McKenna injury blow as Linnets are knocked out of the Senior Cup

Runcorn Linnets 1 Nantwich Town 2 A SERIOUS-LOOKING injury to highly-rated left-back Danny McKenna cast a shadow over a night which saw Linnets go a long way to redeeming themselves albeit in Cheshire Senior Cup defeat by first-time opponents Nantwich Town on Tuesday evening.

The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division visitors eventually squeezed through to the next round but were given something to think about by an experimental Linnets side, who were still pushing for an equaliser even when McKenna’s injury had reduced them to 10 men with all three substitutes having been used.

Teenager McKenna left the ground with his right arm in a sling after falling awkwardly in his own penalty box with a Nantwich player landing on top of him and was taken to hospital for checks on suspected damage to his shoulder/collar bone.

Runcorn manager Michael Ellison had rung the changes from Saturday’s 5-2 defeat by Hanley, although a reshuffle would have been expected whatever the weekend result.

There was a chance for a rare start by veteran striker Steve Foster, who is well used to facing teams of Nantwich’s calibre from his time at a higher level and his sublime 73rd minute goal helped Linnets bridge the gap in quality by halving a two-goal deficit.

Runcorn had always looked to have a big job on their hands and this became even harder when Nantwich’s Joe Mwasile fastened onto a fine through ball to break open Linnets’ defence, beating newly-signed goalkeeper Matthew Holmes, who did well on his debut with Tom Hunt serving a one-game ban.

McKenna hit the bar direct from a corner with an effort by teammate Paul Shanley suffering the same fate, after a saving touch by Reece Quinn in Nantwich’s goal.

When Steve Jones doubled the Dabbers’ lead early in the second period, the fast and incisive visitors threatened to really drive home their superiority but Linnets, with ex-Bolton Wanderers teenager Luke Griffiths showing good touches on his first appearance, fought back for Foster to superbly steer home a Shanley pass.