Under 21s hit opposition for six with 'best ever' display
Cheadle Town Reds U21s 0
Runcorn Linnets U21s 6
Runcorn Linnets U21s have turned their season around by climbing into third spot in the Premier Division with a brilliant display at Stockport Sports Village on Sunday.
The performance eclipsed anything that the team has produced since joining the North West Development League, even in their double-winning campaign two seasons ago.
Linnets swept aside a Cheadle team they had beaten at home in early October to kick-start a recovery after four initial league and cup losses.
"We were unreal today," said manager Ste Ellams as the Yellow & Greens made it three wins and a draw from their last four outings.
They did so without two of their senior players in Tom Ledward and captain Owen Cushion.
Boss Ellams added: "It's the best we have played in the 28 months we have been in the league".
Linnets had been two up at the break thanks to a brace from Joel Street inside the first quarter.
The attacking wideman, who made five substitute appearances for the first team last season, struck in the 10th and 21st minutes.
The goals helped him to secure the McNamara's Sports Bar man-of-the-match award.
The second half turned into a Linnets landslide with four different scorers.
Centre forward Josh Mather, in hjs first season with the club, took his running total to seven in eight games by grabbing Runcorn's third within four minutes of the restart. Mather is fourth in the Premier goalscoring chart.
His latest effort Linnets impetus to drive home their superiority with vice-captain and skipper for the day Callum Prince scoring a rare goal for the fourth in the 57th minute.
Subs Ben Crane (69 mins) and Ole Croxton (80 mins) later got in on the act.
The only blemish on the afternoon was the dismissal of recent signing Reece Jones, for two yellow-card fouls.
Manager Ellams argued that with the first, the centre midfielder had been "literally holding his ground".
Linnets are on ten points from seven matches, level with title-holding Warrington Town, whose League Cup involvement against Bury - the champions winning on penalties after a 3-3 home draw - helped FC United of Manchester to go above them into top spot.
FCUM and second-placed Warrington each have two games in hand on Linnets.
But from being in the bottom two a few weeks ago, Runcorn's fortunes are looking a lot brighter.
Manager Ellams said: "Even at the start of the season, I was never worried because the performances were there. But something has clicked now.
"I am really made up for the lads. There are two massive home games coming up against Bury this Sunday and Warrington Town the weekend after, followed by the trip to Avro at the end of the month.
"These games are almost season defining if we're to be in the title race."
Runcorn Linnets U21s: Jaden Wright, Callum Prince, Sam Hamling, Billy McNay, Jay Lee, Reece Jones, Tom Beswuck, Zack Kopanski, Josh Mather, Fin Ryan, Joel Street. Subs: Ben Crane, Ole Croxton, Leo Morphet, Ben Dobbie.
Bury Under 21s may be new to the division this season but not APEC Taxis Stadium with the Shakers having sent a Development team to face Runcorn's senior side in last season's restaged Isuzu FA Trophy tie at the expense of a 7-0 defeat.
The Gigg Lane youngsters lie sixth of the ten teams, three points adrift of Linnets but having played a couple of games fewer.
Sunday's game at Murdishaw kicks off at 3pm.
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