RUNCORN Linnets Ladies travelled to Newell Green High School, the scene of a controversial 4-4 draw with the same opponents earlier in the season, but this time returned home much happier.

It was an excellent performance and comprehensive win by the Linnets and, in all honesty, the Mancunian hosts escaped lightly.

It took the Linnets 30 minutes to break the Sunday deadlock but that statistic does not reflect their early dominance.

Time after time, the Runcorn side broke through the static and at times square back home back four, only to either squander the chance or come up against inspired goalkeeping from the impressive Natalie Taylor.

As early as the sixth minute, strikers Beth Coppin and Megan Pickering combined to work an opening, Coppin’s effort rebounding of the foot of a post and Pickering, off balance, putting the rebound wide.

Chelsea Gillies, with majestic passes throughout, and Mandy Kennedy, ruthless in the tackle alongside Gillies in central midfield, created countless opportunities for the strikers.

Lucy Wieland had probably her best game of the season, playing wide left, while on the right, Frankie Valdez looked revitalised on replacing the injured Tempany Carlson after eleven minutes.

The scoring was eventually opened. Jo Finnegan's free-kick from the centre circle was perfectly floated into the area and instantly controlled by Pickering, who had the composure to finish.

Three minutes later, the lead was doubled. Young striker Coppin collected a pass from Gilles inside the area , left of goal, and turned well to hit a superb shot in off the post.

Skipper Nat Pinnington, in the Linnets goal, was almost a first-half passenger thanks to the stability and reliability of the defensive unit of Gabby Evans. Finnegan, Sadie Bond and Ana Duran Anca.

Pinnington’s only save of note, and probably Wythenshawe`s lone effort of the half, was a shot from distance on 38 minutes.

On 40 minutes, Coppin broke through and passed square for Valdez to score, only for the match official Charlotte Phillips to rule the effort offside

Wythenshawe made several positional changes at the start of the second half, becoming more of a danger but without threatening the Linnets goal. Linnets continued to squander chances to put the game beyond doubt, efforts on 51, 54, 56, 58 and 61 minutes all going begging.

Becky Barker replaced Wieland after 61 minutes in a straight swap. The visitors made another change on 71 minutes, Carlson returning to the game (roll on, roll off substitutions apply in the Cheshire Women's League) for the hard-working Coppin, Carlson took up her normal wide right position with Valdez moving up top alongside Pickering.

The Linnets' failure to capitalise on opportunities came back to bite them in the 74th minute. The visitors conceded a very contentious free-kick just outside the penalty area.

This was squared to the unmarked Jenny Lomax, her effort taking a deflection off Sadie Bond to beat Pinnington.

This was the wake-up call the Linnets needed, with Valdez and Carlson combining to set up another chance for Pickering. Again, the effort was wide.

On 77 minutes, Lile Ashley replaced the elegant Gillies. Barker went into central midfield and Ashley out wide left - an inspired substitution by manager John Pickering as Ashley collected a pass from Megan Pickering to curl a shot past the stranded home 'keeper with virtually her first touch for a 3-1 lead.

On 85 minutes, Kennedy fed Valdez for probably the best goal of the game - a cracking strike from outside the box beating the keeper high to her left.

Barker was influential as the Linnets continued to mount attacks. It came as no surprise when further goals were added.

Tempany Carlson profited from the industry of Pickering who teed up the winger to score the Linnets fifth in the 90th minute.

With the final whistle looming, the Linnets went on one last foray.

The fantastic Mandy Kennedy, pressing as hard in the 95th minute as she had in the first, won the ball in central midfield and passed for Pickering to coolly complete the rout.

Runcorn Linnets: Nat Pinnington, Ana Duran Anca (Mary Rossiter Gurrell 84), Jo Finnegan, Sadie Bond, Gabby Evans (Nichola Hyland 84), Lucy Wieland (Becky Barker 61) Chelsea Gillies (Lile Ashley 77) Mandy Kennedy, Tempany Carlson (Frankie Valdez 11) Megan Pickering, Beth Coppin (Tempany Carlson 70).