Linnets crowned Cheshire champs

THE Cheshire Senior Cup is draped in Yellow & Green again - local lad Adam Moseley's memorable hat-trick fittingly bringing it home.

- BY DAVE BETTLEY

In lifting the trophy for the first time, Runcorn Linnets proudly revived the strong traditions of 12-times winners Runcorn AFC, had first claimed the county crown a century ago.

They wore it for the last time in 1989 at the end of a five-year winning streak, bettered only by Northwich Victoria's six consecutive victories from the competition's launch in 1880.

A hundred years on from the original club's inaugural Senior Cup success against Crewe Alexandra in 1925, it was written in the stars that a new chapter would be added to the town's football history.

The road back to the final has been long for Linnets supporters, who outnumbered the opposition two to one at Chester's Deva Stadium.

Few could have envisaged it happening when the phoenix club rose from the ashes 19 years ago.

But after three final defeats in four years - two in the Play-offs, the other in the Liverpool Senior Cup - success tasted all the sweeter.

Moseley clinically rounded off a home county campaign, which he began in October with two goals in Linnets' 3-0 first-round win at Witton Albion.

His substitution into the last 20 minutes brought Linnets' matchwinner a deserved standing ovation.

Runcorn had endured a deflating end to the league season to finish five places below their Cup final rivals in Pitching In Northern Premier League West.

But the vim and vigour seen earlier in manager Brad Cooke's embryonic reign was back with a vengeance.