Ladies make it a double over Macc

A rare goal from Erin Roberts set Linnets on their way.

Macclesfield FC Women 1 Runcorn Linnets Ladies 4

By Jack Slater

Linnets Ladies made it a double four-goal weekend for the WA7 club, following on from the 4-0 victory for the senior men's side at Shifnal the previous day.

The Ladies have been in good form since the turn of the year, registering four wins from five in all competitions.

Sunday's triumph was the second over Macclesfield in the last month.

Eva Whimperley and Erin Roberts were welcomed back to the starting line-up for Callie Clarke-Smith and Sophie Rotheram, respectively

Both teams started brightly, exchanging early attacking blows.

Macclesfield missed the target from long range before Linnets had an effort saved by Macclesfield 'keeper Ella Woodman from a Mollie Bennett free-kick.

Runcorn started to look the more dangerous, getting some joy in the channels through Caitlin Gibbons and Bennett. The pressure would soon begin to tell.

On 10 minutes, a Bennett corner was met by the Erin Roberts, who on a rare foray forward notched her first goal of the season with a powerful header.

Two minutes later, she almost added another, again from a Bennett corner, but this time Rroberts couldn't quite connect.

Macclesfield fought back to equalise after Runcorn had cheaply conceded a corner.

Caitlyn Gloor found herself free at the front post to head the hosts level from close range.

Linnets recovered their composure, continuing to push forward with Woodman snuffing out a number of Linnets attacks.

On 33 minutes, the visitors restored their lead, Chelsea Gillies heading into the path of Lily Shakeshaft for a tap-in goal.

Linnets started to get on top and should have gone further ahead on 36 minutes.

Bennett fed Jess Bazley, who went through on goal yet couldn’t beat Woodman.

This was closely followed by a long-distance  effort from Bennett, which narrowly missed the target, while Whimperley placed an effort from a corner over the crossbar.

The score remained 2-1 at the break.

Half-time saw the introduction of Molly Hewitt for Lile Ashley but Macclesfield came out strongly.

With the conditions in their favour, they started to control possession.

But a series of efforts from 25 yards failed to trouble Alex Bellfield.

Linnets' quality from set plays again shone through.

A Bennett corner was headed towards goal by Aisling Hart with Bazley nodding home a goalpoacher's effort to continue her scoring form.

Amelia Cullen replaced Gabby Evans in defence, resolutely restricting Macc to attempts from distance which were of little impact and safely claimed by Bellfield.

The scoring was rounded off from another set-piece, Hart scoring with a deft header back across goal and into the top  corner.

Bellfield made a smart low save late on to keep Macclesfield to the single goal.

Linnets stay fourth in Division One South of the North West Women's Regional League.

With a game in hand on all of their top-five rivals, they are targeting a strong finish to the season with the hope of breaking into the top three.

This Sunday's home game against Wirral Phoenix (ko 2pm) is part of a double header at APEC Taxis Stadium.

Runcorn Linnets men's Under 21s will kick off at noon against Charnock Richard in the North West Development League Premier Division, having seen last weekend's fixture against  UDA Soccer Academy washed out.