Runcorn Linnets 2 City of Liverpool 0
Report by Dave Bettley
Goals from Ryan Brooke, at the beginning of the first half and the end of the second, earned Runcorn the points from a very one-sided contest against Pitching In Northern Premier League West's bottom club.
In between, there was frustration as Linnets watched chance after chance go begging in their push for the end-of-season play-offs.
Brooke's double took his Runcorn career total to 74 goals, one short of Freddie Potter and two away from equalling Mark Houghton's club-record haul of 76.
Had results elsewhere gone against them, this defeat would have relegated City of Liverpool but the Purps survived to fight another day.
However, with a 25-point deficit, only 27 points to play for and the worst goal difference in the division, they are only one result away from an inevitable return to the North West Counties League.
It has been an astonishing slide for a team, which contested last season's promotion play-off final after knocking out Linnets in the semis at APEC Taxis Stadium.
But with CoL boasting an impressive recent record on Runcorn's ground beyond that fateful result, the Yellow and Greens were taking nothing for granted before kick-off.
Brad Cooke's selection showed one change from the team, which had started in victory at Chasetown on the last league outing.
Eden Gumbs came in at left back for midfielder Lewis Doyle with the help of a reshuffle.
Naim Arsan moved to left midfield, Adam Moseley switching to the opposite flank, with Luke Wall coming inside at No.10.
A notable omission from the squad was Jack Grundy after his move to Wythenshawe Town.
A summer signing from Mossley, Grundy's time at Linnets was badly hit by injury, the centre half having slipped down the pecking order with Callum Grogan's arrival at Christmas.
The visitors were defending from the outset, not through design but necessity.
Linnets' early pressure was so intense that by the time they opened the scoring in the 10th minute, the lead was well overdue.
Clever combination play involving Arsan and Gumbs saw the latter deliver a cross from the left, which predator Brooke pounced on at the near post.
It all looked so easy but the next 75 minutes were anything but.
Linnets had countless corners and numerous attempts on goal.
Almost every outfield player had a crack, but wrong decisions, disappointing finishing and the regular heroics of Purps 'keeper Conor Robson denied Runcorn a more comfortable advantage.
Brooke contribution was invaluable in keeping Linnets in the race for the play-offs and on another day, he would have at least doubled his tally.
There were only brief moments of respite for the away side. Nevertheless Bayleigh Passant had to make two key saves in the first half.
Just before Runcorn's 86th-minute clincher, a throw-in on the right - played short instead of long, as expected - by substutute Andy Owens, CoL's player manager, culminated in an almighty scramble in the home side's penalty area.
Linnets' defence managed to finally clear the danger.
Manager Cooke was grateful for the clean sheet, lauding the efforts of his back line in staying on their guard throughout.
Runcorn finally got the second goal they had been chasing to the obvious relief of the vast majority inside the ground.
Arsan's route to goal was again blocked by a typical save from 'keeper Robson but he retained possession for a cross from the right.
It was headed in at the front post by Brooke for his 11th campaign goal.
A 1-0 defeat for Congleton at play-off rivals Hednesford Town leaves Linnets in seventh place, three points off a play-off spot.
The deficit is effectively four points because of goal difference.
Linnets have also played a match more than all the teams around them but still have a game to come against three of the top six.
Cooke's team now take a two-week break from league action, allowing rivals to catch up.
The manager will have the luxury of two midweek training sessions to prepare for the Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final visit of mid-table NPL Premier Division side Hyde United on Tuesday, March 11th.
Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passant, Peter Wylie, Eden Gumbs, Karl Clair (Jorge Dwyer, 86 mins), Joe Ferguson, Callum Grogan, Adam Moseley (Lewis Crane, 72 mins), Jacques Welsh, Ryan Brooke (Lewis Nolan, 88 mins), Luke Wall, Naim Arsan. Subs (not used): Harvey Washington, James Short.
Attendance: 566.
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