Linnets outlast Stockport in goal-fest
● THE scoreline would suggest another convincing Runcorn Linnets Ladies win but in reality it was far from it.
A vastly-improved and muchchanged AFC Stockport side nearly pulled off the shock result of Remembrance Sunday’s Cheshire Women’s League Premier Division programme.
Linnets remarkably scored six goals in the last 21 minutes – four of them tellingly from the 82nd minute onwards – to haul themselves out of a very sticky situation.
Manager John Pickering can point to a few defensive frailties, which saw his team concede three times in nine minutes either side of the break.
But nobody can doubt the character his team showed.
The scene for a thrilling encounter was set early on.
Jo Finnegan saw a shot from the edge of the box tipped onto the bar following a Runcorn corner in the third minute.
As three Linnets players converged on the rebound, the home goalkeeper reacted quickest to clear the danger.
Runcorn took the lead on 15 minutes, however. Becky Barker weaved her way into the box to shoot high past the advancing home custodian.
The visitors wasted a couple of half chances as Stockport grew in confidence, playing some neat football through the midfield.
They were rewarded on 38 minutes with a goal from wide on the right flank that certainly came into the ‘was it a shot or was it a cross?’ category. Whatever it was, the effort sailed over Megan Pickering.
Runcorn produced the perfect response, however, retaking the lead five minutes later when Lile Ashley broke free to score.
Having made several changes to the starting line-up, manager Pickering brought on all four substitutes at the beginning of the second half. Tempany Carlson, Gabby Evans, Marcia JonesSacharewicz and Millie Critchley all entered the fray.
If Runcorn were looking to keep it tight in the opening exchanges, it certainly did not work.
Two mistakes in as many minutes gave the home side the advantage at 3-2.
An astute reshuffle breathed more life into Linnets as the visitors switched to three at the back with Critchley pushing forward and Barker taking up a more defensive position.
Meanwhile, Carlson provided Chelsea Gillies with time and space to hit a shot high past the Stockport No.1.
Then Gillies herself turned provider for Ashley as the match swung back Linnets’ way.
The game was like a cup-tie now, end-to-end with the home side scoring on 78 minutes thanks to a free header from a corner to make it 4-4.
With the result still in the balance, Runcorn showed the mettle Pickering and coach Lee Buckley knew they possessed.
Jones-Sacharewicz delightfully hit the ball over the stranded Stockport goalkeeper with eight minutes left.
This was followed by a frantic finale. The last minute of normal time plus the extras allowed for stoppages saw Runcorn score three times more.
Ashley struck with a header from a Carlson corner. JonesSacharewicz then produced not just the goal of the game but the season so far before again breaking free to finish emphatically for a splendid late hat-trick.