THE wheels came off the Runcorn Linnets league campaign bus in spectacular fashion as a more than useful Atherton Collieries side put in a tremendous performance to stun the Cheshire side with four unanswered second-half goals at The Millbank Linnets Stadium.

The scoreline was more remarkable from the point of view that the Linnets had hitherto easily had the league's tightest defence, having only conceded five goals in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.

Linnets supremo Joey Dunn rotated his goalkeeping option, with Dean Porter taking the Number One jersey, and Jason Carey made his home debut in an attacking looking line-up. The offensive-thinking team selection looked to have come up trumps within two minutes as Kyle Hamid appeared in the box to smash home through visiting 'keeper Danny Taberner's legs to give Runcorn the best possible start.

Striker Carey almost headed home from Kyle Hamid's free-kick before Atherton launched their first serious attack, with a probing free-kick touched over the bar by Porter. Collieries got a firm head on the corner but the chance went wide, starting a period of Atherton pressure.

Carey rose well again at the other end, from Keiron Brislen's crossfield ball, and Freddie Potter played in Kurt Sherlock, who overhit his cross. In the Linnets' own half, great defence from River Humphreys kept the visitors at bay. The game ebbed and flowed. Mike White played a long ball into Potter, but he saw his pivoting turn and shot tipped over. Battersby returned the compliment for Atherton, his turn and shot suffering the same fate.

Taberner brought out the save of the game thus far to keep out Kyle Hamid's curling free-kick, and tenacity from Hamid helped in Michael Simpson who saw his shot deflected behind for a corner.

Brislen received the games first caution for an obvious foul, and Freddie Potter latched onto Porter's long clearance but lobbed just over. The Linnets finished the half looking for the second goal, Potter again going close after a mazy dribble, and Hamid's shot brought proceedings to a close, with nobody in the home contingent imagining what was to come in the second half. If the Linnets were quick out of the blocks in the opening period, they were trumped by a flying start to the second half from Atherton. After Mike White's header had been saved, Colls' sub James Kirby took a hold on the game. His first goal stunned the Linnets, with woeful defending on the home left allowing the ball into the box where Kirby finished emphatically.

Kirby then played in Holt to finish well for a quickfire second goal, with more questions being asked of the Linnets defending. Cards came as quickly as goals, a yellow for an over-the-top challenge on Hamid was matched by another caution for his angry reaction.

The Linnets were reduced to long-range shots and half chances as Atherton took control of the match, with regular shuttles into the Linnets final third. Kirby's second came in all too familiar fashion, a foray down the flank seeing the ball played in and smashed home. Colls were well worthy of their lead, first to everything and seemingly hungrier across the pitch. Things went from bad to worse as Kurt Sherlock received a straight red for what looked like a leading arm into the back of Moore, and Humphreys was also cautioned in the aftermath. Gareth Peet and the ubiquitous Kirby went close again for Atherton before the sub claimed his hat-trick in front of a decent and delighted Atherton following at the bottom end of the ground.

Hamid's subsequent corner kick that went straight out of play summed the day up for Runcorn, the visitors were per capita head and shoulders above the Linnets on the day. One painful defeat doesn't make a season, despite understandable disappointment around the ground on the final whistle. Atherton were worthy winners and the Linnets faithful gave hearty applause to their own players and also the victors, while the home players graciously presented James Kirby with his hat-trick match ball.

Runcorn Linnets: Porter, Brislen, Atherton, Humphreys, White, Ellison (c), Simpson, Hamid, Potter, Carey, Sherlock. Subs: Smith, Houghton, Hickey. Not Used: Halfacre, Hilton Atherton Collieries: Taberner, Wedge, Peet, Moore, Grimshaw, Ayres, Hardcastle, Messer, M.Battersby (c), Holt, Truffas. Subs: Kirby, Boland, N Battersby, Kenny, Heald

Attendance: 360