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# Boss “gutted” after Chasetown beaten by play-off rivals
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/boss-gutted-after-chasetown-beaten-by-play-off-rivals/
- Published: 2026-01-17T19:50:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-17T19:50:49.000Z
- Description: Two late goals saw Chasetown beaten at home by fellow play-off candidates Runcorn Linnets.
- Author: Thomas Potter
- Tags: Sport, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:11

TWO late goals saw Chasetown beaten at home by fellow play-off candidates Runcorn Linnets.

Jamie Hawkins’ side went into the game looking to continue their winning start to 2026.

But the Scholars boss was disappointed with his team for throwing away their lead and allowing the visitors to win the game late on. 

He said:

> “I’m absolutely gutted. For the majority of the game, I thought we were superb.  
>  
> “To lose it late is obviously tough to take, but it can happen.”

George Cater had a simple finish to poke home the opener on the brink of half-time after an initial Jack Langston header rattled the crossbar. 

The hosts had plenty of positives to reflect on as they went in at the break having one goal over their opponents. 

Hawkins said:

> “We set up to be on the front foot and I thought we were for large parts of the game.  
>  
> “There were periods where we could control the game with and without the ball.”

But Scott Bakkor leveled the scores in the final minutes of regular time in a tight and aggressive second half.

Chasetown reacted by creating some near chances to regain the lead in the dying stages, but it was Runcorn who dealt the decisive blow when James Steele stole all three points in stoppage time.

Hawkins said:

> “Runcorn found a foothold in the game. We were pressed back a little bit and we were containing them, albeit with fewer chances of our own.  
>  
> “Unfortunately, we couldn’t hold on for the full duration.  
>  
> “I have to take responsibility – and I’ll question some of the changes that I made. All the players needed to be ready because it was 100 miles-per-hour.”