Wigan Robin Park 0 Runcorn Linnets 6 (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Wigan Robin Park 0 Runcorn Linnets 6

7:10am Thursday 28th February 2013 in Sport

RUNCORN extended their winning run of 2013 to eight games with a 6-0 thrashing of 10-man Wigan at the Robin Park Arena.

With the absence of several regulars in the Linnets line-up including Matty Atherton, Kyle Hamid, Gavin Salmon and Ross McDowell, starting débuts were handed to new signings Lee Madin and Chris Lomax.

And the two new faces were involved as Linnets opened the scoring on nine minutes, Madin setting up Lomax who finished from close range.

Runcorn, although the better side of the first half, were unable to extend the lead before the break. Michael Burke's header went over the bar and Mark Houghton chose to shoot with both Madin and Lomax unmarked as Linnets had to settle for 1-0 at the interval.

The second half however would be a different story with the tone set early on with Wigan keeper Jason Foulds sent off for taking down Adam Wade. After Michael Case came on to keep the Wigan goal, he fumbled Martin Crodwer's initial effort for Houghton to set up Wade to double the lead.

And with the numerical advantage Runcorn rallied. Lomax was taken down for a penalty with Madin opening his Runcorn account from the spot to make it 3-0.

Houghton scored Linnets' next two goals, firstly on the end of Lomax's cross at the far post before converting Michael Duffy's low cross in similar fashion.

And with five minutes left Linnets scored a sixth, substitute Jamie Campbell followed up his own saved shot to tuck the ball away into the empty Wigan net to complete the rout which keeps Linnets fifth in the table.

Runcorn: Judge, Duffy, Crowder, Burke, Tomlinson (capt.), Ellison (Kennedy 86), Wade, Cross, Madin (Campbell 68), Lomax, Houghton (Adamson 74) Attendance: 138