RUNCORN Linnets once again had to battle the elements and tenacious opposition in their quest for three further points to consolidate their lead at the top of the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.

And once again, atrocious luck in front of goal coupled with extremely clever positional defending from visitors Bacup and Rossendale Borough meant that the Linnets ended the game hanging on to their precious lead when they really should have been out of sight with the majority of the second period still to play.

Ryan Swift continued in goal in the absence of the injured Richie Mottram, while this week's central defensive pairing brought together Mike Burke and River Humphreys.

Michael Ellison skippered the side and Kurt Sherlock started up top next to Kev Towey.

With a glut of postponed games due to waterlogged pitches, the surface of the Millbank Linnets Stadium remained a credit to the ground staff.

The Linnets made a better start to proceedings, and quality hold-up play from Towey fed in Martin Crowder, who shot wide.

There were few real chances in the opening quarter of an hour as the stadium witnessed weather that spanned all four seasons: wind, rain, sun and sleet made it difficult for both sets of players, with Runcorn dominating possession.

Great play from Matt Atherton set up Sherlock who headed over, while Michael Duffy couldn't latch onto Humphreys' excellent through ball. Bacup's first whiff of a chance came for Michael Gervin, who picked up possession what seemed like a mile out, and struck the ball with power and accuracy over a disbelieving Swift to give the visitors a sensational lead.

The Linnets continued unabated with constant pressure, Adam Wade and a great flick set up Atherton who saw his chance cleared from the line, and Sherlock and Towey combined but the cross was just too deep.

The almost inevitable equaliser arrived courtesy of Towey's close-range header after a great Crowder cross, and the Linnets could have been in the lead in the blink of an eye but for visiting 'keeper Callum Jakovlevs' astonishing full-length save from a River Humphreys wonder strike from distance.

The lead came, again courtesy of Towey, after a melee in the goalmouth that saw the ball cleared from the goal line twice before Runcorn's top scorer got the crucial touch to steer the ball home.

It was almost 3-1 moments later, as Sherlock's tenacity in chasing down a backpass led to a deflection off the goalkeeper's clearance towards the Bacup goal but the referee brought play back for handball against the Linnets striker.

The final chance of the half fell to Atherton, and again he saw his effort cleared off the goal line, and the teams took a breather with the home fans grateful for a lead, but fully aware that it could, and should have been greater.

Within moments of the restart, the lead was increased. Kurt Sherlock went close and Matt Atherton was quickest to react to prod home.

Duffy continued to make his trademark drives forward and from one of these, Sherlock couldn't quite finish off the full back's accurate cross.

Another great ball in from Atherton was headed on by Sherlock but this time, Chris Lomax couldn't find the finishing touch before two great chances for Towey to claim his hat-trick.

Yet another goal line clearance from Davison Banda and then a great point-black save from Jakovlevs denied Super Kev, before a massive hand ball shout from substitute Warren Bellew's cross was waved away.

Bacup's Gareth Wager received the only caution for an obvious shirt pull, in a game that was really well handled by the officials - credit to Mr Rudd for trying to let the game flow whenever possible.

Another goal line clearance from a Towey shot and a further decent hand ball shout came and went, and a late and excellent strike from Dom Marie into the bottom corner of the Linnets net set up a nervier than necessary finale.

The Linnets had the wherewithal to keep possession and wind the clock down without further scare, much to the relief of the modest crowd of 257.

With 29 games played, the Linnets still top the table, with Glossop poised menacingly in second position, but it is starting now to look like a two- horse race.

"Points in the bag" or "games in hand"? It's going to be very close to call, and fates conspire that the two teams will meet at the Millbank in the final game of the campaign. If you think this match was nervy, it's not going to get any more comfortable just yet!

Runcorn Linnets: Swift, Duffy, Crowder, Burke, Humphreys, Ellison (capt), Wade, Lomax (sub: Bellew), Towey, Sherlock, Atherton. Subs not used: McDowell, Austin.

Bacup and Rossendale Borough: Jakovlevs, Banda, Hendley (sub: Morgan), Wager, Holt (sub: Ashfaq), Zubair, Bellamy (capt), Dee, Marie, Gervin, Bryan. Suns not used: Ormesher, Rahman, McKenzie.