Linnets are spot-on as Pickering reaches 100
WITTON ALBION LADIES ........................ 1 RUNCORN LINNETS LADIES................... 1 ● ( inset) crosses near to Bolton.
Finnegan, solid at the back, and the hard-working Roberts, on the left of the front three, impressed for Linnets while the skilful Danielle Lydiate and ever-dangerous Hannah Hewitson stood out for Albion in a goalless first half.
The second half mirrored the first in as much as there was very little end product from either side.
Linnets, though, had a slight wind behind them and, after replacing Beth Coppin with Pickering in the 61st minute, they finally began to turn the screw.
The striker was cynically taken down by an Albion defender in the 71st minute, earning the culprit a caution.
On 82 minutes Lucy Wieland replaced Rebecca Barker, who was suffering severe cramp. A quick reshuffle saw Roberts drop deeper to fill Barker’s midfield role.
Just when it looked odds-on for extratime, Witton took the lead from their only real chance of the half. A throughball from Ashleigh Kerr found Hewitson in acres of space and the talented striker made no mistake.
Runcorn’s influential left-back Ana Duran Anca immediately left the field through injury, Mary Rossiter Gurrell her replacement.
With Witton just seconds away from a cup final appearance, up stepped Pickering to take centre stage.
Mandy Kennedy played a pass for the striker to latch on to and after breaking clear of the covering Albion defence, the centre-forward coolly lobbed Bolton for her landmark leveller.
Runcorn nearly stole the game seconds later. Finnegan’s audacious shot from almost halfway had Bolton backtracking but the effort went narrowly wide.
Once again, chances were very few and far between in extra-time. A Pickering shot cannoned back off a post in the 109th minute but Wieland, following up, could only shoot straight at Bolton.
With penalties looming, inspirational Kennedy made way for the return of Barker for the final two minutes, with penalties in mind.
Witton, converting their first two spotkicks were lifted when Pickering missed with Linnets’ intial effort.
However, the hosts squandered their next two and with Barker and Chelsea Gillies both scoring, it was left to Finnegan to coolly slot home decisively.
Delighted Boss Pickering said: “I am so pleased for all the players – they deserve this.
“They have worked so hard this season. We are a relatively young side, compared to most of our opponents, but this group of players never give in.
“Even when down 1-0 with three minutes remaining, they believed they could get through and that they did.
“This is a fantastic result for team and Runcorn Linnets as a club.
He added: “As a manager, it is great to congratulate a player who scores her 100th goal in just 83 appearances for her hometown club. It makes it even more special when that player is your daughter – well done Megan Pickering!”