RUNCORN boss Chris Lightfoot, players and fans will be having nightmares at the way this game slipped away with the winning post in sight.

The Linnets appeared destined to win a UniBond League Premier Division home game for the first time this season, and with some comfort.

But then their ambitions were ripped apart in a catastrophic last seven minutes which saw Worksop score three times for a victory which was very much undeserved.

Runcorn had been on top almost from the start and skipper Steve Carragher had already forced a good save by the time he fired the home side ahead from Lightfoot's 36th minute knock-down.

Like the first, Runcorn's second was created by a cross from Matty McGinn. The quality of his left-wing delivery this time forced Paul Sykes into heading past his own keeper Dave McCarthy in the 61st minute.

Andy Murphy, making his first league appearance in the Runcorn goal, had comparatively little to do but this changed in the 83rd minute when Gary Townsend turned to fire home the first of his two goals from a free-kick. deficit.

Townsend's second in the 88th minute also stemmed from a set-piece, and unbelievably a minute later Worksop sub Andy Todd shrugged off defender Ged Nolan inside the box to lash home the winner.

RUNCORN: Murphy, Carragher, Ness, Nolan, Spearritt, Parkinson, Hogan, Garrity, Lightfoot (Leadbetter, 57), Courtney, McGinn. Subs: Rendell, Ellis.