Runcorn Linnets Win The League Challenge Cup
Thu 2nd May 2013 | Macron Cup | By Ian Templeman
Runcorn Linnets lifted the League Challenge Cup for the first time in their history, courtesy of a 3-0 win over Formby at Curzon Ashton’s Tameside Stadium.
Goals from Mark Houghton and Lee Madin inside the opening 22 minutes put Linnets in the driving seat, and a late penalty from Martin Crowder sealed a convincing win.
On a sunny evening at the Tameside Stadium, which was hosting the final for the seventh year in succession, Linnets kicked off facing into the sun at the far end of the ground and created the first chance of the game on 6 minutes.
A throw out from Formby keeper Josh O’Connell was intercepted by Linnets’ Martin Crowder on the left flank, and when he drove the ball low into the box, Matt Cross just failed to connect.
But Formby’s respite was only temporary as Linnets took the lead two minutes later. Picking up the ball 25 yards from goal, Adam Wade unleashed a shot that Formby keeper Josh O’Connell pushed on to the post, but the ball rebounded into the path of Mark Houghton following up, who had the simple task of tapping the ball into the empty net.
Formby’s first attempt on goal arrived on 14 minutes, when Emini Adegbenro won a challenge in midfield, advanced forward and fired a low shot just wide of the post.
But Linnets doubled their tally at the midway point of the half, when Linnets Adam Wade dispossessed Connor Smith on the edge of the box, and squared to Lee Madin who fired home from eight yards.
It almost got worse for Formby on 28 minutes when Joe Walker was caught in possession by Martin Crowder, and the Linnets man strode forward and fired a cracking shot towards the top left hand corner that O’Connell did well to tip over the bar.
The young Formby keeper was in action again a minute later, when he made a great fingertip save from a Crowder free kick, after Matt Atherton had been fouled on the edge of the penalty area.
The impressive O’Connell made further saves form Madin and Matt Atherton, before Linnets spurned a great chance two minutes from the break. A surging run from Atherton down the right saw him square to the unmarked Madin in the six yard box, but with only the keeper to beat, the Linnets striker fired over the bar.
The early stages of the second half saw both sides enjoy possession without creating any chances of note, but Formby began enjoy some territorial advantage and on 57 minutes leading scorer Jason Carey found some space in the inside left channel to fire a shot across the face of the gaol.
A minute later Connor Belger saw an effort pushed away by Richie Mottram at the near post, before both players were involved in the next goalmouth incident when a 40 yard chip from Belger almost caught Mottram out, but the ball flew just wide.
With 18 minutes left Formby survived a scare when a clearance from Michael White was charged down by Linnets substitute Ross McDowell, but Formby keeper O’Connell came out quickly to narrow the angle and McDowell fired over the bar.
But with six minutes remaining, Linnets sealed victory with a third goal from the penalty spot. Mark Houghton went down just inside the box under a challenge from Formby full back Mark Toohey, and Martin Crowder fired home the resultant spot kick.
Both managers gave their views after the game.
Formby joint-manager Jim Shirley: “To be fair to Runcorn Linnets, we could have been four down in the first half, we just didn’t play,
“I thought we played a bit better in the second half, we competed a bit more, and probably matched them. Maybe if we had played like that in the first half it would have been a better game.
“But in the end the best team won, they thoroughly deserved it. If our players felt half as bad as I did at the final whistle, they will be more determined to do better the next time”.
Runcorn Linnets manager Joey Dunn: “We had a game plan and felt we could squeeze Formby in the areas that they played. With a back three there is always a potential that you could be exposed, and by playing a high pressing game we knew we could trouble them, and the goals in the first half came from that.
“The goals gave us a great boost and helped us control the game, and it knocked them back a bit, because they have had a great season and played some great football, but we didn’t let them play. Our lads are experienced and have been around the block a bit, and you could see that in the second half with the way they defended.
“I felt we weren’t as clinical as we should have been in the first half, and could have been 4-0 up at half time. When the lads came in at half time, there was a bit of back slapping and I cut that short really quickly, because that wasn’t the time to be doing that, full time is when you do that.
“In the second half we stepped off the gas and they created a few chances, but we started to get a bit more control of the game, and the third goal gave us some breathing space in the last few minutes.
“Our supporters were fantastic. I played for the club and I know what success means to the supporters, and to see them celebrate on a night like this is fantastic. They were great to me as a player, and it’s lovely to see all those people happy.
“It’s a great way to finish the season, and moving forward we know where we want to strengthen, but there’s no better way of doing that than with a trophy on the shelf. The club is on the up, and we want to make sure we keep going forward from here”.
Formby: Josh O’Connell, Mark Toohey, Josh Essery, Joe Walker, Michael White, Connor Smith, Connor Belger, Paul Speed (captain), Jason Carey, Franny Smith, Emini Adegbenro.
Substitutes: Josh Peake, Kieron Brislen, Griff Jones (for Connor Belger 86), Mark Kirby (for Joe Walker 74), John Connolly.
Runcorn Linnets: Richie Mottram, Michael Simpson, Martin Crowder, Michael Burke, Mike Tomlinson (captain), Matt Cross, Michael Ellison, Adam Wade, Lee Madin, Mark Houghton, Matt Atherton.
Substitutes: Michael Duffy (for Matt Atherton 74), Ross McDowell (for Lee Madin 63), Gavin Salmon (for Mark Houghton 88), Jamie Campbell, Adam Judge.
