Looking to change the course of recent history against Chasetown

Action from the corresponding fixture in 2024-25 as Chasetown claimed the points at APEC Taxis Stadium for a second successive season. Picture by PETER GALLAGHER-HEADLEY

RUNCORN LINNETS v Chasetown

Tuesday, November 11th 2025 ko 7.45pm

Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division

APEC Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, Runcorn, WA7 6GJ.

This will be a fourth home meeting with Chasetown.

It's a fixture in which both clubs have had more success on the other's ground.

Chasetown have won on their last two visits to APEC Taxis Stadium while we have triumphed in all three games at the Scholars Ground.

Their latest visit will inevitably bring back memories of our inaugural meeting in August 2018, which was also our first ever NPL home game.

It was also on a Tuesday night and the only time in six attempts that a game between the two teams has gone in favour of the hosts.

It marked the debut of Peter Wylie, the sole Linnets survivor of our original West Division squad in 2017-18, with Linnets winning 2-1.

Peter is now on the cusp of 200 career starts as a Runcorn player.

The first meeting

Kris Holt quite enjoyed his winner agsinst Chasetown! But was it really seven years ago?😯

Our then manager Michael Ellison made a number of changes from the side, which had been beaten at Droylsden on the opening day.

Ronnie McCarthy, Kurt Sherlock and new signing Wylie were brought into the starting eleven, Jimmy Moore, Adam Gilchrist and Kieran Nolan missing out.

Linnets took the lead as Kris Holt beat a very high line to run clean through on Chasetown's goalkeeper Curtis Pond before squaring for Kurt Sherlock to finish from close range.

Chasetown levelled on 16 minutes against the run of play. A deep cross from the left found Jack Langston unmarked at the far post. 

The second half was a very even affair.

But when Sherlock broke away up the right wing, his pinpoint low cross was turned in at the near post by Holt.

Kyle Hamid almost secured the points for Linnets as the clock ticked down but Pond made a terrific save with his trailing leg.

The last 10 minutes were dominated by Chasetown as they desperately tried to salvage a point.

Joe Beaumont rose highest at a corner to flick a header towards the unguarded far post, but thankfully for Linnets the ball ricocheted off the inside of the upright and was scrambled clear.

Kurt Sherlock (centre of goal) turns away after equalising. Archive pictures by JAMES EASTUP.

All previous meetings at Murdishaw

Tuesday, August 21st 2018

NPL West Division

RUNCORN LINNETS 2

Kurt Sherlock, Kris Holt

Chasetown 1

Jack Langston

Linnets line-up: Runcorn Linnets: Dylan Forth, Louis Corrigan, Aaron Morris, Peter Wylie, Michael Simpson, Ronnie McCarthy, Kristian Holt, Kyle Hamid, Freddie Potter, Paul Shanley, Kurt Sherlock. Subs: Kieran Nolan, Adam Gilchrist. Not used: Niall Watson, Jimmy Moore, Danny O'Brien.

Attendance: 373.

Saturday 12th August 2023

(NPL West Division)

RUNCORN LINNETS 1

Levi Chiduku (68)

Chasetown 2

Jack Langston (48)

Luke Yates (50)

Linnets line-up: Bayleigh Passant, Harry Hagan, Peter Wyllie, Jacques Welsh, Sean O'Mahony, Antony Kay, Will Saxon, Joe Lynch, Ryan Brooke, Lewis Doyle, Eden Gumbs. Subs: Alex Perry, Kenny Brown, Levi Chiduku. Not used: James Short.

Attendance: 613

Saturday, November 2nd 2024

RUNCIRN LINNETS 2

Naim Arsan, pen (37), Will Saxon (60)

Chasetown 3

Joe Dunne (48), Lewi Burnside (50), Kieran Fenton (77)

Linnets line-up: Bayleigh Passant, Sam Barratt, James Short,, Lewis Doyle, Peter Wylie, Harvey Washington, Will Saxon, Jacqus Welsh, Jaden Jones, Luke Wall, Naim Arsan. Subs: Eden Gumbs, Lewis Nolan, Lewis Crane. not used: Alex Ellams (Gk), Karl Clair.

Attendance: 520.

Form guide

Chasetown lie ninth in NPL West, four places but only two points behind Linnets, having played a game more.

They have lost their last three away matches in the league at Bury (0-4), Nantwich Town(0-3) and Avro (1-2).

The Scholars had, however, won their previous two - at Sporting Khalsa (1-0) and Trafford (3-1) after kicking off the season with a 0-0 draw at Witton Albion before losing at Kidsgrove (2-3).

Form on their travels in the knockouts has also been mixed.

In the FA Cup, they beat hosts Lutterworth Town 1-0 in the Extra Preliminary, Round and drew 1-1 in the Preliminary Round at Worcester City before winning the replay 3-2 after exrra-time.

The Second Round Qualifying saw them fall 3-5 on penalties at Banbury United after a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes and extra-time. The initial clash at had ended goalless.

Thejr Isuzu FA Trophy campaign brought a 1-0 First Qualifying Round loss at Shifnal Town.

Shifnal were responsible for Linnets' only home league defeat so far, the Shropshire outfit winning at the APEC in mid-October by the odd goal in three.

Picture by BEN JACKSON

We have won four -- against Trafford (2-1), Kidsgrove (3-0), Sporting Khaksa and Darlaston Town (4-1) - and drew our home opener against Vauxhall Motors 2-2.

We will remember them

As this fixture falls on Armistice Day, there will be a two-minute silence before kick-off to honour The Fallen.

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.

Club shop

Picture by PETER GALLAGHER-HEADLEY

There are lots of Christmas gift ideas for Linnets supporters from our shop at the Clubhouse End. It is open on first-team matchdays. Unable to make it? You can also purchase online

Admission

Adult - £11

(£2 discount for Halton Leisure Card holders)

Concession (Over 65s) - £8

Juniors (18 and under) - £2