Runcorn Linnets: Vics deliver footballing lesson in Senior Cup

Jan 28 2010 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

RUNCORN Linnets boss Steve Wilkes felt the writing was on the wall when the Northwich Vics team-sheet was pinned up before Tuesday’s 7-1 defeat for the Vodkat League side, writes Dave Bettley.

“When I was their team-sheet I thought, oh my God,” admitted Wilkes, who saw his players given a footballing lesson in the Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final at Victoria Stadium.

“I kept it from the players, but they had eight lads who had played for them on Saturday (in a Conference North victory at Stalybridge Celtic) and six of those started when they beat Charlton in the FA Cup,” said the manager.

Linnets, who had already been knocked out of the Vodkat League Cup with a 3-2 extra-time defeat at lower-division Wigan Robin Park on Saturday, took a shock lead against their Mid Cheshire neighbours from a 16th-minute Danny Meadowcroft own goal.

But Northwich recovered to be 2-1 up at half-time, scoring from a free-kick and a corner.

Runcorn’s inability to defend quality set-pieces was further exposed when Mike Connor added his second with a free header at another flagkick to make it 4-1

But it was Northwich’s third a minute after the restart, when the referee overlooked a foul on Simon Myerscough by scorer Wes Bancroft, which broke the visitors’ resistance.

Two goals by Lee Elam either side of a Jon Newby tap-in completed the rout in which Natt Kerr was the other Vics scorer as Linnets were ultimately outclassed.

Wilkes said: “They were a much better team than we were.

“Going to play Northwich Vics with a full team is difficult enough but when you’ve got five first teamers missing it’s very difficult.

“I said at the end of the game, that’s how you play football. Northwich really knocked it around well – although, all right, when you are four of five-one up, you do have bags of energy.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t defend well enough from set plays.

“I know last night was a big thing for Runcorn fans with it being the Cheshire Senior Cup and a 7-1 beating doesn’t sound good. t sounds an absolute hammering. It probably is.

“But you have to put it into perspective. We did well to beat Witton in the last round.

“I was more disappointed with Saturday as we were trying to get back to the final of the competition we reached last year.”

Skipper Rob Whyte’s penalty miss in the last minute of extra time denied Linnets a replay against Wigan Robin Park.

Wilkes said: “We are not mad at Rob or anything like that. He’s been one of our best players this season and it happens. He just had one of those days.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. He told me afterwards he didn’t want to take it.”

Linnets entertain Abbey Hey on Saturday with striker Paul Fildes, who has told Wilkes he is staying despite Rossendale United’s interest, completing his suspension along with wideman Dave Sherlock and Dave Dempsey.

Left back Matthew Ashcroft also missed the Vics defeat with a dead leg and midfieldman Chris Blundell because of working commitments.

Wilkes has signed Matthew Atherton, 18, from Clitheroe and is poised to capture 19-year-old ex-Wigan pro Matthew Hampson, who has recently been at Ashton Athletic. Both are strikers who can also play out wide.