LINNETS made the journey to deepest Lancashire on Saturday to take on the notoriously difficult task of playing Barnoldswick Town away.

Joey Dunn’s table-topping side came from behind and overcame seeing a Freddie Potter penalty saved with the score at 1-0 to condemn Barlick to only their second North West Counties League Premier Division home defeat of the season.

It was again a depleted squad that travelled, missing regulars Mike White, Franny Smith, Matty Atherton and Kurt Sherlock.

Tom Hardwick made a welcome return from injury, although obviously not fully match fit, but did his bit off the bench.

This all led to a complete reshuffle of the back four with right back Kieron Brislen moving to left back, Michael Simpson slotting in at right back from his now customary midfield berth and Kyle Armstrong partnering River Humphreys in the centre of defence.

Kyle Hamid returned to the starting eleven - joining Steve Jones, Mark Houghton and skipper Mike Ellison in midfield. Potter, meanwhile, returned to the front line, partnering the on fire Ryan Cox, with Antony Hickey taking a well-earned breather on the bench.

The pitch and conditions were perfect for a good day’s football and Linnets started the game kicking towards the wonderfully-named "Sewer End".

The home side took an early hold, making the most of their intimidating physical presence and style, particularly in attack. They should have taken the lead when Mark Threlfall found himself unmarked five yards out but, under no pressure, he scooped the ball over Dean Porter’s crossbar.

More chances came and went for the home side before they eventually took the lead on the half hour. Sloppy defending allowed Threlfall another free shot at goal that Porter did brilliantly to block at close range, but the Linnets stopper was helpless to keep out the rebound effort from Matthew Simpson, who was also unmarked inside the six-yard box.

The goal rocked the Linnets, who started to play more of a part with Houghton and Jones both going close. But the Barlick back line was at this stage holding out well and the half-time whistle blew with the home side leading 1-0.

The Linnets came out with renewed vigour in the second half and went on to completely dominate the game and turn in one of the most accomplished 45 minutes of football this season. Joey Dunn had probably realised that the way to beat Barlick wasn't to try and match them physically so he instead decided on a tactic of wearing them into the ground by moving the ball at pace from one side of the pitch to the other and letting Barlick’s players chase shadows.

You could see the energy draining out of the opposition and Linnets started to move in for the kill.

A big opportunity presented itself to the men in blue and white stripes just before the hour when Linnets were awarded a dubious penalty. With usual penalty master Mike White not on the pitch, the ball was handed to front man Potter to try to redeem a penalty mishap almost a year ago to the day, when his effort was saved at AFC Liverpool.

But fate was not on the Wizard’s side as Barlick’s keeper not only guessed right but held on to Potter’s spot kick to prevent any rebound chances. This could have been catastrophic.

But, fortunately, they only has to wait two minutes to get the deserved equaliser. Steve Jones’ glorious in-swinging corner was begging to be headed home, and despite being marked by the biggest player on the pitch, it was one of Linnets shorter players in Humphreys who headed in the equaliser from the edge of the six-yard box.

Linnets continued to pile the pressure on the home goal but chances came and went before the winner eventually arrived in the 82nd minute, again from the unlikeliest of sources!

The build-up was football of the highest order, the move starting in Linnets' own penalty area with Porter playing the ball out to Kyle Armstrong who advanced forward and passed to Kyle Hamid in the centre circle. A cracking turn and pass out wide to Kieron Brislen opened up the Barlick midfield and with Hamid continuing his run, he took the ball back off Brislen before laying it off to Steve Jones.

Jones’ inch-perfect low cross saw Ryan Cox control and play the ball back to the edge of the area. Brislen had continued his run from left full back to connect perfectly and bag the Linnets’ winner via a slight deflection.

It really was a goal that put on display the level of football of which the Linnets are capable!

The game drew to a close without much incident at either end, barring a dying-seconds free-kick into the Linnets penalty area. Dean Porter came off his line to make a towering claim under immense pressure to secure the three points.

Barnoldswick Town: Jordan Gidley, Anthony Pollard, Carl Ellerton, James Crorken, Elliott Firth, Shaun Airey, Harry Thompson, Arley Barnes, Matthew Simpson, Mark Threlfall, Ben Gorman. Subs: John Beckwith, Scott Moore. Not used: Christopher Ridehalgh.

Runcorn Linnets: Dean Porter, Michael Simpson, Kieron Brislen, River Humphreys, Kyle Armstrong, Michael Ellison, Mark Houghton, Kyle Hamid, Freddie Potter, Ryan Cox, Steve Jones. Subs: Antony Hickey, Tom Hardwick. Not used: Adam Donohue, Taylor Kennerley.

Attendance: 139.