Ladies within touching distance of a top-three finish after conquering Mossley Hill

A grounded Lile Ashley realises that her shot deep into first-half stoppage time has gone in.

Mossley Hill Athletic Ladies 0 Runcorn Linnets Ladies 3

Pictures by Kelly Jones

Sunday’s game versus the team one place above Linnets in the North West Women's Regional Football League Division One South was always going to be difficult.

But Runcorn got the job done early with three first-half goals - leapfrogging the in-form hosts into third position, which will be sealed with one more victory.

Despite having played two games fewer than the top two, Linnets can't now catch leaders Poulton Victoria, who they trail by 14 points with only 12 left to play for.

However, victories in both matches in hand would take the Yellow & Greens to within four points of second-placed FC St Helens Women, who Runcorn will visit in the final outing of their season on Sunday, April 27th.

There was a somewhat nervy start for Linnets, who gave the ball away far too easily in the first 10 minutes, gifting Mossley Hill a couple of chances to take the lead.

Once Linnets had settled and adjusted to the sloping pitch, they started to get their passing game back together.

Top scorer Mollie Bennett was on target again.

A neat pass from Chelsea Gillies split the Mossley Hill defence and when Mollie Bennett raced on to the through ball, there was only one outcome for Linnets' top scorer, who made it 0-1 on 19 minutes.

Lucy Wieland sustained suspected knee ligament damage in Sunday's game.

A crude challenge by the hosts' number 7 resulted in Linnets’ Lucy Wieland having to leave the pitch with a suspected MCL injury and being replaced by Emma Smith.

Smith, another other of Linnets' younger players, showed great maturity with her performance as the relief left back.

Substitute left back Emma Smith is alert to the danger from a Mossley Hill attack.

The added time, as a result of the injury and a number of other delays would benefit Linnets as it brought them two more goals.

Miscontrol by the Mossley Hill defence led to Jess Bazley being upended after racing on to a through ball form Ella Connor.

Having set up the first Runcorn goal, Chelsea Gillies scores the second from the spot.

The penalty was duly dispatched by the ever- dependable taker Gillies for 2-0 lead seven minutes into the referee's allowance for stoppages.

In the eighth, Lile Ashley made it 0-3, showing magnificent control from a pinpoint through ball from Mollie Bennett before finishing off the underside of the crossbar .

Third goal scorer Lile Ashley powers away from the home rearguard.

A concerted effort by Mossley Hill in the second period failed to produce any goals for them as the Linnets defence held firm and soaked up the home attacks.

Bennett went closest to a fourth for Linnets but deliberated a little too long and allowed the ball to be cleared from danger.

Runcorn Linnets Ladies will entertain Ellesmere Port Ladies this Sunday (April 13th, ko 2pm) in their final home game of the campaign before heading to Warrington Town Women a week later and visiting Wigan Athletic Ladies & Girls in their penultimate match on Wednesday, April 23rd.

Leading from the back, skipper Emma Mclarney clears her lines in a resolute Linnets display.