RUNCORN boss Chris Lightfoot has appealed for the borough's football fans to rally to the cause of helping the club into Conference North for next season.

The Linnets player-manager was dismayed to see Saturday's Halton Stadium attendance dip below 200 for the victory over Blyth Spartans.

And he is desperate for a better turnout tomorrow, ko 7.45pm, when Alfreton Town visit for another vital match in what will inevitably be a tense run-in.

Teams have been drifting in and out of contention in the last few weeks.

And with the right results last night, when they travelled to fellow hopefuls Whitby Town, the Linnets could now find themselves in a top-13 slot - the requirement for automatic qualification to the new division.

The win over Blyth was only a -second home success of the UniBond League Premier Division campaign for Runcorn, but Lightfoot points out: 'We have only been beaten three times in the league since Boxing Day, which is good going.

'I was disappointed there was only 180-something there on Saturday, especially when Blyth brought 20 or 30. -'It is all ifs and buts, but hopefully

results will go for us over the next couple of weeks and we will be able to get in Conference North.

'But we need more supporters getting behind us. There is no atmo-sphere or anything at home matches. It is quiet on the pitch and it is quiet in the stands. It is just not right.'

The Alfreton game will be Runcorn's third in six days, but they then have no game until Burscough visit next Wednesday (ko 7.45pm).

Many clubs havetwo games over the Easter holidays so,by Monday night, Runcorn's task should be a lot clearer.

Lightfoot, who hoped to bring back injured Matty Mc-Ginn and Lee Kissock at Whitby, knows Alfreton will be another tough test.

Runcorn have the chance of a second league double after a 2-0 victory in February and the player-manager hopes the postponement of the orginal home game doesn't come back to haunt him.

Lightfoot said: 'We beat them at their place and I think we beat them comfortably, but they have signed a few players since then.'

With other players returning from injury, Lightfoot was expecting to restore Mike Garrity to midfield last night.

He looked like joining skipper Dominic Morley and newcomer Anton Lally in a central three.

Meanwhile, Adam Carden has joined Witton Albion and Neil Larkin has been axed. Larkin's last ance was in the 3-0 defeat by Altrincham on Tuesday, March 16. The following Thursday, he had missed training for personal reasons and Lightfoot says he hasn't heard from him since.

'He has really disappointed me,' added the boss. 'I have given the lad a chance to have a crack at a better level of football and he has just thrown it back in my face.'