AFTER what has been a stop-start four weeks, due to poor weather, leaders Linnets Ladies made up for lost time with a comprehensive victory in the Cheshire Women’s League’s Division One.

An early morning pitch inspection had confirmed the game would go ahead and the playing surface looked good, holding up well.

Linnets were missing regular players Tempany Carlson, Sadie Bond, Charlotte Dunbebin as well as the league’s top scorer Megan Pickering, all through injury.

With others unavailable through work commitments, squad members seized their chance to impress.

Training ground is reaping rewards with improvement in team performance week on week.

Player of the game Mandy Kennedy was instrumental, her work on and off the ball providing space for midfield partner Chelsea Penney to deliver quality passes all around the pitch.

From one such instance, Kennedy found Penny to make a defence-splitting pass for Steph Hamel, who cut in from the left to slot past the on-rushing ‘keeper from 18 yards for an early lead.

The Linnets’ defence looked solid. Lorna Bratt and Tish Collins made a formidable pairing, supported by the two full backs, yet it took a superb one-handed save, diving backwards, by club captain Nat Pinnington (back from a month’s absence with a knee injury) to preserve the visiting advantage.

A minute later, Runcorn were 2-0 up. Pinnington, collecting a cross from the corner, played a long high ball up field to Marcia Jones-Sacharewicz. Surrounded by three defenders, she allowed the ball to drop and bounce over her - scoring from the resulting 1v1.

Hamel, feeling unwell, was replaced by Nichola Hyland who took up the right back position in a reshuffle. After absorbing some pressure, the Linnets extended the lead on 31 minutes, Kennedy and Penny once again caused disruption centrally with the latter sending Jones-Sacharewicz through again to poke home from 12 yards.

At the start of the second half, utilising the roll on-roll off substitution rule, Hamel returned, in place of Georgie Turton, to play alongside Jones-Sacharewicz and soon forced a very good, one-handed save.

The set-piece came to nothing, however the goal kick was won by Kennedy, and again her combination work with Penny proved too much. Penney picked out Jones-Sacharewicz to beat the ‘keeper to the through ball and complete her hat-trick for 0-4.

Having conceded just five times this season, Runcorn were in no mood to relax, 17-year-old full back Gabby Evans showing up particularly well.

Pinnington was, however, called into action to save at full stretch while, at the other end, the Linnets pressed relentlessly. Kim Roberts’ quality ball into the box created another good chance, which was missed.

In the 74th minute, it was 5-0. Runcorn forced Chester to lose possession in a dangerous area for Penny to fire in a 20-yard rocket shot before making way for.Jordan Williams, who worked well in midfield.

Another Pinnington save ensured her clean sheet and Linnets wrapped things up in the 88th minute. Collins and Bratt worked the ball from the back, up to Mary Rossiter-Gurrell on the left.

A quick pass inside saw Kennedy’s cross being cleared to the edge of the box from where Roberts sent a fine, first-time effort looping over the ‘keeper.

Linnets Ladies: Pinnington (capt), Evans, Bratt, Collins, Rossiter-Gurrell, Hamel (Hyland), Kennedy, Penny (Williams), Roberts Turton (Hamel), Jones-Sacharewicz. Sub (not used): Woods-Hughes

Linnets Ladies face more Cestrian opposition this Sunday, Chester FC Ladies visiting the Millbank Linnets Stadium (ko 2pm).