Linnets win but football is put into perspective as freak injury to defender causes alarm
- Dec 20, 2025
- 4 min read
Runcorn Linnets 2 Atherton Collieries 0
Report by Dave Bettley
Runcorn Linnets climbed to second in Pitching In Northern Premier League West with a second 2-0 home victory in four days.
But the game was overshadowed and put into perspective by an on-field medical emergency surrounding Adam Rooney.
There was major concern as the Runcorn centre back was knocked out in a freak accident, apparently catching the knee of Colls striker Kielen Adams in a challenge between the two.
Adams immediately noticed that something was wrong and summoned assistance, while putting the stricken Rooney in the recovery position.
Physiotherapists from the two clubs spent 10 minutes working on the injured defender, who was eventually able to sit up and then be helped to his feet before walking off the field.
He was taken to hospital for precautionary checks.
A 200th game in management for Brad Cooke against the club he faithfully served as player, captain and boss was also Linnets' 950th competitive outing.
In the knowledge that Rooney's condition had stabilised, the hosts were able to mark the double milestone with a victory and dedicate it to him.
Boxing Day at Bootle will see Cooke take charge of his 50th Runcorn match and while his team's position in the table may well be lowered after Saturday's results, the team is set fair for a promotion assault in the second half of the season.
Their latest success was achieved in the absence of leading scorer Scott Bakkor, who had required stitches in a knee wound sustained in the hard-fought win over Clitheroe on Tuesday.
This was another tight encounter, if anything even tougher with Linnets visibly flagging towards the end of this third outing in a week as they were hit by an onslaught from the visitors.
But Runcorn kept concentration and discipline to hold off a Collls frontline strengthened by the introduction off the bench of Salford City trainee Harry Showman and fellow 19-year-old Mark Isong, a winger on loan from Bolton Wanderers.
The hosts rode the pressure to seal the win with a well-worked second goal - scored by Sean Miller, who returned off the bench after a five-game absence in a thus far injury-troubled campaign for the Linnets schemer.
Another substitute Dec McLoughlin had begun the move with a searching pass to the right wing.
It found James Steele, whose deep cross was cleverly recycled by Lewis Crane from beyond the far post for Miller to lash into the roof of the net.
Ahead of the game, there had been a spectacular fireworks display from outside the ground at the Forest End.
Meanwhile the teams led a minute's applause for Macclesfield striker Ethan McLeod, who had tragically lost his life in a car accident on the return journey from a midweek match at Bedford Town.
Linnets had shown two changes from their win of 72 hours earlier with Oskar Rosenblatt and Lewis Doyle replacing Bakkor and Naim Arsan.
There was little to choose between the sides but Runcorn took the lead in the 43rd minute, before the half entered 14 added minutes to account for injuries to Rooney and Atherton's Sam Sheridan.
Sheridan had been hurt in a tackle in the build-up to James Steele's opener but since it wasn't a head injury, the referee correctly allowed the game to continue.
Skipper Jacques Welsh, in inspirational form in Linnets' midfield, had won the ball fairly and squarely against Sheridan in the centre circle.
It was moved out wide to the right and threaded down the line by Rosenblatt for man of the match Joe Ferguson to further demonstrate the attacking power, which matches his defensive prowess.
The full back's cross was knocked home by Steele, who was leading the line in the absence of Bakkor and Ryan Brooke, for what appeared a simple finish.
But it was a classic case of a striker finding the right place at the right time.
With three goals in as many games, Steele has had a dream return to his return spell at Linnets.
After a frustrating first half to the season at Prescot Cables, he is looking sharp and hungry.
Having been forced to substitute Sheridan, Colls came close to a levelling in the extended allowance for stoppages.
But Passant saved well from a 20-yard shot on the turn by Adams, whose header from the resulting corner was diverted away from goal by Lewis Doyle.
It was a sign of things to follow from Colls as they worked Runcot over in the second half, although their attacks ultimately came to nothing.
Just as they had against Clitheroe, Linnets made their opportunities count and stayed strong in defence to claim the spoils.
Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Joe Ferguson, Matty Rain, Jacques Welsh (Dec McLoughlin, 78 mins) Adam Rooney (Peter Wylie, 32 mins), Harvey Washington, Oskar Rosenblatt (Lewis Crane, 67 mins), Markell Foulds, James Steele (Jorge Dwyer, 88 mins), Lewis Doyle (Sean Miller, 62 mins), Eden Gumbs.
Attendance: 615.
