Runcorn Linnets: Manager Steve Wilkes loses sleep after a nightmare week for Vodkat League club

Nov 26 2009 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

MANAGER Steve Wilkes has admitted to sleepless nights after a nightmare week for Runcorn Linnets.

Over eight days, the Vodkat Leaguers have suffered two consecutive 4-0 maulings on the back of a 6-3 defeat – having until then been unbeaten in six games, winning five.

Wilkes lay awake until 3am yesterday in the wake of the latest defeat by New Mills.

He said: “We have defended poorly these last few games. Once we concede, we look like we are going to concede more and more.

“It is difficult putting your finger on it as they are the same players I had four or five weeks ago and kept a clean sheet against Congleton at home.

“It was the same back four which went to St Helens the week after and conceded six. It is one extreme to the other.”

Wilkes added: “Phil Priestley has been brilliant for us in goal so it is not a case of the defence being worried about what the goalkeeper is going to to. That doesn’t come into it.

“The last three games have seen us concede 14 goals, which is a lot, but it has been the manner of them.

“People are not attacking the ball – instead of going towards it, they are backing off.

“We are also making silly mistakes and conceding the same type of goals.”

Wilkes remains positive, however, the team can turn their fortunes back around.

He said: “We have played the top five teams away from home and still have 12 games to play against those in the bottom seven. Those games will define our season.

“We are not going to win the league, come second and probably not going to finish in the top four. But if we can get a decent run, I would like to think we are one of the best six teams in the league.”

Weather permitting, Linnets this Saturday go to Atherton LR, whose midweek game was rained off.

Centre back Ross Bain and in-form wideman Dave Sherlock return from suspension but versatile defender Simon Myerscough is ruled out by working commitments.

Already without Bain for Tuesday’s game, Wilkes had been unable to start centre back Simon Howard against New Mills due to illness.

But Howard had to take the field after all, coming on at half-time when Myerscough pulled up with back trouble.

Linnets had drafted in Kendal Town central defender George Melling for a one-off appearance – the registration going through just before the matchday deadline, courtesy of the Cumbrians’ boss Lee Ashcroft..

Kyle Jacobs, who has featured very little for Kendal since leaving Runcorn, was also reintroduced at right-back in place of out-of-form Jacob Wood.

Wilkes isn’t ruling out further runouts for Jacobs as Linnets try to dust themselves down.

Strikers Rob Whyte and Paul Fildes played on Tuesday although not fully fit while fitness worries continue for midfieldman Chris Blundell, who sustained a knee injury in the warm-up at Ramsbottom United on Saturday.