Peak performance

Aug 28 2008 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

New Mills 0 Runcorn Linnets 2

A CAMPAIGN, which had suddenly troughed after three straight victories with a shock 5-1 home defeat on Saturday, hit a new High Peak in picturesque Derbyshire on Monday.

Runcorn’s players made it a happy holiday by doing exactly as Colne had done to them three days earlier – wrecking their hosts’ 100% start in the Vodkat League Premier Division.

Just what the win meant was evident after the final whistle, Runcorn having hit back in the best possible fashion to dent the early- season charge of their big-budget rivals.

The team and manager Steve Wilkes, who has become a fans’ hero in his eight months in charge, lapped up the applause from the supporters.

They, in the words of keeper Robbie Holcroft, had ‘turned an away match into a home one’.

Wilkes said: “It was a great show of character from the players and the reception they got at the end was unbelievable.

“I have been in non-league football a long time and only the day at Bamber Bridge when we got to the semi-final of the Vase have I witnessed that kind of thing before.”

Victory was all the sweeter after the weekend’s lows and the fact defeat on their last visit to Church Lane two seasons ago had played a significant part in Runcorn being North West Counties Division Two runners- up, instead of champions.

Wilkes was purring at the team’s all-round performance.

Going into the break with a goal three minutes from the end of a hard-fought half was a big lift.

Michael Morrison and Nehru McKenzie did the spadework to release Rob Whyte who got to the byline to drill in a left-wing cross which Stuart Telfer converted at the near post.

Runcorn knew there would be defending to do in the second half and yet they restricted New Mills to relatively few chances.

Garry Kharass must have thought he had equalised in the 58th minute but, remarkably, Holcroft saved the striker’s close-range header to put Saturday’s sending-off behind him.

By the time the late onslaught came, Linnets had the cushion of a second goal.

Ged Courtney pounced to score at the left post within seconds of his introduction.

Skipper Steve Cunningham’s 72nd-minute free-kick had been headed across goal by the outstanding Robbie Moore.

“I am so pleased to see Stuart Telfer and Ged Courtney getting on the scoresheet,” added Wilkes.

“Ged has been very patient but is chomping at the bit to get in.

“The back four and Robbie Holcroft were tremendous but so were the four in front of them and with the front two working like they do, there are not going to be too many teams around wanting to play us.”

Linnets: Holcroft, Pickup, Walsh, McKenzie (Young 90), Dignan, Moore, Telfer, Cunningham, M Morrison, Thompson (Courtney 70), Whyte (D Morrison 75). Subs (not used): Morris, Boyd (GK). Attendance: 294.