Witton Albion 1, Runcorn FC Halton 3: RUNCORN are still in with a shout of lifting the UniBond League Challenge Cup again after showing just how hungry they are for overdue success.
The Linnets are in the last four for the first time since last winning the competition in 1980-1981, when they also landed the league championship and shield to boot.
The semi-finals now take them to Farsley Celtic where they have already lost an FA Trophy tie this season.
Yet Runcorn had been beaten in their opening away game at Witton and comfortably and deservedly turned them over this time.
Was it a case of the Linnets having improved or are Witton suffering a slump in form?
Probably a bit of both. Albion were not the side they had looked back in August either in performance and make-up.
But the determined Linnets, having also changed personnel since then, never allowed the hosts to play.
Shaun Whalley, who had personified Runcorn's mini-slide, rediscovered lost form with the first two goals - one in each half.
A late Witton fightback which saw them briefly halve the deficit, was then cut short as top scorer Lee Furlong came off the bench to seal the tie.
While the meandering runs of right winger Mark Peers, who interested the Linnets in the summer, always caused concern, the visitors held their shape well.
Robbie Holcroft had relatively few early scares although he tipped a looping header from ex-Canal Street striker Mike Moseley onto the bar.
With Whalley and Thomas Lamb working Witton's central defenders hard, the Linnets controversially hit the front in the 15th minute.
James Locke's through ball was touched on by Lamb for Whalley to drill inside the post.
Offside protests only earned Witton skipper Brian Pritchard a booking.
Runcorn were creating the better chances with Paul Scott having a low shot held by goal-keeper Mark Westhead and Locke heading wide.
They found extra breathing space just after the hour with Adam Hunter sending Whalley into the clear for his second.
Witton, who had lost Moseley to a hamstring injury soon after half-time, threw caution aside in the last quarter.
Central defender Pritchard was pushed forward for nuisance value as an extra attacker.
For the first time, Runcorn were under pressure.
Referee Mr Bristow waved away home penalty claims for handball when Peers drove the ball into Mark Phillips' chest but upheld similar appeals for a clear offence by Paddy O'Driscoll in the 81st minute.
Robbie Holcroft, having saved a penalty the previous Saturday, kept out Peers' poor attempt and dropped on the rebound. But the ball wriggled free for Mike Bowler to finally convert.
Within a minute, however, Runcorn's two-goal cushion was restored.
Furlong accepted a gift of a back header from sub Darren Hockenhull to sweep home into an inviting net.
RUNCORN: Holcroft, Phillips, Flood, O'Driscoll, Burns, Bowden, Hunter, Scott, Lamb, Whalley (Furlong 75), Locke. Subs: Carragher, Richie.
