RUNCORN Linnets have boosted their strike power with the capture of Stuart Wellstead from title rivals 1874 Northwich.

Warrington-based Wellstead, whose former clubs include Northwich Victoria, Winsford United, Alsager Town and Runcorn Town, is best known as a wide player but can also operate at full back or in attack and has an excellent goal-scoring pedigree.

Table-topping Linnets were hopeful of him being available for the Hallmark Security League Premier Division home clash with Barnton last night, Tuesday, prior to welcoming Ashton Athletic in the Macron Cup on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Wellstead’s arrival comes in the wake of Linnets bowing out of the FA Vase 2-1 at South Shields at the weekend.

But their beaten return from a 12-hour return trip to the North East only came after conceding a goal two minutes into stoppage time.

If the bookies’ ambitious favourites South Shields go on to win the competition, they will remember how hard they were pushed by their first-round visitors in front of a 1,060 crowd treated to a cup classic.

Runcorn, having fallen behind so late in the game, almost produced a dramatic equaliser.

But Kyle Hamid’s shot from eight yards brought an astonishing save from goalkeeper Liam Connell to confirm his side’s uneasy passage.

Not only was this the first time Linnets had played a competitive match before a four-figure crowd, they were cast in a different role to one they are used to.

Runcorn have become accustomed to largely dominating games and dictating play.

This time they were mostly on the back foot, particularly in the second half as South Shields set about retrieving and ultimately overhauling an interval deficit.

However, Linnets always looked dangerous on the break and arguably carved out the better chances.

Paul Shanley came close to restoring the Linnets’ advantage as the ball entered its final phase.

Advancing to the edge of the box, left of centre, he weighed up and executed a measured shot which was turned away at full stretch by the Mariners’ keeper, named man of the match by the Ebac Northern League title chasers.

Danger man Shanley, having been kept quiet in the early stages, also bounced a shot onto the top of the opposition bar, athough the angle was always too acute for him to have any chance of finding the net.

The stars of the show for the Linnets were their defenders, who soaked up everything that South Shields could throw at them before the interval.

Left back Danny McKenna had his hands full against an excellent winger but as ever coped extremely well.

When crosses did come in, or the ball came anywhere near their box, central defenders Aaron Morris and Chris Lawton formed an impregnable barrier.

Although having the majority of the possession, South Shields repeatedly found their pockets being picked through good pressing from the away side’s midfield.

Giving the ball away once too often, they were stunned as Linnets took a 41st-minute lead thanks to an own goal.

It came from a celebrated source, former Premier League star Julio Arca, after Hamid had spread the ball wide right.

Trying to intercept the resulting cross from Antony Hickey, destined for two Runcorn attackers, the 35-year-old Argentinian and ex-Sunderland ace could only divert it on the stretch into the net.

Runcorn realised that there was still a lot of work to do against a slick and powerful home side.

Graham Fenton, who bossed arch rivals North Shields to Vase glory in 2014 before switching camps earlier this season, and his co-manger Lee Picton sent their charges out early for the second half.

Six minutes after the restart, Runcorn’s resistance was broken, the ball breaking kindly for scorer Gavin Cogden off Linnets’ right back Danny O’Brien – much to the relief of an expectant home audience.

The decisive goal, with extra-time beckoning, was another scrambled effort with Robert Briggs, an imposing figure in the Mariners’ midfield, seizing on a rebound from a corner.

Having probably been held back, along with fellow sub Bev Burey, for extra-time, Steve Foster was sent on for what little time remained but Runcorn couldn’t quite save the day.

The 100 or so Linnets fans, who had certainly made their presence felt, made the long journey home feeling disappointed yet uplifted by their team’s efforts.