AFTER flirting with danger at times in their last few home games, Linnets ran headlong into trouble at Wincham Park on Saturday.

But they still had the arsenal to take the points - despite trailing 2-0 to their Westhoughton visitors after 10 minutes and 3-2 at the interval.

Daisy Hill had been no pushovers on their own patch when Linnets were flying early in the season and Steve Carragher's men again had to pull out all the stops for victory.

It was entertaining stuff but all too hairy for Runcorn, despite these three points taking them into a shortlived lead at the top of the table.

Daisy Hill had served notice of their intent by holding Bootle, who are a formidable side themselves, to a midweek draw.

Even so, the visitors could scarcely have believed the start they got.

Daisy Hill were a goal up after eight minutes with Runcorn, not for the first time in recent weeks, unable to deal with a set piece.

Dominic Spinks' curling free-kick from the left went straight in, nobody able to get a touch.

Three minutes later, Danny Williams connected sweetly with another cross, again from the left.

His left-foot volley beat Robbie Holcroft all ends up with its high trajectory inside the near post.

Runcorn, who had allowed Daisy Hill far too much room, needed to hit back quickly and did so.

Within a minute, Thomas Lamb, who had his best game for weeks if not months, thumped home a low shot on the turn after right-back Brian Holmes' cross had been helped on.

Then, with only 34 minutes on the clock, the game got its fourth goal.

Stand-in skipper Colin Flood carefully lined up a 22-yard free-kick and dispatched it perfectly - left-footed high into the top-right corner.

But just when it looked as though the tide had turned, Daisy Hill reclaimed the lead with a left-foot wonder strike from right-back Rob Houghton, who returned a half-cleared 41st-minute corner first time from 35 yards.

Holcroft didn't catch so much as a glimpse as the ball passed him low to his left.

However, Runcorn equalised for a second time nine minutes into the second half.

A throw-in on the left by Flood, playing as well as he has done since joining, set up Dave Thompson to score with a sweepshot on the turn.

Sub Michael Young had by this time returned from his lengthy injury lay-off to strengthen Runcorn's ineffective right flank.

The second comeback this helped to inspire, was completed in the 58th minute when Lamb headed a fine second from Flood's cross.

But although Runcorn dominated the second half, this game was too close for comfort.

Daisy Hill netted again in the last minute only for the scorer Craig Naylor to be pulled back for a clear handball.

Linnets could really have done with a fifth goal to make the closing moments less of a worry.

Lamb had almost provided it with a curling shot which was deflected onto the right upright and a clear run on goal which ended with keeper Scott Moore foiling him.

LINNETS: Holcroft, Holmes, Parle, O'Driscoll, Boden, Quirk, Dee (Young 46), Edwards (McCoy 84), Thompson, Lamb, Flood. Sub: Rollinson. Attendance: 200.