HOCKEY: RUNCORN'S title ambitions rest on a knife-edge this Saturday.
A victory, or even a draw, in the leaders' last match at home to second-placed Rhyl & District will secure the North West Hockey League's Division Four title.
The borough's senior team are level on points with the Welsh visitors but three goals better off. Third-placed Didsbury Northern 2nd are three points adrift.
The dramatic finale was set up as Runcorn sneaked a 1-0 victory at Manchester Trinity.
Meanwhile Rhyl were demolishing Neston South Wirral 2nd 5-1 to ensure the championship goes to the wire.
Runcorn were indebted to player-coach and goal-keeper Hampson for an extraordinary onehanded save which prevented a late Trinity equaliser.
Hampson said: 'This was a game where the result was most important. The way in which we played was disappointing but that keeps us top of the table.'
Tension played a part in Runcorn's performance against mid-table Trinity, out for a big scalp after drawing 4-4 in the first meeting at Brookvale.
Runcorn's fluent passing and attacking movement seemed to desert them.
But Shallcross' first-half goal - the product of Slater's quick ball from a hit and Nield's first-time cross - was enough.
