Linnets are spot-on

Nov 27 2008 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

RUNCORN Linnets have had all the answers when put on the spot in the last few weeks.

Firstly, Paul Crewe scored a penalty in the Cheshire Senior Cup defeat by Woodley Sports.

Then all five kicks were safely converted in the FA Vase shootout victory over Alsager Town.

And finally, Steve Cunningham scored from 12 yards in Saturday’s 1-0 Vodkat League Premier Division defeat of Glossop North End.

But manager Steve Wilkes insists Linnets haven’t been practising penalties – it just looks that way.

He said: “It’s funny. We were talking before the Woodley game that we hadn’t had any penalties – the last being the one Dave Thompson missed at Curzon Ashton.

“Then you get two in four games and also have a shootout.”

Wilkes admitted he had asked for volunteers after two periods of extra-time had failed to separate Linnets and Alsager – the Wincham Park replay ending 2-2 after a 1-1 draw at the Town Ground.

He said: “It was just a case of walking up to the players and saying ‘Who fancies it?’.Straight away, I had seven players putting their hands up. From a manager’s point of view that’s great.”

With Alsager missing from one of their first three kicks, Michael Young only needed to score the penultimate spot-kick of 10 to send Linnets through to AFC Fylde on Saturday, December 6.

But the player’s confidence was obvious.

Wilkes added: “As he set off, Youngy jogged four or five yards and turned round to the rest of the players and said: ‘Don’t worry lads, I’m taking you to Wembley’.

“It was a fantastic penalty too. I had never seen any of them take penalties before but as soon as he stepped up, the players were predicting he would score.

“I know Rob Whyte’s penalty went through the keeper but the other four (Alan Glover, Cunningham, Tom Baker and Young) were different class.”

In normal time, Linnets had looked comfortable on a first-half lead handed to them by Whyte until conceding late on to Dean Williams.

Revitalised Alsager then went ahead in extra-time only for Michael Morrison to drill home (98).

Saturday’s game against Glossop saw Linnets surviving an onslaught in the final stages to net all three points with Wilkes being buoyed by a rare ........................clean sheet.

Michael Young will miss the Vase game at Fylde and the following Saturday’s league visit of Newcastle Town through suspension.

But new signings Clive Brown and Dominic Studley are both eligible for the Wembley competition.

Mossley have not followed up their interest in striker Ged Courtney after serving Linnets with seven days of approach.

Wilkes said: “Mossley never rang him which it great news for us. You want to keep your best players and obviously Ged is one of them.”

Supporter Dave Rose is holding a Football Quiz as a fundraiser for the Runcorn Linnets FC Ground Fund Appeal. It is at the Lion Hotel, Greenway Road, on Friday, December 12 (8pm).