If Ashton Athletic were expecting to complete a league double over Runcorn Linnets in the early-season return game at Brocstedes Park then they were emphatically denied.

Two Kyle Hamid strikes and Jason Carey's first goal for The Linnets were enough to take Runcorn to the top of the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.

The bitter pill, however, was the second yellow card that meant dismissal for Antony Hickey, made even harder to swallow by Ashton Athletic's captain Ian Rowlands escaping a sending off for hauling down Freddie Potter when he was "the last man".

Michael Ellison skippered The Linnets, with Dean Porter in goal behind Kieron Brislen. River Humphreys, Michael White and Matt Atherton. With Carey and Potter "up top", Hickey, Hamid and Mark Houghton joined the skipper in the middle of the park.

The early pressure came from The Linnets, playing in their unfamiliar blue and white alternative kit, with Potter's shot blocked, and his through ball moments later went astray.

Ashton's first forage forward was snuffed out by Atherton and Hamid as the game struggled to settle, with the Linnets especially giving the ball away through sloppy passing on more occasions than manager Joey Dunn would have deemed acceptable.

Porter found Carey in space and his accurate pass was headed towards by the diving Potter when maybe he could have taken a touch. However, it was a decent effort in the split second that the Linnets forward had to think about it.

When Potter was clean through moments later, he was hauled down by Rowlands, but the referee chose not to consult the assistant and showed only a yellow card to the astonishment of the away contingent on and off the pitch.

The free-kick went wide to Mark Houghton, who cut inside and unleashed a curling shot that was smartly tipped around the post by Ashton's 'keeper Martin Pearson. Mike White headed the ensuing corner just wide.

Porter's bright distribution found Brislen, who volleyed first time into the path of Freddie Potter, his attempted volley would have been a Goal of the Millennium candidate had the linesman's flag not gone up and the striker hadn't mistimed the volley anyway!

Another foul on Hickey gave the Linnets a free-kick in a dangerous position.

Kyle Hamid thought quicker than everyone else and immediately stroked it into the top corner from distance - to the annoyance of the home players and delight of the visitors, Runcorn had a lead on 33 minutes.

The Linnets started to play some good football, having been galvanised by the lead. Potter found Houghton, whose cross was deflected behind. Mike White again went close with the header from the resulting corner.

Potter again had only the goal in his sights when a pass was on, but there are no qualms for a striker in such good form having a punt. The Linnets deserved their half-time lead.

The second period started with a flurry of cautions - Ashton's Daniel Regan, Antony Hickey, and Michael Ellison all going into the book for fouls, although none of them were that malicious.

On 54 minutes, from a scramble in the Ashton area, the ball bobbled up and, with Hamid again in the mix, Carey got the final touch to get off the mark for the visitors, who had a two-goal cushion.

Hamid saw his next free-kick beaten away and, at the other end, Ashton's Callum Mahoney had a shot blocked by Humphreys.

When a speculative left-wing cross by Potter was missed by the home defence, Hamid turned and volleyed in one sweet movement, dispatching his shot into the bottom corner, and it was 0-3.

Although this ended the game as a contest, and in all reality was probably the last true chance created by The Linnets, the work ethic continued unabated.

Carey tracked back 70 yards to win back possession and relieve some pressure, and all over the pitch Linnets players were working hard for each other and the collective cause.

Ellison was upended without punishment just before being withdrawn by manager Dunn, Adam Hilton replacing him. Hickey then received his second yellow for seemingly trying to get his foot on a kick from the 'keeper.

To say it looked harsh may be an understatement.

Jamie Weeder and Ben Halfacre replaced Potter and Carey, respectively, both departing players receiving a great ovation from The Linnets Faithful.

Unfortunately, neither Weeder nor Halfacre had enough time to really get to grips with a game that was quickly petering out.

Ashton Athletic valiantly had the last hurrah, with subs Richard Livingstone and Philip Williams both narrowly missing the target, but Runcorn Linnets saw out the game with comparative ease.

A free midweek gives the squad a chance to recuperate, and with quality of the magnitude of Mottram, Simpson, Sherlock, Wade, Smith, Armstrong and Buckley among others not featuring today, Joey Dunn has some pleasant headaches ahead as he aims to keep the Yellow and Greens in control of the title race.