Return to league action brings Kidsgrove to APEC Taxis Stadium
- Sep 15, 2025
- 4 min read
Match preview
RUNCORN LINNETS v Kidsgrove Athletic
Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division.
Tuesday, September 16th, ko 7.45pm
History trail
We have encountered Kidgsrove Athletic in five of our seven Northern Premier League seasons.
The exceptions were in the two campaigns, which were abandoned due to Covid in 2019-20 and 2020-21 when Kidsgrove competed in the South East Division and Linnets in the North West.
Runcorn have very much held sway in past meetings in Murdishaw with a 100% home return against the Staffordshire club.
But we left it late on their first visit in February 2019 with Liam O'Neill, who had joined us the previous month from Padiham, and Aaron Morris scoring in the last three minutes for a 2-1 victory.
Kyle Diskin's 10th-minute goal is the only one Grove have managed in their five previous visit although Scott Lycett scored an OG as we defeated them 2-0 in 2022-23 season. Centre half Scott had played 20 times for us earlier in his career, making his debut on Boxing Day 2019.
Previous home meetings
(ALL NPL WEST)
Saturday, February 9th 2019
Runcorn Linnets 2
Liam O'Neill (87)
Aaron Morris (90)
Kidsgrove Athletic 1
Kyle Diskin (10)
Attendance: 303
Tuesday, September 7th 2021
Runcorn Linnets 4
Oladapo Olarewaju (20')
Stuart Crilly (23)
Ryan Brooke (26)
Iwan Murray (62)
Kidsgrove Athletic 0
Attendance: 523
Saturday, November 12th 2022
Runcorn Linnets 2
Scott Lycett (66 og)
Jamie Rainford (90)
Kidsgrove Athletic 0
Attendance: 569
Saturday, January 6th 2024
Runcorn Linnets 1
Oliver Molloy (11)
Kidsgrove Athletic 0
Attendance: 607
Saturday, November 9th 2024
Runcorn Linnets 2
Naim Arsan (8)
Jaden Jones (35)
Kidsgrove Athletic 0
Attendance: 526
Opposition update
Grove's new signings for 2025-26 include Macauley Taylor and Jay Ford both from Eccleshall.
Offering vesatility and a wealth of experience, Taylor began his journey at Newtown, where he featured in the Europa Conference League, playing matches in Slovakia and the Faroe Islands. He has also had spells at Whitchurch Alport and Shifnal Town.
Ford is a speedy winger, who attracted interest from several potential suitors with his performances in North West Counties League Division One South.
Logan Cousins has transferred on loan from Port Vale FC until September 30th. He is a midfielder, who loves to run at defenders.
Form guide
Runcorn have lost only once in 10 games, which is good going considering we have been unable to field a settled side.
With Bayleigh Passant having been ruled out of Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup win at Pickering Town, Scott Bakkor is now the only player to have started all games this season.
Matty Rain has also appeared in all ten but twice come off the bench.
The weekend selections of Oskar Rosenblatt and Harvey Bardsley means we have had twice as many starters as games.
Twenty different players have worn 1-11 this season and 22 have represented us overall.
We will be defending an unbeaten home record after three wins and a draw so far this season but this is only our third league match.
Kidgsrove have made a good start to the NPL West season with just a single defeat.
They come to the APEC two points ahead of Linnets after racking up three wins and a draw from five matches.
They lost 3-1 at Nantwich in their first away game but recovered well with a 2-2 draw at leaders Lower Breck.
The Grove boast a 100% home record in the league after defeating Wythenshawe Town, Chasetown and Congleton Town.
They have, however, been eliminated from both major FA competiions - knocked out of the Cup 2-1 by visitors Racing Club Warwick, after victories in the preliminaries against Rugby Borough and Belper Town.
In the Trophy, Kidsgrove lost at Sutton Coldfield Town in First Round Qualifying.
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.
Admission
Adult - £11
(£2 discount for Halton Leisure Card holders)
Concession (Over 65s) - £8
Juniors (18 and under) - £2
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