Millbank Linnets Stadium – Runcorn Linnets

Runcorn Linnets – 1

Colwyn Bay FC – 0

Preseason Friendly – 24^th July 2012

To coin a phrase from a certain Jamaican Alcoholic Beverage – the M56 on the 24^th August was “total gridlock”.

Something happened. I’m not sure what happened, many people weren’t sure, but all was known that although the majority of the players for Colwyn Bay had arrived in Runcorn, the majority of the Runcorn players, the ref, the linesman and the Colwyn Bay kit were still stuck somewhere along the North Wales Coast along with a fair few fans. Kick off was due to be at 7:30pm. It was 7:22am at the time of writing.

I’ve been part of cancelled games before, the Woodley Sports vs Chester game was cancelled due to floodlight failure, and it actually turned out to be the best thing that happened – we spent the night in the clubhouse, and the replay was such a dull insipid affair that it’s one of the few games I have written about but yet to put live on this blog, due to me spending second half in said clubhouse.

Matty Berkeley, one of the new faces on show for Colwyn Bay.

This time however, there is no friends to spend time with, and also no clubhouse with which to enjoy drinks. In truth, I was bored, and done something that I have never done before when writing this blog – started writing a blog post before the game began.

7:30pm came and went. Kick off was rescheduled to 8:00pm. Still no kit. Still no beer. Still bored.

However, floodgates opened 5 minutes later when the kit and a few friendly faces arrived. We still had one calamity which could materialise – with the game kicking off at the latest at 8pm, we still had no recognised keeper.

Eventually a compromised was reached – we borrowed Runcorn’s reserve keeper, to give him a full game. Apparently it wasn’t the first time this happened – the game he played against Clitheroe the week before he played a blinder.

Along with old faces, such as Rob Hopley, who is part of the furniture at the Bernabay.

Not you could tell come kick off. After one minute, the Runcorn Linnets left winger crossed to the near post, that was flicked on and scored with a diving header by Paul Bowes.

The Runcorn team was full of Evostik Colwyn Bay ex-players, in particular Billy Webb (who played under current Chester gaffer Neil Young), and Lewis Callaghan, who had two successful spells at the club.

In truth the keeper had a bit of a shakey start, and really couldn’t do anything about the goal, but soon Colwyn Bay came back into it, with Paul Ennis and Danny Lloyd looking dangerous down the wings, Rob Hopley hit the bar, and Matty Berkeley coming close a couple of times, but the keeper wasn’t too threatened, and it was 1-0 at half time.

Colwyn Bay had chances, but nothing too clear-cut.

Unfortunately, that is where we’ll have to leave this post, as in my infinite wisdom I booked a cheaper earlier fare back from Runcorn East train station, rather than a more expensive later fare. I’d hope to see the first half and much of the second, instead I got the grand total of 35 minutes. Some trialists play longer than that! Furthermore, I really didn’t fancy being on Runcorn East train station late into the night, it’s such a terrifying place.

Anyway, from what I heard the second half wasn’t much better. Lee Davey was ejected from the field of play for a bad tackle, and Runcorn missed a penalty in the dying seconds to put the game beyond doubt. Not the best game, but my excuses were already lined up.

Blame the M56.