RUNCORN boss Steve Soley can't help thinking this result should have been the other way around.

And what's more it would have been but for errors at both ends of the field on Saturday.

Kieron Durkan missed the best chance of the game after coming on as a sub and, shortly after Durkins shot rebounded off a post with the keeper stranded, Tony McMillan dropped a clanger which cost Runcorn dearly.

McMillan allowed a routine 78th-minute right-wing corner to slip through his grasp and across the line.

'I felt sorry for the players because it was a poor mis-take by Tony,' said the player-manager.

'We didn't say anything to him - he didn't need to hear it.

'But Kizza also knows he should have scored and if he had there was no way they'd have come back.'

But Soley saw improvement despite Runcorn's inability to finish off their moves.

They must have had 65% of Saturday's game but lacked presence in the opposition box while the lack of a final ball was glaringly obvious as good positions were consistently wasted.

'Our organisation was better and our shape was good. It is that lack of awareness and bit of quality in the final third that lets us down,' said Soley.

'We knew we were light up front with Nicky Young being suspended and couldn't do much about it. We knew we were going to struggle to score.

'They didn't look as if they were going to score if we concentrated on set-pieces and all we were looking to do was keep a clean sheet.

'It was a shame because it was a poor corner and I thought Tony did get shoved but I still couldn't believe it.'

Centre-back Robbie Moore, handed the captain's armband, was pushed forward to try to save the game.

But it was not to be - Runcorn had been starved of chances throughout the 90 minutes and the Linnets were never going to get another opportunity like the one squandered by Durkan.

Worksop's two big centrebacks had dominated in the air and while Lee Mulvaney did show the odd glimpse, the quality of service from a busy enough midfield was very poor.

If Runcorn had much of the game, their visitors created the better of the relatively few opportunities.

Ex-Southport utility man Barry Jones had a solid debut in the centre of de-fence after his capture from Prescot Cables - fellow veteran Ged Nolan moving the other way.

'Barry is a tremendous player and the thing about him is he can play in mid-field as well,' said Soley. RUNCORN: McMillan, Spearritt, McGinn, Jones, Moore, Field, Parle, Garrity (Willis 84), Courtney, Mulvaney (Durkan 64), Lock. Subs: Carragher, McDiarmid, Thompson (GK). Attendance: 222.