Chelsea's magic wins it for Linnets!

Chelsea Gillies in action in an earlier match. Picture by Neil Thornton.

By Jack Slater

Runcorn Linnets Ladies 3 Macclesfield FC Women 2

The home side squandered a two-goal interval lead on their return to league action at APEC Taxis Stadium.

But long-serving midfielder Chelsea Gillies pulled victory out of the fire with a terrific strike.

Linnets had started the game like a whirlwind and were ahead within three minutes.

A pinpoint diagonal ball from captain Emma Mclarney found the feet of Player of the Month Lile Ashley, whose first touch allowed her to race through before finishing exquisitely past the keeper to put the Yellows 1-0 ahead.

After this early setback, Macc rallied but excellent interventions from Mclarney, Beth Middleton and Callie Clarke-Smith ensured there was little threat to Alex Bellfield's goal.

LinnetS pressed for further success and found it via some intricate play.

This saw Ashley turn from goalscorer to provider with a chip over a defender's head for the on-rushing Jess Bazley to score with an audacious lob, doubling the home side's advantage.

After fine goalkeeping had denied Molly Hewitt, Morrissey and Chelsea Gillies, it was a post which then thwarted the Yellows.

Bazley again went through to produce a shot that was inches from perfection and a third Linnets goal.

Macclesfield, having been restricted in efforts on goal despite some good ball movement, found Bellfield in fine form.

She saved two efforts from distance to keep Linnets' 2-0 lead intact. 2-0. It had been a solid first half from the Runcorn side.

But the message was clear at half-time - they would be a need to match the intensity of Macclesfield, who as expected came out fighting.

Linnets have seemingly made some games hard for themselves this season and this one would be no different.

They conceded after 10 minutes of the second half, when a through ball sliced through the home defence.

Macc striker Chloe Grabett reached it ahead of the on-rushing Bellfield, rounding the 'keeper to tap into an empty net.

Shortly after, there would be parity as the visitors again found themselves through the Linnets defence. Brooke Smith finished nicely with a shot across Bellfield into the side of the goal.

With Linnets having been pegged back to 2-2, Erin Roberts, Beth Graham and Eva Whimperley entered the fray.

Things could have got worse for the hosts who were havung to weather a storm from their opponents as well as from the elements.

Macclesfield almost went in front, striking a post following a smart one-on-one save by Bellfield.

But if there's one thing coaches, supporters and players know about Runcorn Linnets Ladies, it's their commitment to the cause and their will to fight for each other.

They showed this again in abundance.

Linnets shifted into a new gear in the final third of the game.

Through relentless pressure on the Macc defence, winning the ball high, they started to create a number of chances.

Graham saw an effort squeeze wide: a shot by Ashley narrowly cleared the bar from 10 yards and Bazley was denied well by the 'keeper.

It looked like it might be one of those afternoons for Runcorn and an opportunity missed - before Chelsea Gillies grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

After a Macclesfield clearance, Gillies drove the ball back in from 40 yards before a superb strike from 30-35 yards left the 'keeper with no chance.

It was a top-class goal by Gillies who has anassed six from midfield

Ella Connor and Gabby Evans entered for Linnets to help them through a potentially- nervous last 15-20 minutes in a solid and composed fashion.

All Runcorn substitutions had a positive impact on the game, Linnets narrowly missing further opportunities to make the result more convincing.

A vital three points all the same for the Yellows. They sit second in the North West Women's Regional League's South Division and now prepare for this Sunday's Abobe Women's FA Cup Second Round Qualifying home tie against Crewe Alexandra (ko 2pm).