Excitement builds as Under 21s season approaches its climax

Clockwise, from top left - Ben Dobbie set up three goals in a man-of-the-match display; Jaden Ditchfield chipped in with double strike; Adam Moseley is congratulated by fellow scorers Lewis Crane and Macauley Clifton after opening the Runcorn account; U21s top scorer Lewis Crane adds another to his tally. Pictures by Kelly Jones

Runcorn Linnets Under 21s men remain on course for a high finish on their return this season to the North West Under 21s League.

They made it nine wins from 13 in Championship Division B with a 7-1 stroll at Huyton.

On a weekend when there was no first-team game, Lewis Crane and Adam Moseley kept in scoring touch with a brace apiece.

Jaden Ditchfield also netted twice with Macauley Clifton getting the other goal.

A pair of assists for Cam Schofield in victory at Huyton. Picture by Kelly Jones.

Man of the match Ben Dobbie set up three of the seven and Cam Schofield two.

An assist apiece by Crane and Moseley again proved there is more to their games than just scoring.

All 16 players on duty got more than half an hour of action, Ste Ellams taking the opportunity to rotate his squad as spring finally arrived.

Finley Wilson scored the final goal of the game for the well-beaten hosts.

Linnets might be 16 points off the title pace in fourth spot but they have seven games in hand on table-topping Nantwich Town.

Ellams' team trail Northwich Vics in second place by ten points but have played four games fewer.

Meanwhile, third-placed Kidsgrove Athletic have a six-point advantage over Linnets having played two games more but their goal difference is inferior.

Runcorn U21s have some big home fixtures to come in the final weeks of their league campaign, which closes at the end of April - not to mention a Divisional Cup final against Kidsgrove at APEC Taxis Stadium on Sunday, May 4th.

There is a noon kick-off for the home game against Southport Academy on Sunday, March 16th.