RUNCORN Linnets, having watched their aspirations of a NWCFL Premier Division title all but fade away through the week, meekly surrendered their diminishing hopes - and a 12-month unbeaten home league record - as Ashton Athletic register a deserved 3-0 win.

It could have been all so different had the Linnets capitalised on a dominant first-half performance, but they had no answer to a second-half showing by a motivated and well-organised Ashton side, whose three points were well earned.

At times Linnets were outplayed, outthought, and outmuscled.

Paul Watson and Isaac Kusaloka, twice, scored Ashton's goals.

The Linnets need a win from their last three games to guarantee second place.

Leading scorer Kev Towey found himself on the bench, with Freddie Potter spearheading an attack supplemented by wide men Adam Hilton and Matt Atherton.

The early exchanges were cagey, and most notable was the imposing presence of Michael Ellison, the Linnets skipper, who won early headers and challenges with ease. Kurt Sherlock found Matt Atherton who in turn crossed well to find Sherlock once again, his shot being blocked for a corner from the first half-chance of the game.

Sherlock promptly appeared in his own penalty box to clear from the dangerous Isaac Kusaloka after a swift Ashton counter. The game had an end to end feel for the opening quarter of an hour, before a Matt Cross corner provided Potter with a gilt-edged chance, but header was just over when Freddie really should have hit the target.

Moments later, Freddie was flattened, with the ref playing on to allow the Linnets an advantage of little use when their striker was still deposited on his backside some 30 metres behind play. Potter hauled himself up to create another chance, beating two defenders with ease to turn but shoot just wide.

The Linnets turned the screw. Mike Burke saw his powerful shot tipped onto the bar by Foulds, and Michael White's header was cleared off the line as the Linnets looked to consolidate their dominance with a justified lead. Another bullet header from Potter from a decent Kyle Armstrong cross flew just wide, before the same player saw two half-hearted handball shouts waved away in as many seconds.

The half finished with a flurry of Ashton Athletic pressure, Richie Mottram's uncharacteristic miscue wasn't capitalised upon, and then Adam Howard inexplicably blazed over with an open goal at his mercy. Somehow the two teams had between them managed to conspire to retire for the half-time break goalless.

The second half looked to be heading the same way with Runcorn's Sherlock and Ashton's Bailey both shooting tamely wide.

Kusaloka outjumped Burke and Ellison gave up possession to allow Ashton through on goal, and Paul Watson finished smartly to gift the visitors a lead. Potter received the first of what seemed a procession of unwarranted cautions for both sides, and within minutes it was two-nil.

Kusaloka sprang the offside trap and calmly and confidently smashed home much to the annoyance of Michael White in particular, who berated his lethargic team-mates.

The Linnets tried to get back but another free-kick was slammed straight at the Ashton defensive wall, and the final ball into the danger area was at best poor.

Kusaloka again charged unchallenged through the heart of the defence and the same quality end product made it three nil to Ashton. Michael White again showed his annoyance, this time at the assistant referee, and earned a yellow for his obvious displeasure.

Joey Dunn rang the changes, Towey and Houghton came on to try and limit the damage, and in the day's only positive for the home side, Kyle Hamid made a very welcome return to action after a long lay-off.

He had sustained the injury, ironically enough, in Runcorn's last and only previous league defeat this season – at the end of November.

Matt Cross hauled down an advancing forward and thankfully only received a yellow, with perhaps the majority of fans expecting the same red card that had befallen Mike Burke in a similar position last weekend.

Ashton's Martland also found himself in the book, no idea why, as the game petered out with Ashton in control, and the Linnets working hard but to little effect.

The visitors totally deserved and earned their win with a good, sensible performance, and the Linnets looked like a side lacking in motivation and composure knowing that the league title had slipped away.

The Linnets need a win from their last three to guarantee second place, and of course the title race isn't over until the official NWCFL "tweet" says so, but once the dust settles, hopefully everyone connected to the club can put another fine season into perspective.

Runcorn Linnets: Richie Mottram, Kyle Armstrong, Matt Cross, Mike Burke, Michael White, Michael Ellison (capt), Adam Wade, Kurt Sherlock, Freddie Potter, Matt Atherton, Adam Hilton. Subs: Mark Houghton, Kev Towey, Kyle Hamid. Not Used: Martin Crowder, Chris Lomax.

Attendance: 292