Linnets bow out of League Cup to strong-running Stalybridge

Alex Ellams deals with a Celtic corner but Linnets have their hands full in defence. Pictures by Kelly Jones

Runcorn Linnets U21s 3 Stalybridge Celtic U21s 6

Linnets were knocked out of the North West Under 21s League Cup at the quarter-final stage after an unusually ragged performance.

Celtic were the better team throughout and despite two Lewis Crane goals in the last eight minutes giving Runcorn fresh hope, the Tamesiders responded with two more of their own to run out well-deserved winners.

Runcorn had no real answer to the strong-running visitors, who pulled defenders all over the place.

After a quiet start, the home side opened a 26th-minute lead.

Top scorer Lewis Crane took a long, straight pass from midfielder Tom Beswick in his stride on the right - delivering a great cross which evaded winger Joel Street at the far post.

However, midfielder Eneil Gumbs was on hand to force the ball home.

Stalybridge pulled level in the 31st minute and but for a good reaction save from Alex Ellams, they would have led at the break.

The visitors had already been denied early on by a goal-saving recovery tackle by Owen Cushion with skipper Jay Lee also making a vital block inside Runcorn's six-yard box.

This Joel Street header was turned over the bar by the visiting 'keeper.

After the restart, Street saw an effort tipped over while Cushion ventured forward from his holding position in front of the defence to force a corner.

He took it himself and picked out Cameron Schofield for a header, which rattled the crossbar.

However, Stalybridge were still largely calling the tune and by the 78th minute, they were 4-1 up.

Two of their goals came from back passes, putting 'keeper Ellams in undue strife on a surface, which was tricky after overnight rain.

When Lewis Crane headed home from sub Theo Papadopoulos's right-flank cross in the 82nd minute, it looked as if the great escape might be on.

Five minutes later, Crane added his second, deftly converting at the near post after namesake Ben had centred, again from the right.

But with Runcorn now prioritising attack, their overworked defence was again caught out within a minute as Stalybridge snuffed out all hope with their fifth goal before adding a sixth in stoppage time.

Runcorn Linnets Under 21s: Alex Ellams, Callum Prince, Sam Hamling, Owen Cushion (Joel Street 71 mins) Cameron Schofield (Dan McCafffrey, 81 mins), Ben Crane (Joel Street, 71 mins) Tom Beswick (Zack Kopanski, 71 mins),, Lewis Crane, Eneil Gumbs, (Billy McNay, 71 mins) Joel Street (Theo Papadopoulos 64 mins).

High fives for Eneil Gumbs after he had opened the scoring for Linnets but this was a rare low in the U21s' season.