camp this season.
We've met before...but just the once
Linnets' only previous meeting with Lower Breck was in last season's Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final in which the Liverpool side ran out 3-1 winners at Anfield Community Sports Club before losing the final to Everton.
Adam Moseley had given us a fourth-minute lead but the in-form hosts powered back through Connor Millington (37 mins) and Jordan Barrow (78) before Lewis Buckley scored in the second minute of stoppage time to put the tie beyond our reach.
The latter had a stint with our former Reserves side a few years ago.
Other ex-Linnets in the Lower Breck squad are defenders Danny McKenna and
Callum Grogan.
Form guide
Our midweek visitors have played nine away games so far in their debut NPL West campaign - winning seven, including the first four.
Their sole defeat on their travels was at Chasetown on September 27th ( 1-0)
In their latest, they ralied from 3-1 down at Newcastle for their only away draw.
Breckhave already netted five at Atherton Collieries and four at Nantwich Town.
Linnets have claimed 19 points from our eight league matches at APEC Taxis Stadium, scoring in each of them at an average of 3.125 per game.
Our +15 goal difference at home is the best in the division.
Facts and figures
Under 21s forward Joel Street became the 29th player to appear for our first team this season with his late cameo against Congleton Town on Saturday.
In scoring our fourth of the game in the 6-2 victory, Matty Rain made himself the 16th player to enter our goal charts in 2025-26.
We have now scored 60 in 29 matches across all competitions.
Lewis Crane's weekend strike puts him a clear second behind 14-goal leading marksman Scott Bakkor on eight goals with Naim Arsan in third with seven.
Chrustmas in the Community
We will again be accepting gifts for children and young people in support of the annual Halton Christmas Toy Appeal as well as toiletries and other suitable gifts for those in our community, who will spend the festive season in care or residential homes. Please drop off your donations at the Clubhouse on matchday.
Stocking fillers
Don't forget to drop into our club shop on matchday. We have a lot of goodies for your Christmas sacks!
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
Prices at the turnstile are:
Adult - £11
(£2 discount for Halton Leisure Card holders)
Concession (Over 65s) - £8
Juniors (18 and under) - £2
Tickets can also be purchased in advance here
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