Whitby Town 4, Runcorn FC Halton 0: THE die was cast before kick-off on Saturday as Runcorn were sent spinning to by far their heaviest defeat of the UniBond League Premier Division season.
Of the four players the depleted Linnets were missing, two of them were centre backs.
The upshot was striker Gary Martindale partnering Paddy O'Driscoll at the heart of a very unfamiliarlooking rearguard in which Mark Phillips, normally a right-sided player, was at left-back.
The injury-ravaged visiting team were without defenders Lee Siadankay and Darren Jones plus midfield schemer Mick Moore and wide man James Locke.
Skipper Paul Scott and Shaun Whalley returned in midfield after suspension but the whole balance of the team had been thrown by the enforced changes.
It was only five minutes into the game when Danny Brunskill opened the scoring for Whitby after Robbie Holcroft had failed to deal with a long ball played high into the middle.
The Linnets had already created a chance when Flood broke free but he decided to shoot with Furlong wide open in the middle.
The away side were continually forced onto the back foot with the North Yorkshire hosts creating chance after chance.
Just after the half-hour Mark Brunskill was allowed to turn in the box to drill a left-foot shot past Holcroft.
As if the Linnets didn't have enough problems, top scorer Furlong also had to go off for treatment on what appeared to be a bad elbow injury.
He played on but was severely hampered for the remainder.
At 2-0 down at half time, Linnets boss Steve Carragher was forced to try something different.
The ineffective Whalley was taken off, and Burns came in at the back with Martindale resuming his normal duties up front. Just as the Linnets appeared to have regathered their confidence, Brunskill struck again three minutes after the restart - left totally unmarked to slot home his third.
There was no way back for the Linnets although they still had chances.
Adam Hunter shot just wide when well placed while Gerard Maloney, on for Phillips, broke into the box only to strike a post.
Scott broke free on several occasions, bringing saves from the Whitby keeper.
But it was not the Linnets' day and with 12 minutes remaining, Brunskill played in Anthony Ormerod for Whitby's fourth.
Two successive away defeats have pulled Runcorn right back into the danger zone.
The team spirit which has been customary this season was missing at the Turnbull Ground.
But the injury to Siadankay has been particularly hard-hitting and fans will hope he recovers in time for the vital clash on Saturday against Guiseley at Valerie Park, Prescot (ko 3pm).
Runcorn FC Halton: Hol-croft, Hunter, Phillips (Maloney 66), O'Driscoll, Martindale, Flood, Whalley (Burns 46), Scott, Lamb, Bowden, Furlong. Sub: Carragher.
