Cammell Laird 1907 0 Runcorn Linnets 3

Making the short trip to Rock Ferry, Joey Dunn’s side were back in league action for the first time since the 5-1 home win against Winsford on January 2nd.

A mid-morning inspection passed the pitch fit and on arrival, it was clear that there had been no real threat to this game going ahead.

Although the grass was quite long, the pitch held up really well throughout and enabled both sides to do what they endeavour to do, play football on the deck.

The MBS stadium at Lairds is a lovely little Non-League ground with covered seating on both sides - low roofing adding volume and atmosphere in the crowd - along with a more modern covered standing area on the dugout side, very modern floodlights and good pitch perimeter fencing.

If the Linnets starting 11 had a few regular names missing, then the bench was surely one of the strongest in the whole league with Freddie Potter, skipper Michael Ellison, Tom Hardwick, River Humphreys and youngster Taylor Kennerley guarding the pine.

It was evident from the off that Lairds liked a tackle and put themselves about a lot, but it has to be said that other than the odd late tackle they were physical but fair, and nobody from the Linnets contingent seemed to mind that.

They certainly weren't a "dirty" team, something that Runcorn regularly have to suffer. If anything it seemed that Linnets were being punished by the ref for trying to match them when much of Lairds play went unpunished.

It was this physical style that led to the first incident of note in the game, Matty Atherton involved in a very strong 50/50 challenge and requiring treatment straight away.

He battled on for another 10 minutes before signalling that he needed to be withdrawn with a foot injury.

Tom Hardwick came off the bench to take up the left-back mantle as Athers made his way slowly towards the dressing room.

Early fears of a break or fracture have thankfully been quashed but a spell on the sidelines is looking likely for the club's longest-serving player.

The first real chance of the game went to Lairds when a poor clearance from Dean Porter in the Linnets goal went straight to the feet of a Lairds player, his quick return hitting the foot of a post and wide.

This was followed soon after by Linnets opening the scoring. Franny Smith played a diagonal ball over to Kyle Hamid. who was making a run into the Lairds box.

A marvellous drop of the shoulder by Kyle took the Lairds left back completely out of the game to allow Hamid an unchallenged cross from the right into the six-yard area, where Kurt Sherlock made no mistake.

Good play from one wing to the other created an opening for Lairds but this was flashed across the goal and just wide, before Mike White and Porter left a ball for each other and when neither reacted, a Lairds player nipped in between the two of them. Somehow, he managed to put the chance wide with the goal at his mercy.

It was Linnets, who had the next opening when Mike Simpson hit the bar after seeing his initial shot blocked, before Lairds broke away down the right wing to carve out another great opening, snatching the shot wide from eight yards out.

Shortly after, Porter came out of his box to clear a through ball but was caught in no man's land by a Lairds attacker who nicked it past him but blazed his shot over. It was hard to believe that Linnets had given Lairds four clear opportunities at goal and they had failed to hit the target with any of them.

The last action of the first half was in the Lairds penalty area, following a scramble from an in-swinging corner, with Mark Houghton’s eventual overhead kick being well saved.

Hamid was withdrawn by manager Dunn at half-time. The Linnets vice-captain, skippering the side, was already on a booking and had been given a stern warning by the referee just before half time. Joey obviously didn’t want to risk a red card for the midfield maestro.

Freddie Potter made a welcome return to action following his serious-looking injury sustained in the Boxing Day derby.

The second half was to be dominated by the Linnets, with Lairds only notable attack coming in the first minute with a shot that hit the bar always looking too high and going over for a goal kick.

Kurt Sherlock dispossessed the Lairds ’keeper but was beaten by the angle when it came to the shot. The hosts also needed a goal-saving clearance by their captain, Steve Ferrigan who scooped the ball away from under the bar with Potter ready to tap in.

Antony Hickey then took centre stage but unfortunately failed to convert two glorious chances. The first was put on a plate for him by Freddie Potter but from three yards yards out Hickey somehow blazed over the empty net when even a scuffed connection would have gone in.

When Sherlock promptly sent Hickey racing clear through on goal, his shot could only find the side netting.

A more difficult chance followed as Hickey got in on goal again but a great covering tackle denied him a shot. However the Linnets doubled their lead from the resulting corner.

It was only half cleared to full-back Kieron Brislen out on the right and with everyone expecting another lofted cross, Brislen had other ideas. He instead picked out Potter with an inch-perfect low pass into the area, the centre forward making no mistake in sweeping the chance first time into the bottom corner.

Within three minutes, Potter had scored his second and Linnets third to seal the three points. Tom Hardwick advanced forward unchallenged to dink a delightful ball over the Lairds back line for Potter to run on to. After taking one touch, he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner with the ’keeper advancing.

Both of The Wizard’s finishes were that of a player high on confidence and in control of his game, Lairds must have been looking on at their former striker’s prowess with great envy, considering how wasteful they had been in the first half.

The last chance of the game fell to Hickey, who had done enough to deserve a goal and when he found himself clear, as Potter had done, you felt this was his turn. But instead of slotting past the keeper like his strike partner had done, Hickey took it round the Lairds stopper via a heavy touch.

This took him slightly away from goal, and when a defender came across to cover it was left to half- hearted penalty shouts with the ball rolling past the post.

The referee correctly turned away to play on. The officials did quite well throughout. Like I said earlier it was a physical but not dirty game, with the referee choosing the sensible option of actually talking to the players instead of being card happy.

It’s always a bonus when you get good and consistent officials.

The Linnets shifted into possession mode for the last five minutes and the game was seen out with Lairds unable to get another meaningful touch of the ball.

This was a very good win in a potential banana skin game, especially after a few rhythm-interrupting weeks of postponements.

Lairds’ manager Paul McNally (not to be confused with the former Linnets boss of the same name) had commented earlier in the week that inconsistency has been their downfall this season and you can believe that. Both times I have seen them this year, they have shown in spells that they have top-six quality within their ranks.

Linnets performance mirrored many over the last few months - soaking up the pressure of the early onslaught that most teams throw at us before growing into the game for the last hour, making the most of the chances that they create.

If the weather holds out this week, Linnets are due a home fixture against Nelson on Saturday (3pm kick off), so get yourselves to the MLS to see if the Linnets can keep up the good run.

Cammell Laird 1907:Mike Langley, Kyle Jones, Adam Hughes, Paul Tosney, Steve Ferrigan (c), Jay Clare, Paul Foy, Danny O’Brien, Craig Cairnes, Danny Dixon, Tom Hartley. Subs: Tom Corrigan, Jack McGovern, Tom Williams, Jay Roberts. George Ukaegbu.

Runcorn Linnets:Dean Porter, Kieron Brislen, Matthew Atherton (Tom Hardwick), Kyle Armstrong, Michael White, Michael Simpson, Mark Houghton, Kyle Hamid (c) (Freddie Potter), Kurt Sherlock, Antony Hickey, Franny Smith. Subs (not used): Michael Ellison, River Humphreys, Taylor Kennerley.