Late goal secures share of the spoils

RUNCORN Linnets salvaged a point in the fifth minute of stoppage time as the curtain came down on their double-winning North West Under 21s Development League campaign.

- BY DAVE BETTLEY

Already confirmed as champions ahead of this closing fixture-courtesy of their head-to-head record against Kidsgrove Athletic, who could still have finished level on points-Linnets will now end the season with a distinct advantage over the Championship Division B runners-up from Staffordshire.

Kidsgrove trail by four points with one game left to play at Southport Academy this Sunday.

A increasingly-heated final APEC Taxis Stadium fixture of 2024-25, which had until a week ago been set to hold the key to Runcorn's title aspirations, saw the Yellow & Greens hold a two-goal lead early in the second half against 10 men.

But Linnets were stung by a stirring fightback from fourth-placed Vics, whose goalkeeper had been sent off two minutes after the break for handling outside his area.