Ladies pay the price for late lapses in Northwich
NORTHWICH VIXENS .......... 4 LINNETSLADIES .................. 3
DEFEAT at Northwich
Vixens was once again scant reward for Linnets Ladies’ efforts in North West Regional Women’s League Division One South.
For the neutral, it would have been hard to distinguish as to who was the team in the top half of the division.
An audacious flick at the near post by Lucy Wieland from a Lile Ashley free kick opened the scoring before Northwich hit back with goals in the 17th and 34th minutes.
Wieland tapped in at the far post for her second on 40 minutes, after Ashley’s persistence in the box had paid dividends.
The Linnets were unlucky not to go ahead ftom further chances before the break.
Ellie Dyson, a second half sub for the injured Ashley, put the visitors ahead on 47 minutes and at this stage, Runcorn looked comfortable and had they got the next goal they surely would have taken the three points.
However, a combination of old habits and a failure to deal with crosses into the box became the Linnets downfall in the 71st and 79th minutes.
The home side’s desperation for victory could be summed up when with a full 10 minutes to go on the clock, they decided to eat time up by taking the ball to the corner flag.
In the dying seconds,
Chloe Jordan pulled off a fantastic double save to deny Northwich a further goal.
Manager Dave Todd was understandably disappointed with the result. A draw would have been a travesty a defeat just hard to take.
Chances not taken at key moments were crucial.
But this is the first season at Regional level for this young side, who have stepped up with the squad they had in the County league.
RUNCORN LINNETS LADIES: Jordan, Hodgson, Evans (Gibbons, 80) McLarney, Middleton, Wieland (Ashley, 74) Barker, Bazley, Gillies, Ashley (Dyson, 45) Graham. Sub (not used): Cawley.