Matchwinner Naim rounds off what he started but Linnets have to settle for away semi-final

Newcastle Town 1 Runcorn Linnets 2

Report by Dave Bettley

Naim Arsan took Linnets full circle by scoring the final goal of their regular season after grabbing its first on the first weekend of August.

As in the campaign opener, a home FA Cup tie against Clitheroe, his effort in Saturday's closing Pitching In Northern Premier League West fixture secured a victory.

But it ultimately wasn't enough to earn Runcorn a Play-off semi-final at APEC Taxis Stadium.

Stalybridge Celtic beat visiting Chasetown 1-0 to earn ground advantage.

Bridge held onto the two-point lead over Michael Ellison's side but were made to sweat a little heavier in the heat as their game finished more than half an hour late.

There had been an issue with one of the goal nets at Bower Fold, which Runcorn must now find on Tuesday as away challengers.

Jack Irlam's strike just before three-quarter time ended Linnets' lingering hopes of pipping the Tamesiders for third spot.

Even if Stalybridge had been held to the draw, Linnets would still have finished fourth on goal difference.

Runcorn had the better of a dour contest in which both sides struggled to master a hard and bobbly pitch in bright sunshine.

Such conditions had been rarely witnessed over eight gruelling, largely inclement months when Runcorn had seen games wiped out by torrential rain and snow.

Arsan ensured that Linnets finished normal business on a satisfactory note going into the knockout phase of the promotion chase - after his side had lost a second-half lead.

It was in the fifth and last minute of stoppage time that a deep cross by right back Joe Ferguson was cleared as far as the Welshman.

Arsan half-volleyed the ball hard and true, left footed into the right corner from 15 yards to give Linnets.three points, which they deserved.

Games in Lyme Valley have never been easy and in NPL times decided by fine margins, if mostly in Linnets's favour.

The first half had very little to commend it with neither side able to trust the vagaries of the playing surface.

James Steele, who had started in the No.9 shirt with usual wearer Scott Bakkor on the bench, had Runcorn's best chance.

Castle's 'keeper Joe Slinn diverted Steele's shot on the stretch for a corner as the players converged on the ball in a split second of each other.

Yusuf Mersin also had a save to make and did it well when dealing with a shot from Newcastle's bright spark midfielder Harry Bower, who had got beyond the visiting defence.

The game opened up more after the break, Runcorn having introduced Bakkor, Ryan Brooke and Lewis Doyle in a triple interval stage.

Linnets got their noses in front in the 69th minute when Dec McLoughlin, having moved inside from the right to the No10 position, was taken out by 'keeper Slinn.

Bakkor's penalty was unconvincing and Slinn looked to have saved it. But it squirmed behind him and across the line.

Newcastle, with five successive wins behind them, kept belief and pulled level despite Runcorn doing having more of the ball and making much of the running.

The hosts pulled level in the 75th minute.

Limnets got the first connection on Lewis Jacklin's left-wing corner but the header didn't clear the box.

The flatfooted Mersin was left clutching thin air as a snap shot by centre back Carsten Cairns' went past him into the right of goal.

Runcorn suddenly needed another goal to take the two-team scramble for third place down to the wire.

Ferguson embarked on a crossfield run, a series of one-twos involving Arsan (by now in a more advanced position out wide after starting at full back)  and McLoughlin leaving the right back with a shooting chance from the left of the box.

But with defenders around him, Slinn was able to close down the angle further and it looked as if Linnets would have to settle for the draw.

Runcorn Linnets: Yusuf Mersin, Joe Ferguson, Naim Arsan, Brendan O'Brien, Harvey Washington (Peter Wylie 63 mins), Jacques Welsh, Dec McLoughlin, Isaac Graham (Matty Rain 63 mins), James Steele (Scott Bakkor, 46 mins), Harry McGee (Lewis Doyle, 46 mins), Noah Roberts (Ryan Brooke, 46 mins).

Attendance: 417.