TWO-GOAL Kyle Hamid and Frannie Smith, who scored one and played a part in two more, were the headliners as Runcorn Linnets made a comforting return to winning ways in Manchester on Saturday.

The visitors, needing to quickly bounce back from a 1-4 home reversal last time out, promptly deflated hosts who had defeated Padiham 5-1 in their previous North West Counties League Premier Division game.

Hamid once again skippered the Linnets side, in the on-field absence of injured skipper Michael Ellison, on a pleasant autumnal afternoon. A healthy away contingent swelled the numbers looking on from the sidelines.

West Didsbury and Chorlton edged the early stages, despite decent cushioned control and a curling shot from Freddie Potter.

A Linnets long ball just evaded Jason Carey and Matt Atherton's cross was easily dealt with. At the other end, Michael White cleared a cross from Settle, and then the Runcorn defender cleared up after a shot by Woods had been deflected.

Potter fired high and wide after a great move involving Kurt Sherlock and Matt Atherton, who then again beat Settle but crossed too deep.

Most of the Linnets efforts on goal were wild ones as the game lacked real moments of class. WD&C had a corner beaten away by Dean Porter but real cohesion was missing .

Potter dinked in Kyle Hamid but the chance was saved, and Hamid managed to release Carey whose effort was cleared. Potter’s diagonal ball found Kieron Brislen who forced a corner as the Linnets pressed.

With the half stuttering to a conclusion, Hamid latched on to Smith’s perfect, precision pass through the middle to calmly slot home, giving the Linnets an interval advantage.

The second half was only just underway, when Smith was checked on the end of a one-two. Hamid stepped up to stroke home an unstoppable free kick into the top corner and the lead was doubled.

Home 'keeper Buckley-Smith saved really well with Potter in the clear, before a flurry from the home side saw Porter having to go walk about, clearing from halfway, and then watching on as a header hit the bottom of his post.

But ultimately, the Linnets goal remained unscathed; when West Didsbury and Chorlton finally found the net, it was disallowed for a push.

Smith then latched onto a poor back pass to lob the home ‘keeper with style and aplomb and the game was over a contest at 0-3.

Both managers rang the changes for differing reasons, with Kyle Armstrong, Mark Houghton and Jamie Buckley entering the fray for the Linnets.

Jason Carey could still not get the breaks, the keeper’ saving well from his shot on the end of a Kurt Sherlock cross.

The game petered out with a series of contentious decisions that baffled all that were witness to them. Buckley-Smith handled outside the area but escaped his marching orders, instead receiving a caution.

Michael White received the same punishment for questioning an offside decision. Another debatable yellow and dubious offside calls followed before the referee finally put the game out of its misery.

Linnets will welcome the three points and clean sheet from a strangely subdued affair, the defining factors being three excellent and clinical finishes when opportunities arose.

West Didsbury and Chorlton battled to the end and will do alright this season as the Linnets look to step things up in the race for top spot.

West Didsbury and Chorlton: Buckley-Smith, Settle, Botchey, Garvin, Rogers (capt), Jones, Russell, Poole, Woods, Kay, Schofield. Subs: Poizer, Newbrook, Evangelinos, Wolden, Steer

Runcorn Linnets: Porter, Brislen, Atherton, Humphreys, White, Simpson, Hamid (capt), Sherlock, Potter, Carey, Smith. Subs: Houghton, Buckley, Armstrong. Not used: Halfacre, Donohue.

Attendance: 188.