Title glory secured at long last as Gate are prised open in triumph

Runcorn Linnets 5

Squires Gate 0 RUNCORN LINNETS finally put the Hallmark Security League Premier Division title hoodoo behind them last Thursday night.

A glorious 5-0 victory against Squires Gate at the Millbank Linnets Stadium etched the Linnets’ name upon the trophy as champions – and it all ended in truly magical fashion!

The intent was there from the off, Linnets throwing everything they had at Gate.

With 15 minutes gone, Freddie Potter was sent bearing down on goal but succumbed to a smart save.

However, it was the briefest of setbacks as, from the resulting corner, Danny O’Brien found a perfect delivery that was glanced home by the head of Linnets stalwart Matty Atherton.

Eight minutes before half time, there was a strange incident where Kyle Hamid was fouled off the ball and needed treatment. The referee saw enough to blow his whistle but only gave a booking to the offending Gate player – and then awarded the visitors a free-kick.

The outcome of this bizarre passage of play could not have been any better for Runcorn. Gate tried to be too clever with the free-kick and lost possession to Kris Holt deep inside the Linnets half.

Holt went on a charging run through the heart of the Gate defence, played a pass to Adam Jones, who in turn found Potter on the edge of the penalty box, the Wizard picking his spot and firing one of those agonising, slow motion dribblers into the far bottom corner of the net.

Into the second half and Linnets were starting to look slightly fatigued, understandably so after a long and draining season.

But just when it was looking as though Gate might get themselves back into the game, a magnificent cross from the left wing by Louis Corrigan found the head of Potter, who attacked the ball like a battering ram. His second goal and the Linnets’ third of the night moved his side into a title-winning position with 25 minutes left.

Anthony Hickey had been on top form all night, and caused delirium around the Millbank with a superb solo goal with only seven minutes remaining to start the title celebrations early.

Cutting in from the right, he tricked his marker with a turn and curled a left-footed effort around the goalkeeper and into the net at the Clubhouse End.

The pandemonium in the covered terrace behind the goal, home to the Left Side Ultras, was a joy to witness for everyone connected to Linnets.

Cue the magical moment that will go down in the club’s history. Chris Lawton first came to the Linnets under Paul McNally’s management way back in 2010, at the time one of the most sought-after centre halves in local nonLeague circles.

And as the last seconds of stoppage time ticked away, a deep Linnets corner found its way right across goal to Hickey, who composed himself to pick out a pass across the penalty area for Lawton to sweep the ball home with his right foot.

The referee blew the full-time whistle almost as soon as the ball nestled into the net, and the dream was finally realised in the most wonderful way.

People poured on to the Millbank Linnets Stadium pitch from every angle. Players, coaching staff, supporters old and new.

A mass huddle was created in the middle of the pitch as years of built-up emotion came pouring out from all around.

At long last, after so much heartbreak and near misses, Linnets were finally going up.