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Runcorn Linnets U21s 4 Warrington Town U21s 3

U21 games at this level are usually energetic, high-octane affairs and this one is no exception. They're fantastic entertainment for supporters but hell on earth for referees, who have to take account of every borderline challenge that isn't quite borderline with constant complaints from players about elbows, shirt-pulls, sly nudges and general application of the dark arts. Runcorn are Development League champions but Warrington have made a stunning start, winning all seven matches before today. Despite Runcorn starting brighter, they take the lead when a run down the left manages to carve open the Runcorn defence, leading to a tap-in at the far post. Runcorn fight back well and dominate the remainder of the first half. Despite a goal being ruled out by the liner's flag, they race into a four goal lead with goals from Stephens, Parker, Street and Cushion. A 4-1 lead at half time should mean plain sailing for the yellows but it's anything but as Warrington come back at h...
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Runcorn Linnets 4 Darlaston Town 1

The third goal probably sums up Darlaston's afternoon best, a shot from the edge of the box from Eden Gumbs looking to be comfortably dealt with by the keeper, who someone spills it over the line like somebody handing a baby back. It's an easy afternoon for Linnets, Crane having opened the scoring after just four minutes. Either side of the Gumbs' effort, right back Joe Ferguson grabs a brace. There's a consolation for the visitors before his second goal but that's all it's ever going to be. The convention around these parts is to applaud both teams off, no matter what the score. Sadly, the Darlaston boss seems so unhappy with his charges he's still got them out on the pitch long after the Runcorn boys have disappeared down the tunnel. Some of us wait...and wait...but eventually get the idea his real plan is to deprive them of Strictly so we decide leave him to it. Not sure when they're planning to get off there but the floodlights are already dimming as...
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Voting open in the 2025 Festive Fifty

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The November Dandelion Radio shows begin today and with them the opening of Festive Fifty voting for 2025. The format's still the same as in the John Peel days: choose your three favourite tracks of the year before the end of the month. As usual, the results will then be broadcast from the stroke of midnight as Christmas Eve passes into Christmas Day and then at various times throughout the rest of December and January. A reminder that last year's top ten looked like this, with Fontaines DC joining Festive Fifty royalty like Joy Division, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Pulp in securing both of the top two slots: 1. Starburster - Fontaines D.C. 2. Favourite - Fontaines D.C. 3. Aim Higher - House of All 4. Gift Horse - Idles 5. Nearly Daffodils - English Teacher 6. U Should Not Be Doing That - Amyl & The Sniffers 7. Alone - The Cure 8. Bye Bye - Kim Gordon 9. Tonight In Belfast - Orbital 10. Lay of the Land (Live) - House of All
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Prolapse at Soup, Manchester 30/10/2025

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I loved  Prolapse  from the first time I heard them in the 90s but, to my regret, hadn't managed to catch them live. So the arrival of this early-evening Manchester gig in a convenient slot in my schedule had to be seized on. We arrived early for a couple of pints at the Port Street Beer House before it, caught a ragged, intriguing set by support band Stuart Pearce , nipped to the Castle for another one between bands then got back in time for the main event. The early 9pm curfew appeals too: enough time for a quick one in the Piccadilly Tap before getting the train home.  The Soup basement is the ideal venue for Prolapse's insistent backdrop of noise over which the two singers overlay their vocal performances - singing would be too meagre a word for the verbal gymnastics on display. They threw in a few old favourites, to the delight of me and much of the rest of the crowd, but most of the set was culled from their recent I Wonder When They're Going to Destroy Your Face ...
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