RUNCORN Linnets JFC’s under 13s Blue team are celebrating a sensational league and cup double less than two years after being formed.

They capped off a dream season with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Peninsula Lions in a winner-takes-all Chester and District JFL Premier Division title showdown at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

Linnets edged out Wirral-based Peninsula 2-1 in the league’s showpiece Knockout Cup final at Chester FC’s Swansway Stadium the previous month.

But Wednesday night’s league title decider was a much more one-sided affair. The young Linnets produced an inspired performance and won at a canter thanks to a Daniel Lampkin hat-trick, a Jake Hill brace and further strikes from Harry Crank and Isaac Evans.

Team manager and former Liverpool and Huddersfield Town player Kev Lampkin said: “The boys were fantastic in what was such a high pressure game – and they have been all season. I am so proud of them and what they have achieved.

“To go from a new team to league and cup double winners in less than two years is a fantastic achievement and they deserve it because they have worked so hard to improve as both individual players and as a team.”

In previous years Peninsula had been playing a year above their age group in order to give their highly talented group of players competitive football.

They dropped back down to their own age group to join the Chester league this season and looked certain to win the title when they began the campaign with 10 straight victories.

But – with new signings Aaron Coxon, Tom Simpson, Mitch Stewart, Sean Gaskell, Kaan Arikboga and Harry all playing starring roles and Alfie Hayes making a seamless transition from an outfield player to an outstanding goalkeeper – Linnets have made massive strides of improvement this season.

After losing two of their opening five fixtures, they have won every game since suffering a 4-3 home defeat to Peninsula in the middle of October.

The return fixture on Wednesday saw a pumped up Linnets side boss proceedings from start to finish and play some of their best football of the season.

They opened the scoring when the league’s leading goal scorer Daniel rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home after latching onto a well-timed through ball from his strike partner Jake.

Jake then found the top corner with a sweet left footed strike from just inside the box to give Linnets a 2-0 half-time lead.

Daniel placed the ball in off the post after Sean had powered through two tackles in midfield and sent him clear with a precision pass.

The powerhouse striker smashed the ball inside the near post to complete his hat-trick.

Jake then sniffed out his second goal after latching onto Mitch’s chest down at the far post.

Harry calmly slotted in the sixth, with Sean claiming another eye-catching assist, and Isaac rounded off the scoring with an accurate free kick into the roof of Peninsula’s net.

Kev added: “I want to thank all the boys and their parents for the high level of commitment they have all shown over the past two years, and I also want to thank our sponsors ASB Bouncy Castle Hire because without their help we wouldn’t have been able to start the team.”