RUNCORN Linnets clung on for a 1-0 victory at City of Liverpool as a helter-skelter contest went to the wire, despite the visitors leading from early on, writes Dave Bettley.

Will Saxon's fourth-minute strike ultimately settled the issue but there was no shortage of action or incident in a thrilling game.

City of Liverpool, newly ensconced as co-tenants at the DCBL Stadium, had last season dealt Linnets a devastating blow with their Play-off semi-final victory at APEC Taxis Stadium.

But the Purps would themselves be eliminated from the promotion race in the final.

Both sides have found recovery tough with Linnets losing manager Billy Paynter in the uncomfortable aftermath.

Linnets, having been at the wrong end of Pitching In Northern Premier League West, have clawed their way up the table under Antony Kay.

CoL have had difficulty settling into their new semi-permanent home and remain in the relegation positions.

However, there is little to choose between much of the division and this was further proof.

Linnets haven't the best record on Widnes's unpredictable artificial surface but they soon demonstrated a determination to set it straight.

They were ahead within four minutes and could by that time already have been in front.

In the first minute, a vital block by a Purps defender denied Naim Arsan a goal on his full Runcorn debut.

But the home side were unsettled by the fluidity of the early Yellow and Green offensive. It isn't the kind of pitch on which defenders want to be turning.

Will Saxon, having set up the chance for Arsan with a cross from the left, latched onto Peter Wylie's through ball to hook home a shot from the right of the box.

As rbe Purps tried to respond, striker Danny Mitchley, with a full sight of goal, planted his effort straight at Bayleigh Passant A yard either side and it would surely have brought an equaliser.

However, Runcorn remained the better side for much of the half until a spell of sustained home pressure towards the end.

Purps had optimistic claims for a 38th-minute penalty for a foul turned down.

In the same incident Linnets skipper James Short was injured but with striker Adam Moseley a ready replacement, a reshuffle was averted by the left back signalling he was OK to continue.

Moseley did make an entrance for the start of the second half, but for Adam Morgan as boss Kay opted to utilise the former's extra pace.

The substitute threatened to take the game away from CoL with his running, firstly out wide on the right and then through the middle as Linnets players continued to change positions.

But his involvement was to be cut short as on the hour, he was knocked out of the game - literally.

Attacking centrally into the clear, Moseley headed the ball over on-rushing 'keeper Nick Michalski, who was equally committed to challenge for the ball but instead got the man - a few yards outside his area.

A red card appeared the only option, but amazingly not even a foul was given.

The referee belatedly conferred with his assistant in the City of Liverpool half but the outcome was to restart with a throw-in after Moseley had received urgent treatment.

He groggily left the field for hospital, where precautionary checks confirmed no serious damage.

But this could so easily have become the defining moment of the match.

With primary strikers Ryan Brooke and Taylor Bowen on the casualty list, Runcorn were left to play the remainder without a frontline striker.

Saxon, who had his best game since returning from illness, filled the breach initially before Josh Elverstone, essentially a centre half, came off the bench for his latest cameo appearance as a centre forward.

With the elasticity of the squad being stretched again, even fellow sub, defensive midfielder Karl Clair chipped in with a lung-busting break from deep in his Runcorn half towards the opposition area, where it fizzled out.

The away side were by now struggling to hold on to possession upfield and much of the emphasis switched to the other end, where it was at times all hands to the pump in defence of the slender Runcorn lead.

Experienced former City of Liverpool defender Peter Wylie engaged in a fascinating battle with seasoned frontman Mitchley while Linnets right back Sam Barratt made a vital overing tackle to deny Callum Schorah a probable goal.

CoL were next to be aggrieved with the referee's decision making when they were denied a penalty for handball by Eden Gumbs.

But it was Runcorn who finished on the attack.

Arsan, who had earlier in the half seen a free-kick deflected onto the crossbar continued to be adventurous on the left, despite retreating into the left back role as Short succumbed to his injury in the 56th minute.

Runcorn's latest signing forced a corner, deep into the six minutes of stoppage time, to help Linnets across the line after an enthralling, seemingly breathless derby.

It left fans of both sides with much to process on Saturday night.

Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Sam Barratt, James Short (Eden Gumbs, 56 mins), Jacques Welsh, Peter Wylie, Harvey Washington, Will Saxon (Josh Elverstone, 81 mins), Lewis Doyle (Lewis Nolan, 72 mins), Adam Morgan (Adam Moseley, 46 mins, replaced by Karl Clair, 63 mins), Luke Wall, Naim Arsan.

Attendance: 473.