Linnets Ladies wake up to put through seven
RUNCORN LINNETS LADIES ................ 7 UPTON WOMEN ...................................... 1
A MORE than comfortable margin of victory but this was very much a post-Christmas blues performance by Runcorn Linnets Ladies when extending their 100% run at the top of the Cheshire Women’s League.
Determined Upton threatened to capitalise on a lacklustre start by the hosts – brought to life by three-goal substitute Marcia Jones-Sacharewicz.
With the quality of their final ball lacking in the opening exchanges, Runcorn were indebted to goalkeeper Megan Pickering for two outstanding saves before the Linnets took the lead at The Millbank Linnets Stadium.
Chelsea Gillies’ shot on the bounce from the right of the penalty box struck the left upright on its way in.
Lucy Wieland came on in the 33rd minute and almost immediately, only a save at the far post by the Upton custodian prevented a second goal.
On the stroke of half time, JonesSacharewicz duly made it two with a simple tap-in.
Runcorn upped the ante at the restart, Gillies shooting wide before a one-two with Molly Hewitt led to Upton’s ‘keeper gratefully palming the winger’s shot onto the bar – before turning to gather the ball at the second attempt.
A fantastic double save followed, Hewitt and Jones-Sacharewicz both denied.
From the resulting corner, Ellie Dyson made no mistake – heading in at the far post.
As Linnets; quality shone through, Wieland (on the penalty spot) latched onto Hewitt’s cross to dispatch the ball past the helpless Upton ‘keeper for the fourth in the 63rd minute.
The returning Ashley, in a carboncopy strike, made it 5-0 six minutes later.
Jones-Sacharewicz cheekily back heeled the sixth before Upton pulled back a consolation goal on 82 mins.
All that remained was for JonesSacharewicz to fasten on to a through ball, calmly tucking away her hat-trick goal – the Linnets’ seventh – five minutes from time.
Player of the Match JonesSacharewicz had, in the words of the visitors’ manager, changed the game on her introduction.
Overall, boss John Pickering will have been satisfied with the three points against a dangerous side while knowing his team wasn’t at its best.
As a bonus, Runcorn welcomed back Ellen Johnston, making her return debut at the heart of defence.