AFTER the short journey for the first of this season’s local derby clashes - and an inaugural Cheshire Women's League encounter with Chester - Linnets Lades returned with their 100 per cent record intact.

The win left them second in the table, level on points with the leaders, Stockport County HNR.

Injury to ‘keeper Nat Pinnington (hamstring) forced Linnets to change the team that had emphatically dispatched Wallasey the previous Sunday. Charlotte Dunbebin made her league debut with Megan Pickering taking over as captain.

The visitors lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation and an evenly-contested start saw both teams looking keen to get on the ball.

A 20-yard pile driver from influential midfielder Chelsea Penny rattled the home crossbar in the 10th minute, the ‘keeper well beaten.

Chester knocked the ball around well, the away side at times looking a little sluggish, without opening up any clear chances to test Dunbebin.

The midfield duo of Mandy Kennedy, who put in another hard-working display, and Penny invariably broke up the Chester play but when they did get through, the hosts found the Linnets defence holding firm.

Tish Collins and Paige Hymas proved a solid pairing in the centre, supported well by full backs Mary Rossiter-Gurrell on the left and Gabby Evans .

As the first half went on, Linnets Ladies got their act together, shifting the ball wide to Tempany Carlson on the right and Kim Roberts on other flank in an attempt to open the pitch and stretch the home side. The front two of Marcia Jones-Sacharewicz and Pickering, in turn, worked hard against a well-organised defence.

Two minutes from half-time, the Linnets finally got deserved rewards. An old –fashioned, route-one ball from Kennedy dropped to Pickering, With a sublime first touch taking her past a defender, she cut inside the box on the left from where an unstoppable left-foot shot found the top corner.

After the interval, now playing with confidence, the Linnets probed for a second goal. Kennedy and Penny continued to show endeavour in the middle, the two wide players supporting them when not in possession to press Chester.

Pickering, up top, made good runs into the channels, creating space for Jones-Sacharewicz to try to exploit on the edge of the box.

Chester didn't allow the Linnets to have it all their own way, however - overloading the Linnets midfield after a formation change. But still the visitors stood their ground with player of the game Hymas making well-timed tackles and clearances.

Sarah Felton was introduced for Jones-Sacharewicz to give Runcorn an extra presence in midfield.

This settled the Linnets, who added their second in the 69th minute. As Chester’s back line pushed up, Kennedy again played a perfect ball for Pickering to chase down. Leaving the defence standing, the by now lone striker contested a 50-50 with the ‘keeper and as the ball broke, winger Roberts reacted quickest to neatly stroke her shot into an empty net.

The last 10 minutes of a pulsating game became end-to-end and a great advert for women's football – Runcorn continuing to attack while Chester clearly believed that if they pulled one goal back, they could probably get another. Dunbebin, however, produced three fine saves to retain the two-goal cushion.

Runcorn Linnets Ladies: Dunbebin, Rossiter-Gurrell, Collins, Hymas, Evans, Roberts, Kennedy, Penny, Carlson, Pickering (capt), Jones-Sacharewicz (Felton 65). Subs (not used): Hyland, Riley, Woods-Hughes.