Linnets open up gap on the chasing pack
Supporters play key role in back-to-back victories
CALUM McIntyre is determined to keep Runcorn Linnets supporters cheering until the end of the season after bolstering their bid for the Northern Premier League West Division play-offs with back to back victories.
Linnets edged a 1-0 win at Kidsgrove on Saturday and followed that up with a 3-1 home victory against Bootle on Tuesday.
Ryan Brooke –matchwinner at the weekend – opened the scoring only for Bootle to level. But another Brooke goal and a third from Dapo Olarewaju secured the points before a big crowd at the APEC Taxis Stadium.
“The fans have been unbelievable all season, said McIntyre. “When I took the job here I was told the supporters were really loyal and would turn out in numbers. What I think they’ve got is a team they can get behind and a team they can be proud of, one that is proud to represent them. They have roared us over the line a couple of times – they were tremendous on Saturday. What I hope is that we’re giving them a team that is worth getting behind and worth supporting.
“It’s been a mad couple of years and I don’t just mean football-wise. There is a lot of unpleasantness, a lot happening in the world, challenges for everyone. Our bit, for 90 minutes on a Saturday or a Tuesday is ‘can we give people something to believe in, something to support?’ At a fan-owned football club like this, massive in its community, we’ve got to be proud to represent them. I am, I know our players are and I hope our supporters recognise the sheer lengths our players are going to to represent them and their club.
“I’m determined to give them something to celebrate. For this club to have six games to go and be where we are at, chasing that play-off place, just imagine if we get that!”
The victory opened up an eight-point gap between Linnets and Bootle, who are now level on points with fellow chasers Clitheroe.
“It’s a massive three points in terms of beating a team chasing us, who felt they could close a gap on us. To have extended the points difference was really pleasing,” said McIntyre.
“It was a real end to end, 90 minute contest that must have been good for the big crowd. We created some openings in the first half and didn’t quite make the right decisions in and around the final third. In the second half they will feel they had the better of possession without carving our chances – we restricted ourselves to counter attacks.
“A lot of work went into that performance and players carried out their roles and responsibilities really well.
“There’s stuff we’ve got to do better. At one-nil up, we’ve got a stranglehold on the game that we have to make sure becomes two-nil, not one-one. So as much as that is a negative and a frustration we’ll look at what we did well, what we didn’t do well and move on to the next game.
“We’ve got six games to go now and we have good sides either side of us (in the table) and we have to keep trying to look up and chase them down. We have to be clear who’s chasing us –an absolute juggernaut in Clitheroe in terms of what they are, coming after us. So I was really pleased with the result but let’s not kid ourselves that we were outstanding in every aspect.”