A DOMINANT and at times emphatic first-half display ensured Runcorn Linnets started their 2015-16 North West Counties Football League Premier Division campaign in the best possible way in the sunshine of the Fylde Coast as AFC Blackpool were beaten by two goals to nil.

Manager Joey Dunn handed full debuts to defenders Keiron Brislen, a full-back who impressed at AFC Liverpool and Bootle last season, and Adam Donohue, a young centre back who has joined the club from Morecambe.

With a heavy Runcorn presence in the highest NWCFL crowd of the day, the game got under way with the Linnets resplendent in brand new kit, designed to compliment the garments worn by the army of Runcorn Linnets Junior sides playing throughout the town.

The Linnets commanded early proceedings, although nobody was able to connect with Matty Atherton's early corner.

Kyle Hamid had the ball in the net early doors, but he was deemed offside from Freddie Potter's cross, as the Linnets exerted more pressure by forcing a series of corners in search of an early strike.

Hamid had the best chance when shooting just wide after Potter had deftly left two defenders in his tracks and crossed sweetly.

Potter had the next chance, latching on to Brislen's cross to turn first time and volley just wide.

There was little sign of nerves as Michael Simpson and Kyle Hamid combined, before a "training ground" free-kick saw interplay between Simpson, Hamid and Potter but again there was a tad too much on the cross.

More Linnets pressure followed as AFC Blackpool struggled to find any possession whatsoever.

Hamid's corner was headed clear, and Simpson fired the resulting shot just wide. Blackpool's first chance came from a long-range effort from Duffield, before Kurt Sherlock chased down a seemingly lost cause to expertly win back possession, with Simpson drilling his cross just wide.

Potter thought he had broken the deadlock, but again he was deemed offside as he slid home.

The pressure was relentless and on 37 minutes Kurt Sherlock showed real quality to play in Freddie Potter, with "The Wizard" finishing emphatically into the top corner, to give the home 'keeper no chance and the Linnets a deserved lead.

Minutes later and it was two, Frannie Smith the provider this time, with a teasing cross that eluded everybody except Kyle Hamid who struck home with aplomb to place The Linnets firmly in the driving seat.

Zak Wilkes, son of former Linnets manager Steve, had a shot for the home side blocked by his own player, but visiting 'keeper Richie Mottram would be sampling the half-time tea without tasting any real action.

The half finished with Runcorn still dominating, Potter's header saved well, and then a great exchange between Potter and Sherlock not quite falling for Hamid.

The second period showed no real signs of a momentum swing, with Sherlock and Hamid continuing to cause havoc, while a free kick for a foul on Freddie Potter came to nothing.

River Humphreys decided that he needed some game time, and won the ball with a ferocious challenge, and quickly broke to beat two defenders before shooting wide.

Hamid did the same by beating two but couldn't find a finish, before Richie had his first real involvement, easily taking a speculative cross into the Linnets area.

Although AFC Blackpool had a little more possession and certainly showed more intent, all the pressure continued to come from the visitors.

A header from Potter, a blocked shot from Sherlock, and a Smith volley all failing to trouble the scorers.

Fleming blazed high and wide for the hosts, before Sherlock took a divine touch, beat his man and shot wide; more evidence that it's only a matter of time before he scores a real "worldie".

Although the game had been well contested and played in good spirit, cautions from the over-zealous referee crept in. Brislen was booked for "a succession of fouls" that I find no reference to in my reporter's notebook.

A yellow card for Taylor of Blackpool followed for nothing more than an innocuous challenge.

Joey Dunn made changes, with Ben Halfacre, Jay Robinson and Jamie Buckley coming on for Potter, Sherlock and Smith, the latest recipient of a yellow card.

Adam Donohue forced Mottram into a save of sorts with a header back towards his own goal, before Buckley went on a mazy, dribbling run, and maybe just took on one too many before shooting at the 'keeper.

The game fizzled out into a satisfactory three points for the men from Cheshire, and the first-half performance of one-touch, flowing, passing football was worth the admission fee alone. The new-look Linnets back line looked assured and confident, and skipper Michael Ellison marshalled from deep a forward thinking, exciting and skilful attacking unit.

Runcorn Linnets: R Mottram, K Brislen, M Atherton, R Humphreys, A Donohue, M Ellison, M Simpson, K Hamid, F Potter, K Sherlock, F Smith. Subs: B Halfacre, J Robinson, J Buckley. Subs (not used): J. Weeder, T. Kennerley.

Man of the Match: Kurt Sherlock - for his tireless efforts, great skills and awareness, and undoubtedly his best performance in a Linnets shirt.