A MICHAEL Morrison double helped seal a 3-2 victory at Runcorn Linnets and boosted Ramsbottom United’s play-off hopes with a fourth win in 11 days.

The Rams looked to have blown their chances of promotion from the Vodkat North West Counties Premier Division with four defeats in a row, but are flying high once again after taking a maximum 12 points in April.

Linnets took the lead on Tuesday night but Morrison equalised with a spectacular overhead kick against his former club and grabbed his second.

The half ended in unsavoury fashion following a large skirmish in the Rams technical area which saw Runcorn manager Steve Wilkes, one of their unused subs and United coach John Hunter all dismissed. Andy Dawson’s header made it 3-1 but Runcorn set up a nervy final 13 minutes for the visitors when they pulled one back.

United, who beat Nelson 3-1 with goals from John Robinson, Carl Lomax and an own goal on Saturday, take on Bolton County on Thursday night in the quarter-final of the Hospital Cup before a league double header with struggling Windsford on Saturday, away, and on Tuesday at the Riverside.