Teams drew 1-1 last month at Cleric Stadium

Linnets looking to go one better in Congleton return

A crowded penalty area during last month's 1-1 draw at Congleton. Picture by KELLY JONES

We entertain Congleton Town on Saturday in a swift turnaround from our midweek meeting at the start of November, which ended in a 1-1 draw at Cleric Stadium.

They are the first team we will have encountered home and away in NPL West thus far - a sure sign that the season is advancing, although we are four games away from the halfway point of our league programme.

Congleton were promoted to the NPL West the season before last after moving laterally from the North West Counties League to the Midlands League, winning the title in 2003-04.

Their first visit to Murdishaw as a Step 4 side was at the end of August last year when Luke Wall's 76th-minute goal earned us a 1-0 victory in NPL West.

There is, however, plenty of history between the clubs.

We have entertained the Bears 15 times in league and cup - winning nine, drawing one and losing five.

Previous meetings

North West Counties League

2007-08
Runcorn Linnets 0 Congleton Town 1
Division One* (at Wincham Park)
Attendance: 175

* Division One became the Premier Division at the end of that season.

2008-09
Runcorn Linnets 1 Congleton Town 5
Prenier Division (at Wincham Park)
Attendance: 124

2009-10
Runcorn Linnets 2 Congleton Town 1
Premier Division (at Wincham Park)
Attendance: 134

2010-11
Runcorn Linnets 0 Congleton Town 1
Premier Division
Attendance: 280

2011-12
Runcorn Linnets 2 Congleton Town 0
Premier Division
Attendance: 271

2012-13
Runcorn Linnets 2 Congleton Town 4
Premier Division
Attendance: 217

2013-14
Runcorn Linnets 1 Congleton Town 1
Premier Division
Attendance: 279

2014-15
Runcorn Linnets 4 Congleton 3
Premier Division
Attendance: 337

2015-16
Runcorn Linnets 2 Congleton Town 1
Premier Division
Attendance: 235

2016-17
Runcorn Linnets 5 Congleton Town 2
Premier Division
Attendance 290

Linnets looking to go one better in Congleton return

Scorer Stuart Wellstead (left) land Kris Holt can't conceal their delight in our 2017-18 home win against Congleton. Picture by JAMES EASTUP.

2017-18
Runcorn Linnets 3 Congleton Town 1
Premier Division
Attendance: 375

The game during our NWCL title-winning season was affected by floodlight failure and there was a 50-minute delay between Danny O'Brien stepping up to take a 64th-minute penalty and actually converting it!

The full back's spot-kick cancelled out a lead which Congleton had established inside four minutes. With belief renewed after an under-par display, Stuart Wellstead volleyed home left footed from 20 yards and his fellow sub Freddie Potter promptly sealed the win.

Northern Premier League

2024-25
Runcorn Linnets 1 Congleton Town 0
Division One West
Attendance: 564

Cup competitions

2008-09
Runcorn Linnets 1 Congleton Town 4
Mid Cheshire Cup (at Wincham Park)
Attendance: 90

2009-10
Runcorn Linnets 4 Congleton Town 0
Cheshire Senior Cup (at Wincham Park
Attendance: 99

2018-19
Runcorn Linnets 4 Congleton Town 1
Cheshire Senior Cup
Attendance: 203

This Saturday's game will be our second fixture against Congleton as an Northern Premier League side, the first being in February 2019 when we defeated the Bears 4-1 in a Cheshire Senior Cup quarter-final.

The scoring began with a 15th-minute goal by Peter Wylie, one of his five in his 225 Linnets appearances - the latest being in our 3-1 defeat of visiting Newcastle Town on Saturday, when he was summoned off the bench as a late replacement for Joe Ferguson.

Our other marksmen in the county cup meeting with Congleton six years ago were Mitch Bryant with two and Ryan Gibson. The last two goals came in the last nine minutes after Saul Henderson had halved the arrears for the then North West Counties League outfit early in the second half.

Linnets looking to go one better in Congleton return

Peter Wylie in action against Newcastle Town last weekend. Picture by BEN JACKSON

Form guide

Linnets looking to go one better in Congleton return

Congleton haven't won since our November 4th meeting at the Cleric Stadium and lie 17th in the league standings, averaging a point per game over 19 matches.

Draws at home to Chasetown and away to Trafford, following a 2-0 defeat at Clitheroe, have left them without a win from their last four attempts.

However, they are ninth in the form table with nine points from six matches.

Their ten West Division aways have brought one win (at Bootle) and two draws (at Lower Breck, notably, and Trafford).

Linnets looking to go one better in Congleton return

Picture by PETER GALLAGHER-HEADLEY

Thirteen points from the last 18 available points have pushed Linnets up to second in the form table and sixth in the league itself.

We are on 32 points from 17 and have three games in hand on Shifnal Town (3rd, 36pts), Bury (4th, 35 pts) amd Vauxhall Motors (5th, 34pts).

Linnets have played seven home games - the fewest in our Division - with five wins, one defeat and a draw. We have won our last three at APEC Taxis Stadium, scoring eleven and conceding three.

Crowd watch

Linnets looking to go one better in Congleton return

Picture by BEN JACKSON

We have the fifth highest average home crowd in the division - our 547 average putting us just behind Congleton (556) in fourth.

Like father like son

Linnets looking to go one better in Congleton return

Picture by PETER GALLAGHER-HEADLEY

Our newly-contracted defender Harvey Washington played twice for Congleton in their 2023-24. His dad, Darren is also a former Bears player and had a spell as their assistant manager.

Collecting for Christmas

Linnets looking to go one better in Congleton return

We will be accepting gifts for children and young people in support of the annual Christmas Toy Appeal and toiletries and other suitable gifts for those in our community,

who will spend the festive season in care or residential homes. Please drop off your donations, new and unwrappred at the Clubhouse on matchday.

How to get here

By car - postcode for APEC Taxis Stadium is WA7 6GJ.

By train - Runcorn is served by two railway stations, Runcorn (Liverpool Lime Street to London line, also with services from Chester and Birmingham) and Runcorn East (trains to and from Manchester, Chester and North Wales). Both stations are served by buses running close to the stadium, although Runcorn High Street bus station (10-minute walk) offers a wider choice for passengers using Runcorn Railway Station.

By bus - the ground is a short walk from the Runcorn Busway - alight at Orniston Bollingbroke Academy (Halton High School) and follow pathway on the opposite side of the busway from the school to Murdishaw Avenue and cross into Stockham Lane. Many local services (including Shopping City circular) run on the busway as well as those from Widnes, Warrington, Liverpool and Chester.

A local taxi service is provided by APEC Taxis (tel 01928 575757).

Parking

There is a large free car park on site.

Bar and catering

The licensed clubhouse bar offers a range of alcoholic and non-alcholic drinks while hot food, tea, coffee and soft drinks and confectionery are on sale from the tea bar.

Christmas shopping

Don't forget to pop into our club shop to get yourself or a loved one in your Linnets family a bespoke gift to unwrap on December 25th! Can't get to the match? Why nof make a purchase online.

Admission

Prices at the turnstile are:

Adult - £11
(£2 discount for Halton Leisure Card holders)

Concession (Over 65s) - £8

Juniors (18 and under) - £2

Tickets can also be purchased in advance here

Linnets looking to go one better in Congleton return

How to make an entrance! Pictures by PETER GALLAGHER-HEADLEY

vs Congleton FC

Linnets TV

Fixtures

League Table

Men's first team Playing Squad

Men's First Team

Ladies First Team

Under 21's

Juniors

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