West Didsbury & Chorlton vs Runcorn Linnets
North West Counties Football League, Premier Division
Bank Holiday Monday, 28th August

Admission: £5 / £3 / Under 12s free

Address: Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road, M21 8FE

West look to end the Bank Holiday weekend on a high with the visit of the ever-strong Runcorn Linnets. Having started our league campaign with a 3-1 win at home to Widnes, followed by a 3-3 draw at Bootle, West started earned 3 points on the road on Saturday by beating a strong Congleton Town side 3-0.

The game has the opportunity to act as a swift and much needed palette cleanser for West fans, with memories of last Tuesday’s drab 3-1 defeat at the hands of 1874 Northwich still fresh. Still unbeaten in the league, Steve Settle surely be hoping to extend that run against a strong Linnets side.

In terms of suspensions, West will have Daryl Weston available for selection – having served his three game ban after a red against Widnes – and Richmond Botchey’s ban following his red against 1874 Northwich will not kick in until after this game.

Linnets are currently on the same points total as West, having started the season in roughly a similar fashion. On the opening day, a trip to Abbey Hey resulted in a 4-0 win for Linnets, before Irlam travelled to Runcorn and earned a 1-1 draw. Playing on Friday Night – perhaps giving joint managers Michael Ellison and Matt Cross a crucial advantage – Linnets thumped Winsford United 5-0.

Linnets fared equally well to West in the FA Cup too – winning their Extra Preliminary Round game at home against Hemsworth MW 2-0, before losing in the next round 4-2 at Ashton Athletic.

Perennially among the favourites for the NWCFL title, Linnets fans will be hoping that this is the season that they can finally make the step up to the Evo-Stik North that the club surely deserves. A win at Brookburn Road would be a major step towards that – but with both sides looking to build upon unbeaten league starts, this is sure to be a fiercely contested game.

West vs Runcorn Linnets – last season

Runcorn Linnets 2 – 2 West (Kay, Black)
Saturday 13 August 2016

West kick started their 2016/17 NWCFL campaign with a confident 2-2 draw away to Runcorn Linnets thanks to a superb Matty Kay header and teenager Rob Black’s first West goal.

Thanks to their FA Cup exploits West’s big kick off in the league came later than expected as they faced a Runcorn Linnets side whose supporters had seen major a squad rebuild just in time for the start of the season. West were forced into two changes as goalkeeper Dean Williams and Lee Gavin were forced to miss out through injury as they was replaced by Hayden Buckley-Smith and Richmond Botchey respectively. Read More

West (Henderson) 1 – 4 Runcorn Linnets
Saturday 11 February 2017

West slumped to their fourth defeat in five as they were undone by three first half goals at home to Runcorn Linnets.

West manager named just two changes to the side that had performed so heroically, despite the scoreline, at FC United in mid-week with Saul Henderson and Rob Black taking the places of Carlos Mendes Gomes and Mark Rogers. In his absence Kevin McGrath captained the side for first time against his former club. Read More