Rooney sends Linnets through to last eight in defence of Cheshire Cup

Winsford United 2 Runcorn Linnets 3

Report by Dave Bettley with pictures by Kelly Jones

Marcus Cusani scored his first Runcorn goal in victory at Winsford.

Holders Linnets were made ro work hard and to a degree made hard work of their Cheshire Senior Cup second-round victory over spirited hosts from a league below.

Winsford twice hit back from behind but the tie was settled at the third time of asking with Adam Rooney's 68th-minute strike.

Runcorn will travel to Pitching In NPL West rivals Nantwich Town in the quarter-finals, after the Dabbers' 1-0 victory over Northwich Victoria at APEC Taxis Stadium, also last night.

A changed Linnets line-up had to fight all the way in a scrappy contest on a difficult pitch, which manager Brad Cooke described as a 'leveller'.

Oskar Rosenblatt challenges for the ball.

Marcus Cusani and Adam Rooney were the headline acts as Runcorn edged through.

Rooney scored what proved to be the winner in the 68th minute before making two timely late interventions to deny Winsford a third comeback goal.

Cusani, meanwhile, ended his long wait to find the net in a Linnets shirt by hitting their second of the night.

He then crowned a man-of-the-match display by setting up the decisive goal.

The big midfielder made a habit of scoring against Runcorn in the past but his time in the Yellow & Green had been blighted by near misses.

There was yet another in the opening exchanges at Barton Stadium for the player, who returned to the club in early season with unfinished business after a brief spell in 2016.

Cusani struck the corner of the bar and right upright with a shot - just before Winsford's Ollie McDonough sent a low, angled drive against the foot of the left post at the other end. These proved to be sighters for both.

Naim Arsan meets the ball on the full to give Runcorn a first-time lead.

Runcorn broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, Naim Arsan steering home a cross from the right by Jacques Welsh on the volley.

But the Blues were level within a minute as McDonough advanced through the middle again.

His effort was straighter than his first and a fortunate bounce on the bumpy surface helping it to evade Bayleigh Passant's dive.

Cusani found reward for enterprise and perseverance seven minutes from the break, his goal being remarkably similar to the one scored by Ryan Brooke in league victory at Avro last month.

Again a searching long ball by skipper Welsh caused hesitation and confusion between goalkeeper and this time wo defenders (instead of one).

As they dallied, Cusani nipped in to slide the ball home on his 17th appearance of the campaign and 21st for Runcorn in all.

Runcorn were looking comfortable on their lead after half-time and threatening to extend it. But a Lewis Crane strike was wiped out for offside.

Adam Rooney and Peter Wylie anticipate a ball into the box.

Then, when it had looked for all the world that Arsan had been brought down after running laterally into the box from the left, the referee refused appeals for a penalty.

Winsford capitalised almost immediately with their second equaliser - by former Linnet Matty Birchall.

A ball fizzed in by Blues top scorer Ollie Pope from the left picked out Birchall unmarked in the middle.

With a lot of the goal to aim at, he opened up his body to beat Passant with a shot into the right corner from eight yards.

Runcorn suddenly had it all to do again but as temperatures dipped towards zero, they averted the lottery of a penalties shootout.

Winsford had already accounted for National League visitors Altrincham on spot kicks in the first round, after a 0-0 draw at 90 minutes.

Adam Rooney had a big part to play in ensuring Runcorn got the job done.

The centre back scored on the rebound from his own shot, an initial attempt by Cusani having been shut out.

There was still work to be done, both sides still going for it in the last quarter of the tie.

Rooney twice had to smartly intervene with Winsford's powerful substitute striker Niza Clilufya on the brink of levelling.

The Midland League Premier Division side had made it tough but the visitors ultimately pulled through, without slipping on what manager Brad Cooke considered a banana skin.

The depth of Runcorn's squad had allowed the boss to rest players, who had a lot of minutes in their legs already or are feeling their way back from injuries.

Adam Rooney amd Joe Ferguson combined to keep Winsford in check.

Billy McNay, who made his first-team debut in the FA Trophy rout of Bury, was named among the substitutes while U21s forward Joel Street joined goalkeeper Alex Ellams in the travelling party.

Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Joe Ferguson, Matty Rain, Peter Wylie, Adam Rooney, Jacques Welsh, Oskar Rosenblatt, Eden Gumbs (Markell Foulds, 66 mins), Lewis Crane (Dec McLoughlin 66 mins), Marcus Cusani, Naim Arsan. Subs not used: Scott Bakkor, Harvey Washington, Billy McNay.

Markell Foulds rises highest as Linnets negotiate a tricky test.