April 03, 2023

Old rivals reunite as Robins take on Runcorn in semi-final

Words By Joe Ward

Picture by Luke Reynolds

Alty are back on the road on Tuesday when we travel to the Apec Taxis Stadium to take on Runcorn Linnets in the semi-final of the Cheshire Senior Cup (7:45pm kick-off).

The Robins have beaten both Sandbach United and Vauxhall Motors to reach the last four of the competition.

Phil Parkinson's side were awarded free passage to the third round of the CSC after Stockport County forfeited our second round tie back in November.

We kicked off our cup campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over level 10 side, Sandbach.

Nevertheless, it was a much tighter affair in our quarter-final clash with Vauxhall Motors, who levelled the scoreline at 1-1 inside 90 minutes, sending the game to a penalty shoot-out.

All four spot-kicks were missed by Mick McGraa's team, but Ben Pringle made no mistake, firing Alty into the last four with his decisive penalty.

Alty, who are seven-time winners of the Cheshire Senior Cup, head into Tuesday's fixture on the back of a cruel defeat to FC Halifax Town in the semi-final of the Isuzu FA Trophy.

About The Opposition

Runcorn Linnets have seen off Chester, Winsford United and Macclesfield en route to Tuesday's semi-final.

Notably, former Robin Sam Heathcote was on the scoresheet with Linnets' opener In the last round against Macclesfield as they ran out 2-1 winners at the Apec Taxis Stadium.

Sam's father, former Alty stalwart Graham Heathcote, enjoyed a short spell as assistant-manager to the late, great John King at Runcorn FC.

The Linnets replaced Runcorn FC in 2006, following the latter's resignation from the Northern Premier League due to financial difficulties.

Altrincham and Runcorn FC enjoyed many years of local rivalry in both the Alliance Premier League and cup competitions.

The most notable of which was in 1986 when the Robins defeated Runcorn 1-0 at Wembley to lift our second FA Trophy.

Runcorn FC were twelve-time winners of the Cheshire Senior Cup, though the reformed Linnets are yet to win the competition.

Alty last faced the Yellows in the CSC back in 2011, when we won 4-3, with Damian Reeves nodding in the winner seven minutes into the first period of extra time.

Billy Paynter's side head into Tuesday's fixture following a 1-0 win away from home against Kidsgrove Athletic in the Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division.

The Linnets currently sit fifth in their table, winning 16, drawing six and losing 11.