Referee: Anthony Moore (Stockport)
Assistants: Aaron Jackson (Prescot), Daniel Evans (Warrington)
Fourth Official: Nicholas Gibbons (Oldham)
Attendance: 580
Runcorn Linnets Win The League Challenge Cup
Thu 2nd May 2013 | Macron Cup
By Ian Templeman
Runcorn Linnets lifted the League Challenge Cup for the first time in their history, courtesy of a 3-0 win over Formby at Curzon Ashton’s Tameside Stadium.
Goals from Mark Houghton and Lee Madin inside the opening 22 minutes put Linnets in the driving seat, and a late penalty from Martin Crowder sealed a convincing win.
On a sunny evening at the Tameside Stadium, which was hosting the final for the seventh year in succession, Linnets kicked off facing into the sun at the far end of the ground and created the first chance of the game on 6 minutes.
A throw out from Formby keeper Josh O’Connell was intercepted by Linnets’ Martin Crowder on the left flank, and when he drove the ball low into the box, Matt Cross just failed to connect.
But Formby’s respite was only temporary as Linnets took the lead two minutes later. Picking up the ball 25 yards from goal, Adam Wade unleashed a shot that Formby keeper Josh O’Connell pushed on to the post, but the ball rebounded into the path of Mark Houghton following up, who had the simple task of tapping the ball into the empty net.
Formby’s first attempt on goal arrived on 14 minutes, when Emini Adegbenro won a challenge in midfield, advanced forward and fired a low shot just wide of the post.
But Linnets doubled their tally at the midway point of the half, when Linnets Adam Wade dispossessed Connor Smith on the edge of the box, and squared to Lee Madin who fired home from eight yards.
It almost got worse for Formby on 28 minutes when Joe Walker was caught in possession by Martin Crowder, and the Linnets man strode forward and fired a cracking shot towards the top left hand corner that O’Connell did well to tip over the bar.
The young Formby keeper was in action again a minute later, when he made a great fingertip save from a Crowder free kick, after Matt Atherton had been fouled on the edge of the penalty area.
The impressive O’Connell made further saves form Madin and Matt Atherton, before Linnets spurned a great chance two minutes from the break. A surging run from Atherton down the right saw him square to the unmarked Madin in the six yard box, but with only the keeper to beat, the Linnets striker fired over the bar.
The early stages of the second half saw both sides enjoy possession without creating any chances of note, but Formby began enjoy some territorial advantage and on 57 minutes leading scorer Jason Carey found some space in the inside left channel to fire a shot across the face of the gaol.
A minute later Connor Belger saw an effort pushed away by Richie Mottram at the near post, before both players were involved in the next goalmouth incident when a 40 yard chip from Belger almost caught Mottram out, but the ball flew just wide.
With 18 minutes left Formby survived a scare when a clearance from Michael White was charged down by Linnets substitute Ross McDowell, but Formby keeper O’Connell came out quickly to narrow the angle and McDowell fired over the bar.
But with six minutes remaining, Linnets sealed victory with a third goal from the penalty spot. Mark Houghton went down just inside the box under a challenge from Formby full back Mark Toohey, and Martin Crowder fired home the resultant spot kick.
Both managers gave their views after the game.
Formby joint-manager Jim Shirley: “To be fair to Runcorn Linnets, we could have been four down in the first half, we just didn’t play,
“I thought we played a bit better in the second half, we competed a bit more, and probably matched them. Maybe if we had played like that in the first half it would have been a better game.
“But in the end the best team won, they thoroughly deserved it. If our players felt half as bad as I did at the final whistle, they will be more determined to do better the next time”.
Runcorn Linnets manager Joey Dunn: “We had a game plan and felt we could squeeze Formby in the areas that they played. With a back three there is always a potential that you could be exposed, and by playing a high pressing game we knew we could trouble them, and the goals in the first half came from that.
“The goals gave us a great boost and helped us control the game, and it knocked them back a bit, because they have had a great season and played some great football, but we didn’t let them play. Our lads are experienced and have been around the block a bit, and you could see that in the second half with the way they defended.
“I felt we weren’t as clinical as we should have been in the first half, and could have been 4-0 up at half time. When the lads came in at half time, there was a bit of back slapping and I cut that short really quickly, because that wasn’t the time to be doing that, full time is when you do that.
“In the second half we stepped off the gas and they created a few chances, but we started to get a bit more control of the game, and the third goal gave us some breathing space in the last few minutes.
“Our supporters were fantastic. I played for the club and I know what success means to the supporters, and to see them celebrate on a night like this is fantastic. They were great to me as a player, and it’s lovely to see all those people happy.
“It’s a great way to finish the season, and moving forward we know where we want to strengthen, but there’s no better way of doing that than with a trophy on the shelf. The club is on the up, and we want to make sure we keep going forward from here”.
Formby: Josh O’Connell, Mark Toohey, Josh Essery, Joe Walker, Michael White, Connor Smith, Connor Belger, Paul Speed (captain), Jason Carey, Franny Smith, Emini Adegbenro.
Substitutes: Josh Peake, Kieron Brislen, Griff Jones (for Connor Belger 86), Mark Kirby (for Joe Walker 74), John Connolly.
Runcorn Linnets: Richie Mottram, Michael Simpson, Martin Crowder, Michael Burke, Mike Tomlinson (captain), Matt Cross, Michael Ellison, Adam Wade, Lee Madin, Mark Houghton, Matt Atherton.
Substitutes: Michael Duffy (for Matt Atherton 74), Ross McDowell (for Lee Madin 63), Gavin Salmon (for Mark Houghton 88), Jamie Campbell, Adam Judge.
Referee: Anthony Moore (Stockport)
Assistants: Aaron Jackson (Prescot), Daniel Evans (Warrington)
Fourth Official: Nicholas Gibbons (Oldham)
Attendance: 580
