Runcorn Linnets 6 1874 Northwich 1
Report by Dave Bettley with pictures from Peter Cantwell
Runcorn cruised into the Cheshire Senior Cup semi-finals, three goals in each half bringing Brad Cooke a convincing first win as boss.
Victory carried the bonus of a last-four home tie with Step 3 side Hyde United from Pitching In Northern Premier League's top division.
1874 Northwich have never beaten Linnets and hopes of finally breaking their duck were as good as over in little more than half an hour as the hosts went 3-0 ahead.
Ryan Brooke’s third goal in four games in the 31st minute supplemented midfielder Karl Clair's double strike within the opening ten.
In the process, the striker took an outright lead in the club's 2024-25 scoring charts with eight.
The visitors would struggle throughout with the slickness and speed of the home attacks. Linnets also produced the clinical finishing, which has been missing all season.
'74 pulled one back the brink of half-time to give themselves an outside chance of making a game of it.
But a fourth Runcorn goal just after the hour killed off the promotion-chasing Midland Leaguers with the Yellow & Greens netting twice more in a storming finish.
Emerging midfielder Jorge Dwyer capped another impressive all-round midfield display with his first senior goal at the club.
Fellow Under 21s graduate Jay Lee, on as substitute for his first-team debut, played a part in the build-up from left back.
There was also a maiden Linnets appearance for new signing Joe Ferguson, who gave fans an appetising taste of things to come with a strong performance in attack and defence.
Cooke said: "I'm really pleased because listen, they are a good side. I thought that the way that we set up, I thought our pressing, I thought our traps, I thought our counter attacking, I thought our defending - I thought all over the park, we were just excellent.
"Pleased for the lads more than anything because I put a lot of pressure on them tonight, you know obviously with my interview at the weekend and stuff like that, in the emotion of what went on. They have delivered for the football club."
Eden Gumbs missed the game with a sore foot, Callum Grogan likewise being rested by the new manager.
Cooke had after Saturday’s game praised the central defender's fortitude in playing through pain in the 1-1 draw against title hopefuls Vauxhall Motors.
Runcorn tore into their opponents from the outset.
Clair left the '74 defence trailing on a break from halfway to score, after being released by Brooke in the fifth minute.
Before Northwich could recover, a scintillating overlap by new boy Ferguson caused consternation in the away side's defence.
His sweeping cross, likewise delivered at pace, was driven home left-footed by Clair from beyond the far post.
Luke Wall had sent Ferguson charging forward and both were also involved in Runcorn's third goal.
This time the full back set up wide man Wall to deliver a superb high high ball deep into the area. Brooke, having already seen a goal ruled offside, met it with a soaring header.
It was beginning to look like a cakewalk but, seconds from half-time, Joel Jones showed a clean pair of heels to the Runcorn cover on the right.
Bayleigh Passant appeared to get a hand on tne shot, but the touch wasn't enough to direct it away from goal.
Northwich sensed a fightback might be on after all.
From another surge on the right, their scorer Jones found striker Eden Bailey, who swivelled on the ball inside the penalty box but his effort was blocked before it had travelled far.
Normal service was soon renewed with two-goal Clair's next contribution helping to seal the victory - as well as the man-of-match award - as he sent Wall away again.
Enjoying the space he was being afforded, Wall drifted inside from the right to calmly and carefully steer home a shot with his favoured left foot.
Jack Grundy had replaced Washington in central defence at half-time and Cooke was quite rightly delighted with the impact of all four substitutes used.
Lewis Nolan and Lee made their entries either side of Lewis Doyle, who had missed his former Atherton Collieries manager's first game in charge of Runcorn with an injury sustained seven days earlier against Wythenshawe Town.
Having earlier in the half been denied by a diving save from the '74 'keeper Mike Shorthouse, Adam Moseley deservedly added his name to the scoresheet in the 89th minute.
Jacques Welsh played the ball through for the young striker to find the net with a firm and confident right-foot finish.
Runcorn were now brimming with confidence and a minute into stoppage time, they added an exquisite sixth goal.
U21s captain Lee, heading back towards his own goal, could have been forgiven for playing the ball in the same direction.
But instead, he sensed Walsh was behind him, to the left, and an astute reverse pass enabled the first-team skipper to quickly dispatch Dwyer into the clear.
The composed youngster eased away from a tired '74 defence before delicately chipping Shorthouse to complete the scoring a minute into stoppage time.
Linnets now turn attention to Saturday's Cheshire derby at Nantwich Town. Important NPL points are at stake in Cooke's first away game in charge as both clubs chase a play-off spot.
The Linnets manager said: "All we can do is look after ourself. I don't care about anything else or anyone else.
"If we spill our guts on that pitch and it ain't enough, then it ain't enough. That's absolutely fine.
"But that's what we're going to do every single week and that's what we're going to do on Saturday against Nantwich, who are a good side. They're up there for a reason.
"We're going to go there full of confidence, there's no doubt about it. The lads are going to give the football club absolutely everything - again.
"We hope that if we do that and we match them, then that's enough to get three points. I certainly believe it, the players certainly believe it and I'm sure the fans watching believe it as well."
Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Peter Wylie, Naim Arsan (Jay Lee, 83 mins), Jorge Dwyer, Harvey Washington (Jack Grundy, 46 mins), Joe Ferguson, Adam Moseley, Jacques Welsh, Ryan Brooke, Karl Clair (Lewis Nolan, 78 mins) Luke Wall (Lewis Doyle, 86 mins). Sub not used: Alex Ellams (GK).
Attendance: 338.
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