RUNCORN Linnets Ladies were beaten 4-3 in a friendly in the Potteries on Sunday, despite a late rally against a well-drilled Abbey Hulton team that had finished runners-up in Division One of the Staffs County league last season while also winning the division`s League Cup Trophy.

The Linnets started the pre-season game brightly but went behind to a long-range effort on six minutes before responding well with the equaliser through Lile Ashley 30 seconds later.

The hosts regained the lead on 22 minutes but the Linnets had chances to level before the break, failing to capitalise on openings created.

The second half began with some good inter play between Lucy Wieland and newcomer Aimee Dobinson, the latter going close at the near post.

Abbey Hulton`s pressure on the Linnets goal was immense as the 8-3 second-half corner count would suggest.

Tempany Carlson struck one post in the 61st minute and skimmed another as the Linnets looked the more likely to score.

But as in the previous week’s match, they were undone by a long ball as the home side increased their lead.

This became 4-1 on 75 minutes before a late Linnets comeback with goals from the penalty spot by Megan Pickering and a shot from outside the box from Chelsea Wharton reduced the arrears.

Manager John Pickering will be hoping the day arrives when he has a full squad to pick from with players returning from injury as he searches for his preferred starting XI.

The Cheshire Women’s League campaign starts in September.

Abbey Hulton were well worth the win but the Linnets, once they have a settled side and they get back that belief, will again be a force to be reckoned with.

Alicia Mason and Dobinson were both impressive on debut.

Runcorn Linnets Ladies: Mason (Thornhill 45), Rossiter-Gurrell, Finnegan, Pickering, Wieland, Barker, Kennedy, Wharton, Roberts, Ashley (Dobinson 45), Carlson.