Linnets bow out of Women's FA Cup with heads held high

Runcorn Linnets Ladies 1 Crewe Alexandra Women 3

Action from a well-contested tie in which all four goals came late on.

Report by Jack Slater with pictures from Bobby Hancox.

Runcorn Linnets had the tough draw of Crewe Alexandra in the Second Round Qualifying of the Adobe Women's FA Cup - the tie being a repeat of the Alliance Cup game pf last season.

That resulted in a 5-1 win for Crewe. Linnets' hopes of making amends were ultimately dashed but they pushed the Alex, a division their senior in the North West Women's Regional League, much harder this time.

All four goals in the contest came in the last eight minutes.

Linnets Ladies have begun the Division One South season well, being unbeaten since an undeserved defeat to Chester on Matchday One.

Setting up in a 4-3-3 formation, Linnets new signing Sophie Rotherham was played in with not even a minute on the clock.

Driving into the box, she was tripped but the referee waved away strong claims for a penalty from on the pitch and also thethe sidelines.

This fiery start suited Linnets as they pushed forward often in the first 20 minutes with Crewe struggling to get a foothold.

Chelsea Gillies was the driving force in midfield and was making light work of combatting the two holding midfielders in the Alex side.

The first half was not to go without more controversy as Aisling Hart was adjudged to have played a deliberate back pass to goalkeeper Alex Bellfield, even though the ball travelled 90 metres in the air.

The brave Runcorn back line held firm with no clear chances for either side in the first 45 minutes and the teams went in 0-0.

Linnets would’ve felt hard done by at refereeing decisions but went into half-time time in a positive mood.

An early second-half change saw Lile Ashley make way for the returning Mollie Bennett in a like-for-like substitution in the forward line.

During a small if sustained spell of pressure from Crewe, Linnets' rearguard stayed strong. The creativity of Jess Bazley and the ever- present Gillies had the hostsdriving forward again.

At the hour, Linnets were the team on top and chances were coming from full- back Callie Clarke and winger Rotherham having more luck down both wings than their Crewe counterparts.

Linnets tested Crewe's goalkeeper and defenders line on a number of occasions, a long-range free-kick from Bennett going agonisingly wide.

But in the 82nd minute, and despite chances for the Alex having been few and far between, they swung in a corner to open the scoring.

It was an unfortunate goal to concede as the back four of Emma Mclarney, Erin Roberts, Clarke and Hart had defended incredibly well with the help of holding midfielder Saff Tilston.

Crewe were now in the ascendancy and broke through the Linnets back line again in the 87th minutd to double their lead. It was utterly undeserved but taking chances pays dividends.

The next five minutes were absolutely outstanding from Linnets who fought back, showing great heart.

Bazley chased through to win possession but was wiped out by the visiting goalkeeper, taking blows the chest and face.

The referee gave a penalty but remarkably decided against any furrher punishment for the perpetrator, who remained on the floor as her victim got up.

The spot-kick was slotted home by Chelsea Gillies, making the scoreline 1-2 with two minutes left.

With Linnets pushing for a late equaliser, a fast Crewe counter attack led Gillies to commit a challenge that quite rightly led to a red card.

The free kick was destined for the bottom corner until Bellfield saved superbly, turning the effort against a post. Quicker to react, the Alex pounced on the rebound to finish off the game.

For all their disappointment, it had been a display of which Linnets should be proud.

It's now back to the league action as Linnets target promotion to the Premier Division, along with a run in the Alliance League Cup.

Ladies were accompanied onto the pitch by girls from Linnets Under 9s Diamonds and U9s stars