HAVING finished runners-up in the last two North West Counties League campaigns but been out of the hunt before the end, Runcorn Linnets will for the first time head into the last day of a Premier Division season knowing they could be champions.

Rivals Colne, a point behind the leaders after the weekend's results, have another chance to finally overtake the Linnets when playing their game in hand tomorrow (Tues) at home to West Didsbury & Chorlton but, whatever the result, the title will only be settled on the final afternoon this Saturday.

Runcorn will be travelling to their former boss Steve Wilkes's Padiham while fourth-placed 1874 Northwich await Colne in a thrilling, not to mention nerve-wrackling denouement for the two challenger clubs.

It is all very reminiscent of the climax to Linnets' inaugural campaign in 2006-07 when they and Winsford United fought out the honours to the last whistle in a similar fashion with Runcorn missing out on goal difference but still gaining promotion.

This time, it will be winners take all - with one team only going up to the Evo-Stik League Division One (presumably, in either case, the Northern section).

At this stage, with some clubs craving advancement to a higher league, others scrambling for survival in the one they are in and those in between playing only for pride, but without any pressure, results can be difficult to predict.

But having put in so much effort over the last three seasons, further disappointment would be hard to swallow for Joey Dunn, his players and indeed all connected to the Millbank Linnets Stadium.

On Saturday, they headed to Blackpool to face an outfit equally desperate for the points. Suggestions that it would not be easy against hosts still battling against the drop were proved absolutely correct.

At least, Squres Gate had the consolation of knowing that in defeat, they would have a couple more chances of staying up even.

For Runcorn, there was no such luxury. Failure of any kind was no longer an option. All 'get out of jail free' cards had already been played in their championship race.

The first half strongly resembled their last three or four matches with Runcorn making consistent headway into opposing territory but not clicking in front of goal and therefore seldom looking likely to capitalise on the pressure.

An unexpected feature of the game was some very meaty challenges by Squires Gate, the first of which on left back Matt Atherton, in a cental position just outside the visitors' box, was the worst and latest of all, deserving of a red card instead of the yellow which was shown.

With Runcorn again struggling to find their rhythm in the blustery conditions, Gate had the best two or three chances of the half to take the lead. But they were, likewise, unable to take advantage of opportunities. They were feeling the pressure too.

There was stalemate at the interval. The game needed a goal but Runcorn knew they had to get it. What couldn't have been predicted was that five goals would be scored in the second half at either end - nor that, after leading 2-0 and 3-1, the Linnets had to survive a difficult last 10 minutes in which the tension was palpable.

Runcorn had taken just four minutes from the resumption to start adopting more of a percentage game, getting the ball into the box instead of skirting around the periphery and trying unsuccessfully to thread it through.

When Freddie Potter was fouled outside the home area, set-piece specialist Kyle Hamid resisted the temptation to go for goal. Instead, he played the ball out to his right from where Kurt Sherlock delivered a teasing cross.

It wasn't cleared at the back post and centre half Michael White showed a striker's reactions to hammer home into the roof of the net.

After 62 minutes, midfielder Hamid ghosted into the box to meet and accept Potter's head-on with a subtle, stylish finish for his 18th of the season. Suddenly, Runcorn's mission looked much more comfortable – or so they thought.

Gate almost immediately opened the door to a comeback when Jamie Gibson (64 mins) pulled a goal back with the first of his two. The ball was swept past Dean Porter in a flash, the disorientated 'keeper feeling he had been impeded while trying to field a right-wing corner kick at his near post.

But all such things depend on viewing positions and also points of view as to whether it is a foul or just the 'keeper not being strong enough.

What wasn't in doubt was Runcorn's reaction – swift and to the point as within 15 seconds of them restarting play, Potter got on the end of another Sherlock centre, this time from the left, to restore the two-goal cushion. This was after Hickey had turned superbly to feed the ball out.

Game over now? Not a bit of it. An incredible spell of tit-for-tat scoring was extended a minute later when Squires Gate found it all too easy to get in crossing position on their right and the ball in was converted at the far post. Runcorn were just grateful that's where and how it all ended.

As one Linnets player said afterwards, earlier in the season the visitors would have surely gone on from 2-0 up to get five but it just shows what 'nerves' can do.

That's what makes this weekend's deciders so intriguing. Anything could still happen!

Squires Gate: Fletcher, Ferguson, Westwood, Trout, Higham, Stayte, Hall, Gibson, Noblet, Tanser, Riley. Subs: Penswick, Colquhoun, Buchan, Fishwick, Richards.

Runcorn Linnets: Porter, Brislen, Atherton, Humphreys, White, Ellison, Simpson, Hamid, Potter, Hickey, Sherlock. Subs: Hardwick, Houghton. Not used: Jones, Cox, Smith.

Attendance: 285.