Whitby Town 4 Runcorn 0

RUNCORN'S formidable 10 match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt at Whitby who hit four goals in an impressive second-half showing.

It was a day when little went right for Mark Carter's side.

Dave Nolan was badly injured just before half-time, Dave Robinson was subsequently sent off and Liam Watson failed to convert a late penalty.

The Linnets only other previous league visit to the North Yorkshire coastal club's Turnball ground ended in a goalless stalemate last season.

A repeat looked on the cards after an uneventful opening 45 minutes on Saturday, but the former FA Vase winners turned the tables after the break to record only their third league win in 22 attempts.

Watson, however, might have given Runcorn a second minute lead on a pitch made slippy from heavy overnight rain. Ian Brunskill's corner was met by Watson whose close-range header was cleared off the line by Graeme Williams.

Whitby striker Lee Ludlow was then through one-on-one following a long ball out of defence from Chris Hudson but Richard Acton blocked.

Acton was then fortunate to stay on the field after just quarter of an hour when Dave Goodchild's through-ball opened up the Runcorn defence. Hudson sprung the offside trap but when he was floored by Acton who had raced outside his penalty area Doncaster referee Alvin Dale produced only a yellow card.

Colin Rose replaced Nolan five minutes before the interval after the midfielder had been hurt during a challenge on Hudson.

Watson and Carter had looked lively up front but the Linnets were struggling to create chances and they fell behind seven minutes into the second period.

Jim Dobbin released Ludlow who beat Dave Ness and Robinson before drilling a right-foot shot into the far top corner.

Ludlow, a recent signing from Bedlington Terriers, increased the lead within seven minutes when he cut in from the right to slip the ball underneath Acton from a tight angle.

It was a double blow from which Runcorn would not recover and their cause wasn't helped in the 73rd minute when Robinson was red-carded.

Already booked for a first-half challenge on Hudson, another bad tackle, this time on goalscorer Ludlow saw Robinson dismissed.

Within 10 minutes the seasiders added a third goal after Acton saved Whitby sub Le Ure's original shot.

However, when the ball broke Mark Donnelly was on hand to drive home the rebound in his final game on loan from Bury.

Runcorn's misery was complete a minute later. Acton was caught out by Town's veteran former Masfield full-back David Logan whose quickly taken 30 yard free-kick sailed into the roof of the net.

A Hudson foul on Watson gave the striker a chance to reduce the deficit from the spot three minutes from time but Stuart Dawson made a fine save diving to his right.

That summed up the Linnets afternoon and it needed another Acton save at the feet of Gary Messer to prevent further damage in the last minute.

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