Runcorn Linnets Ladies 20 Neston Nomads Ladies 0.
SUNDAY was a day Linnets Ladies will always remember as a club-record 20 unanswered goals at The Millbank Linnets Stadium moved them three points clear in the Cheshire Women’s League.
Player of the game Megan Pickering hit 10 with Marcia Jones-Sacharewicz and Mandy Kennedy scoring hat-tricks. Tempany Carlson (2) Chelsea Penny and Tish Collins completed the rout.
Jones-Sacharewicz had netted after only 31 seconds, despite Neston having kicked off.
The second Linnets goal came from Pickering with a claim eight-yard finish in the seventh minute, after good link-up involving Kennedy, Kim Roberts and Jones-Sacharewicz.
Pickering had her second, on 10 minutes, from a superb pass from Kennedy. Two minutes later, Pickering’s hat-trick was in the bag as Chelsea Penny’s fantastic pass enabled Jones-Sacharewicz to set up her strike partner.
Pickering made it 5-0 on 14 minutes, again picking up the ball and beating defenders. After seeing a penalty shout turned down, the prolific striker had her fifth in the 18th - Kennedy having again won a 50/50 challenge.
Jones-Sacharewicz added her second (20 minutes) with a cheeky finish past the advancing goalkeeper after being picked out by Carlson from wide right.
With 26 minutes gone, Pickering delivered her sixth (and the Linnets’ eighth) with a chip from good approach play by Gabby Evans, Kennedy and Jones-Sacharewicz. Neston’s overworked ’keeper made a couple of saves while continuing to encourage her team mates but a ninth goal followed in the 37th minute.
Roberts, on the left, combined with Kennedy to play in Pickering who set up Jones-Sacharewicz to easily complete her hat-trick.
Manager Julie Makin brought on Georgie Turton for her home debut in the 40th minute and she soon played in Pickering to slot home for 10-0. With half time looming, Pickering won a penalty and after confusion over who wanted to take the kick, the scored her eighth for an 11-0 lead.
Half-time changes did not affect the flow but Linnets had to wait until the 56th minute for their 12th by Carlson, direct from a left-wing corner.
Two minutes later, Pickering exploited more good play from Kennedy and Penny for 13-0.
Turton, after injuring her back, was replaced by Jordan Williams, making her first appearance.
Pickering made it 14-0 (64 minutes) with a header from Carlson’s perfect cross after Hyland had won possession on the right and passed inside to Penny. A minute later, the latter made it 15-0 from more than 25 yards.
Neston hit wide after Dunbebin had twice tried to boot clear before
Carlson grabbed her second (16-0), Hyland and Penny the co-providers.
Having earlier been denied from the penalty spot, grafting midfielder Kennedy got a much-deserved goal in the 74th minute, unmarked from a Carlson corner.
Kennedy added her second goal (79 minutes) for 18-0 and her hat-trick effort a minute later was almost identical, Hyland and Carlson, heavily involved in both.
Collins claimed a close-range, back post tap-in to round off the win after 85 minutes, Williams having forced a Neston player into giving up possession in midfield.
Fair play to Neston. A new team with some good young players, they appear to have a togetherness and by continuing to stick together and carrying on playing, improvements will come.
Runcorn Linnets Ladies: Dunbebin, Rossiter-Gurrell, Collins, Bratt (Hymas), Evans (Hyland) Roberts (Riley), Kennedy, Penny, Carlson, Jones-Sacharewicz (Turton), Pickering (Williams).
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