Linnets face final frontier in Cheshire Women's Cup

Linnets Ladies were lifted by a 2-1 comeback defeat of South Division leaders Nantwich Town last Sunday. Pictures by Neil Thornton

Preview by Jack Slater

Runcorn Linnets Ladies will this afternoon bid for a return to the GoCardless Cheshire  FA Women's Cup final - with the difficult task of overcoming Crewe Alexandra away from home.

Linnets will have to beat higher opposition to make their second final in tree seasons, following defeat to Stockport County in 2024.

But they will be buoyed by recent form and performances while being encouraged by a close, competitive meeting with Crewe earlier in the season.

The 2pm kick-off seni-final tie sees Linnets, lying third in the North West Women's Regional League South, travel to the team in sixth place in the Premier.

The previous meeting saw Linnets exit the Adobe Women's FA Cup with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Alex. But it was a game in which Runcorn certainly had their chances.

Linnets Ladies go into the game with an unbeaten league record in 2026.

Only last Sunday, they triumphed against table-topping Nantwich Town at APEC Taxis Stadium.

Mollie Bennett and Aisling Hart were the scorers as Linnets overturned a half-time deficit to win 2-1.

Crewe are in a fairly impressive run of form themselves after good recent results, including draws against top teams in their league.

However, they exited the League Cup to lower division Chester last week, leaving the Cheshire FA Cup as their only hope of silverware.

Linnets will again be without long-term absentees Beth Graham, George Oxley and Lucy Wieland while Callie Clarke-Smith is the latest addition to the casualty list.

However, Jess Bazley and Sophie Rotheram are back into contention to return.