14^th April 2016, AFC Darwen v Runcorn Linnets FC : 0-2

The Linnets made their first visit in almost 10 years to the Anchor Ground on Thursday night and kept up the pressure on the hosts' Lancashire comrades Colne, in second place, by recording a comfortable win.

The victory also added further woes to AFC Darwen's hopes of remaining in the NWCL Premier Division.

Joey Dunn rotated his squad well for the game with the frantic final run-in well under way. Tom Hardwick returned to partner Mike White in defence in place of River Humphreys, Franny Smith replaced skipper Michael Ellison and Ryan Cox retunred to the starting 11 in place of Mark Houghton.

Linnets started well, playing at a good pace but unable to produce a final ball to match. It was, in fact, AFC Darwen who had the first decent chances, Jonathan Hession going close twice without really looking like scoring.

But the opener came midway through the first half from Runcorn's Freddie Potter. Cox picked up the ball on the far left side of the penalty area and crossed for Potter, who swung and missed with his first attempt before picking himself up off the floor to finish with his second attempt - firmly into the bottom corner.

Kurt Sherlock had a header saved from Potter's cross before the two paired up again for what looked like Linnets second goal. But the referee intervened to book Sherlock for a handball in the act of 'scoring'.

AFC Darwen looked to have grabbed an equaliser when Hession beat the offside trap, shot past Porter but was denied by an unbelievable goal-line clearance from Matty Atherton - a piece of defending that was as good as a goal scored in real terms.

Rocked by this and knowing that one goal might not be enough, the Linnets went in search for a second and it arrived just before half-time. Cox found himself with the ball at his feet eight yards out and struck a fierce shot across goal that AFC Darwen's keeper saved at full stretch. However, he could do no more than palm the ball out to Freddie Potter, who was presented with the task of knocking home the rebound to give the men from Cheshire a comfortable two-goal lead at half- time.

Quite possibly because one eye had shifted to Saturday's match against Squires Gate, the second half was very subdued from Linnets and lacked quality throughout with a third goal never looking likely.

Up stepped Dean Porter to turn in a splendid 45 minutes of goalkeeping to keep a firm grip on his clean sheet. Porter made without doubt the best save of the season on the hour mark, leaping from one side of his goal to the other to turn a rasping 25-yard drive around the post at full stretch.

I was right behind it and had already called a goal; a stunning save by Deano!

AFC Darwen kept on pushing and trying to get back into a game that would go a long way towards survival if they could get a result.

Porter had to be at his best again as the game drew towards a close. Hession, a threat all evening, took advantage of a misjudgement by Kieron Brislen to find himself through on goal. But Porter raced off his line to smother the goalbound shot with Hession then turning the rebound over the bar.

The game petered out to a quiet and flat finish, the job done by the Linnets' attack in the first half and their goalkeeper in the second to record another win and restore a five-point lead at the top of the NWCL Premier Division.

At this stage of the season, getting wins and keeping the squad fit really is all that matters. We will get no extra points for winning beautifully and must continue to be ruthless in our approach to picking up the results that are needed.

AFC Darwen: Daniel Jackson, Luke McKenna, Keith Wedge, Daniel Banks, Gareth Carson, Luke Gibson, Jack McKay, Kiel Lonsdale (capt), Jonathan Hession, Mark McKay, Anthony Lynch. Subs: Declan Cunliffe, Kayle Smith, Adam Douglas, Nick Hepple, Daniel Taylor.

Runcorn Linnets: Dean Porter, Kieron Brislen, Matthew Atherton, Tom Hardwick, Michael White, Michael Simpson, Francis Smith, Kyle Hamid (capt), Freddie Potter (Mark Houghton), Ryan Cox, Kurt Sherlock (Michael Ellison). Subs (not used): River Humphreys, Taylor Kennerley.

Attendance: 183.

NB. The views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Runcorn Linnets FC or its Board.