RUNCORN Linnets Ladies ended their triumphant Cheshire Women’s League campaign with an emphatic 10-1 home win against Wythenshawe Amateurs Ladies.

With runners-up Egerton Ladies FC forfeiting their final league game, Linnets Ladies finished seven points clear.

Praise has to be given to opponents, who travelled from Manchester on Sunday with just 10 players to fulfil a fixture against the champions. Many a team would have pulled out.

Wythenshawe are a credit to the Cheshire League and women`s football for their sterling efforts.

The game at Moss Farm, Northwich, opened with Charlotte Kingham playing a no-nonsense ball over the top of the Wythenshawe defence but the Linnets forwards couldn't capitalise.

The visitors’ neat approach play belied the fact they were a player short.

For the Linnets, a good ball down the left touchline by Mary Rossiter-Gurrell nearly played in Marcia Jones-Sacharewicz and, moments later, Megan Pickering broke through Wythenshawe’s defence but was adjudged offside.

The visitors probed at the Runcorn defence, forcing a couple of corners. From the second of these, after seven minutes, a sweetly-struck shot had Nat Pinnington beaten but fortunately for Runcorn, the ball struck the keeper’s right post in an early let-off.

Linnets Ladies took the lead on 12 minutes Jones-Sacharewicz being put through on goal from a Charlotte Kingham pass. The forward shot straight at the ‘keeper but the rebound deflected to Megan Pickering, who made no mistake.

Tempany Carlson, in right midfield, was by now putting in delicious crosses into the penalty area, one of these just evading the incoming Jones-Sacharewicz and Pickering.

An early change from the home team saw Tayler Froehling replaced by Kim Roberts, in centre midfield, on 22 minutes.

A minute later, it was 2-0. Rossiter-Gurrell passed to Jones-Sacharewicz, who swivelled delightfully just inside the opposition half - giving herself a free run on goal with a clean finish past advancing ‘keeper Chesters.

Wythenshawe kept coming forward and Pinnington had to be at her best on 26 minutes, diving at full stretch to save low by her right post.

The game fell apart for the visitors at the half-hour mark, the floodgates opening with four goals in seven minutes.

Firstly, a long ball from Tempany Carlson found Pickering on the left side of the 18-yard box. Cutting inside, she unselfishly played the ball across the six-yard line for Jones-Sacharewicz to tap home for 3-0.

On 32 minutes, Mandy Kennedy played in Jones-Sacharewicz who, after spotting Pickering come off her marker, delivered a perfect cross for her strike partner. With back to goal, Pickering turned exquisitely to lob the ‘keeper for 4-0.

The scorer turned provider again on 36 minutes, delivering a cross that Tempany Carlson dispatched, having started the move herself with a cross-box pass to Pickering.

Carlson continued her run to score at the back post, before adding her second and Runcorn's sixth seven minutes from the break. There was a hint of a deflection on Carlson’s shot after she had cut into the area from the right touchline.

The first half finished with a fantastic save by visiting ‘keeper Chesters to keep out Pickering’s eight-yard volley.

Charlotte Dunbebin replaced Pinnington in goal at half-time, the captain’s armband being passed to Pickering.

The plucky visitors began brightly, soon testing the new custodian but fell further behind on 53 minutes. Pickering, with a suspicion of offside, hit Linnets’ seventh and her hat-trick goal after being played in by Kingham.

Two minutes later, Jones-Sacharewicz made it eight and grabbed her third from Pickering’s assist.

With this Sunday’s League Challenge Cup final against Egerton Ladies in mind, Jones-Sacharewicz made way for Georgie Turton.

On 58 minutes, Wythenshawe’s endeavours were rewarded when a shot from a free-kick deflected off Pickering, beating Dunbebin at her right post.

But Linnets Ladies made it 9-1 on 62 minutes. Froehling released Pickering on the left, the cross neatly converted by Georgie Turton.

Runcorn used all remaining substitutes - Nichola Hyland, Roberts and Steph Wood-Hughes replacing Gabby Evans, Pickering and Kennedy, respectively.

On 79 minutes, Turton was sent clear from a Froehling pass and made no mistake in completing the scoreline.

Linnets Ladies’ Player of the Match was shared by Evans and Tish Collins for defending solidly as necessary, especially in the first half when the hosts could have easily fallen behind.

Runcorn Linnets Ladies: Nat Pinnington (capt), Gabby Evans, Sadie Bond, Tish Collins, Charlotte Kingham, Mary Rossiter Gurrell, Kim Roberts, Mandy Kennedy, Tempany Carlson, Marcia Jones Sacharewicz, Megan Pickering. Subs: Tayler Froehling, Charlotte Dunbebin, Georgie Turton, Nichola Hyland and Steph Woods-Hughes.

Sunday’s League Cup final at Barnton FC’s Townfield Lane ground (ko 3pm) will also bring the presentation of the Championship trophy.