Winning start to New Year is the goal
- Dec 30, 2025
- 3 min read
RUNCORN LINNETS v Witton Albion
Pitching In Northern Premier League West
Thursday, January 1st 2026 (ko 3pm)
APEC Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, Runcorn
Runcorn are ready to ring in the New Year with an authentic derby against Cheshire neighbours Witton Albion.
It's fair to say that Linnets will want to begin 2026 in better style than we started 2025.
A 4-0 defeat in last year's fixture, also on New Year's Day, was a sobering experience after the festivities of the night before.
The heavy loss came on the back of a similar 4-0 thrashing at U Lock It Stadium on the August Bank Holiday.
While our pain was eased in between by a 3-0 win at Wincham Park en route to landmark success in the Cheshire Senior Cup, Runcorn will know there are scores to settle in NPL West.
We started the process in a 1-1 draw at Wincham on August Bank Holiday and after dropping two points in the goalless draw at Bootle on Boxing Day, Linnets want all three against their former landlords.
Witton lie 11th in the table with 30 points from 24 games, 13 of these having been taken on the road.
Linnets slipped two places to fifth after the stalemate at Bootle.
We trail Bury by two points and are one behind Shifnal Town with a game in hand on both.
We have taken 25 points from 30 at APEC Taxis Stadium.
Attendance watch
The crowd of 615 for the fixture against Colls on the Friday before Christmas was our third highest of the season in the league and our best since the first two home games.
This is a chance for our biggest home league attendance of the campaign - the turnout of 653 for our opener against Vauxhall Motors is the figure to beat.
Previous meetings
This will be our fourth home meeting with Witton in NPL West and our first two emded in victory.
2022-2023
Runcorn Linnets 1
Ally Brown (80
Witton Albion 0
Attendance: 696
2023-2024
Runcorn Linnets 4
Joe Lynch (7)
Eden Gumbs (14, 65)
Max Woodcock (48)
Witton Albion 2
Connor Hughes (33)
Joe Duckworth (90 pen)
Attendance: 729
2024-2025
Runcorn Linnets 0
Witton Albion 4
Ben Harrison (7)
Nicholas Hepple (19)
Max Harrop (71)
Owen German (90 pen)
Attendance: 761
Form guide
Linnets have won eight out of 10 league games this season with one draw.
We have taken maximum points from our last six outings at APEC Taxis Stadium, scoring 21 with five in reply.
Witton picked up their third away win of the NPL West campaign on December 20th, defeating Chasetown 4-2 at the Scholars Ground.
They are unbeaten in the last three on their travels after draws at Sporting Khalsa and Trafford.
Albion's other away wins have come at Stalybridge Celtic and Stafford Rangers.
They have lost five and drawn four of their 12 league games on opposing grounds.
Player connections
Our 15-goal top scorer Scott Bakkor has had two spells as a Witton Albion player.
Initially joining them in 2013, he scored nine in 40 appearances before returning in the Covid-curtailed 2020-21 campaign, chipping in with five more goals in 10 outings.
While at Blackburn Rovers, Linnets right back Joe Ferguson made nine loan appearances for Witton in their 2021-22 NPL Premier Division season.
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).
Normal timetables may be amended on New Year's Day - please check before travelling.
By bus - there are no services on New Year's Day.
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
Tickets can be purchased in advance.
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