WINSFORD were not too disheartened despite losing for the fifth time in six league outings.

Their travelling faithful made the short journey to Wincham Park with little optimism due to a growing injury crisis but they were treated to a fine battling performance that left the visitors a unlucky not to earn a share of the spoils.

Tom Boden's late header sealed the points for Linnets.

It was their maiden victory over Blues at the fourth attempt since locking horns with their neighbours for the first time last season.

There were few clear chances in the first half with most of the play being confined to the centre of the pitch.

Linnets' threat came from set pieces with Dave Thompson coming close with a header that drifted just wide and, just before the break, Adie Orr's shot from the right was cleared off the line.

Blues stepped up a gear in the second half with one of their two debutants, former Cammell Laird front runner Chris Nezianya, putting the Runcorn defence under pressure with his pace.

Darren Connell also created some promising openings, the best coming on 73 minutes when two attempts from the edge of the area were blocked by a panicking defence.

Hosts Runcorn nicked a winner six minutes from time.

Unmarked, Boden met a corner from the right with a firm header that found the back of the net.

Winsford piled on the pressure in the closing minutes in a desperate bid to find a leveller but were unable to break through.

Star Man: Mark Calland
Blues: Langley (GK), Calland, Duckworth, Owens, Webster, Couch, Ennion, Sheppard, Connell, Nezianya (Madin 80), Kennedy
Subs not used: Thompson, Molyneux
Attendance: 195