Miller's magic does the trick for Linnets

Vauxhall Motors 1 Runcorn Linnets 3

Report by Dave Bettley

A Sean Miller double secured a dramatic late victory on Michael Ellison's Linnets managerial return.

The closely-fought match turned back in favour of the revitalised visitors with a controversial 83rd-minute penalty.

It saw Miller restore Runcorn's lead at vanEupen Arena with the first of his brace, after an early advantage had been lost.

The spot-kick resulted from a collision between the scorers of the game's first two goals.

With another draw looking likely after a sharing of the spoils at APEC Taxis Stadium in the opeijng week of the campaign, Motors' veteran striker Kevin Ellison was adjudged to have caught Harvey Washington.

It seemed as though the young Linnets defender had slipped, sliding into his opponent's path.

But if Runcorn had been gifted the benefit of the disputed call, there was no doubt about the manner in which Miller converted the spot-kick into the top right corner.

The mercurial midfielder's finish for the clincher was even better as he spectacularly dispatched a left-foot strike from an acute angle past Calvin Hare - one of two goalkeepers on debut in this top-six duel.

Linnets top scorer Scott Bakkor had cleverly rolled his marker to play matchwinner Miller through.

Ellison, back as Linnets boss after a five-year absence, was unable to take his place in. the away dugout on account of a touchline ban hanging over him from a title-winning 2024-25 season at ill-fated Widnes.

Instead, he watched from behind the perimeter fence and cut an animated and at times agitated figure, who was 'kicking' every ball in his eagerness to get off to a winning start.

Ello's first Linnets selection had a surprise at the top with Ireland Under-19s goalkeeper Cian O'Shea, loaned from EFL One club Stockport County, between the sticks at the expense of regular Bayleigh Passant.

Passant watched from a seat in the stand.

Runcorn's players were no doubt still reeling from New Year's 5-0 home drubbing by Witton Albion and the equally surprising resignation of manager Brad Cooke.

They'd had nine days to dwell on the twin shock.

Seeking to restore confidence under the new boss, having failed to threaten let alone score in two festive games, they needed a positive start.

They got it inside four minutes as Washington rifled home a volley from a half-cleared free-kick. The  low, left-foot shot beat Hare to the former Prescot Cables custodian's left.

The intensity which had been missing at Christmas and, even more so, the turn of the year was turned back up.

Linnets looked dangerous again, although Vauxhall also had chances in a high-paced first half, which gave neither team time to breathe.

Naim Arsan looked lively, after a recent performance lull and might have won a penalty when tripped.

Washington and  fellow central defender Adam Rooney, who was back from injury, were disrupting Vauxhall's defence at set-pieces.

Rooney almost followed his partner onto the virtual scoreboard, heading narrowly wide at a Matty Rain corner on the left.

Another questionable ruling by the referee almost led to 46-year-old Ellison netting sooner than he did.

Arsan looked to have been impeded deep inside his own territory but the referee was happy for play to continue.

When the ball promptly came in from wide on the right, Ellison hit the target at the far post but a thus far unworked O'Shea reacted well to save with his legs.

With half-time fast approaching, Jawad Jibreel was fancying his chances when running clear on the right of the box.

But Rooney got across in the nick of time, causing the winger to hurry a shot, which cleared the apex of the right post and crossbar.

The start to the second half saw Runcorn display more caution and uncertainty. The hosts built territorial advantage which prompted a 65th-minute equaliser

Again, there was contention in the way it arrived.

The referee, with a good view of a challenge by Washington on the Vauxhall right, saw nothing wrong.

But as Vauxhall appealed for a penalty, a free-kick was awarded wide of the area - on the intervention of an assistant - with Washington receiving a yellow card for the dragback.

Kevin Ellison, with more than 550 Football League appearances behind him, caught Linnets defence napping by manouevring into space to nod home at close range.

The leveller elicited an instant reaction from Runcorn. But Bakkor, having run away from centre back Wade Rutherford, carried the ball too wide and could only find the side netting.

James Steele saw a cross headed clear by the hosts before it could reach Arsan at the far post.

Steele then lost his balance in another promising position on the right.

Having already cracked at one set-piece, Linnets had to defend five consecutive corners, sent in from both sides, before launching their decisive late offensive.

Michael Ellison's new outfield signing Harry McGee made a late entry with Eden Gumbs, the first of three Runcorn substitutes used, retreating to left back as Matty Rain gave way.

Markell Foulds, the third Linnet introduced off the bench, was booked along with Vauxhall sub Paddy Kay after a contretemps between the pair close to the final whistle.

Both Vauxhall full backs, Yassine Toure and Jordan Deer also had names taken.

The result in Ellesmere Port saw hitherto sixth-placed Linnets reclaim fourth positon from Vauxhall with Stalybridge Celtic, the team separating the two Cheshire rivals, having triumphed at Atherton Collieries in Friday's evening fixture.

Linnets, meanwhile, gained two points on the second and third-placed clubs as Bury and Avro tied 1-1 at Gigg Lane on Saturday.

Runcorn now prepare for boss Ellison's delayed official homecoming in Tuesday's Liverpool Senior Cup second-round tie against MSB Woolton from North West Counties League Division One South (ko 7.45pm).

Runcorn Linnets: Cian O'Shea, Joe Ferguson, Matty Rain (Harry McGee, 85 mins), Harvey Washington, Adam Rooney, Jacques Welsh, Naim Arsan (Eden Gumbs, 79 mins), Lewis Doyle, Scott Bakkor, Sean Miller (Markell Foulds, 89 mins), James Steele. Subs (not used): Lewis Crane, Oskar Rosenblatt.

 Attendance: 461.