RUNCORN ended a run of six away games without a win in league and cup - Dave Thompson being cast as hero and villain.

The striker hit the winner in Burslem on Saturday but was sent off for a second cautionable offence after clattering into bottom-placed Norton's keeper Dean Latham in the 86th minute.

Thompson had picked up Linnets' first booking of the match just a minute earlier as a tackle from behind by Anthony Kirk led to a tangle of legs between the two players and a caution for each.

But for Latham's athleticism, Linnets could have been way ahead at half-time without ever clicking into top gear.

However, new signing Paul Parle made an encouraging start at left-back before going off with cramp while James Edwards did a creditable job in midfield.

It was one-way traffic before the interval but the visitors went in with the slenderest of leads.

Runcorn have felt aggrieved not to have been given penalties already this season. But this time there was no doubt in the referee's mind Thomas Lamb was brought down.

Michael Young played the ball into the area where Lamb was upended by David Davis.

The victim of the foul got up to tuck a low shot beyond Lath-am into the bottom right.

The second half saw Linnets continue to generally hold sway. But, inside the first minute, Robert Addlington ran clean through the middle of their defence, past Paddy O'Driscoll's attempted tackle and around George Caulfield to drill home. Suddenly, Linnets had it all to do again.

Thompson saw a shot re-bound off the underside of the bar before promptly finding a bit more luck.

He may well have been in an offside position when the ball was played over Norton's defence in the 52nd minute but no flag was raised.

LINNETS: Caulfield, Phillips, Parle (Davies 80), O'Driscoll (Bowden 51), Newell, Edwards, McCoy, Scott, Thompson, Lamb, Young. Attendance: 105.