Match Report: Runcorn Linnets 0-2 Bootle FC

Credit: Curtis Brown

By Brendan Doyle

Bootle kick off the 2026/27 season with a 2-0 win away to Runcorn Linnets with goals coming from Tom Hannigan and Ben Hodkinson who scored his 100th goal for the club.

In the seventh minute of the game, a number of Runcorn Linnets shirts took a shot on goal but each one was blocked by a Bootle shirt apart from the last one being saved by keeper Joe Mason. As Bootle grew into the game, a corner was awarded which found Tom Hannigan who met the cross with header and found the back of the net to give The Bucks a deserved 1-0 lead.

Nick Rushton attempted to play a through ball into the path of Elliott Morris but Bootle captain Jay Roberts made a superb slide tackle to intercept the pass, great work from the skipper to deny Linnets hope for an equaliser. Joe Mason once again stepped up on his first competitive outing for Bootle as Declan McLoughlin lined up to take his free kick from threatening range which was a decent enough strike, but Mason made a brilliant double handed save to prevent an equaliser. The first half ended 1-0 to Bootle.

Just minutes into the second half, Bootle should’ve doubled their lead as a ball was played across to Jack McGowan who was only yards in front of goal but somehow managed to put the ball wide, a huge missed opportunity for Bootle to widen the score. Bootle continued to pressure Runcorn Linnets as Sam Hughes made a great run through the midfield and laid the ball to Ben Hodkinson who took a first time effort towards goal but it was straight at Linnets keeper Calvin Hare.

Elliott Morris brought the ball down and made a run with it as he spotted Nick Rushton coming into the area and after a moment of panic for Bootle, Rushton put his fifteen yard first time shot just wide of the goal. In the eighty third minute of the game in a fiercely contested match, Jack McGowan played a ball over the top which Ben Hodkinson got on the end of and found himself one on one with Calvin Hare and poked his effort into the far corner to not only seal all three points for Bootle, but to claim his one hundredth goal for Bootle Football Club.

The match finished 2-0 to Bootle in what was a fantastic display from each and every Bucks shirt on the pitch, what a way to kick off our 2026/27 campaign!