HONOURS ended even as reigning champions Runcorn let slip a two-goal cushion in their opening day Cheshire Women’s League game against last season’s fourth-placed club.

When this fixture was announced, the opposition had home advantage. However, due to a break-in at the University ground, the Linnets agreed a switch to the Millbank Linnets Stadium - Chester describing the game as the “Clash of the Titans” and the start of the road to glory for themselves.

The very uneasy opening the away side made was no doubt a shock for them.

Lile Ashley, on her league debut, and Mandy Kennedy (a colossus in midfield) put in biting tackles before Runcorn opened the scoring with a fourth-minute Beth Coppin goal.

Kennedy, winning the ball from deep, instinctively played in Coppin, a perfectly-weighted ball catching the static central defenders out. The young striker also had the confidence to take the chance early, giving advancing former Linnets ‘keeper, Charlotte Dunbebin no chance.

A procession of missed chances prevented the Linnets Ladies from increasing their lead before Chester had their first wasted opportunity as a 19th-minute corner caused a scramble.

Three minutes later another former Runcorn player, Marcia Jones-Sacharewicz blazed a chance high over. Almost immediately, with pressure mounting on the visitors, Runcorn doubled their advantage.

Ana Duran Anca, with a never-give-up attitude, won the ball on the left and fed a great ball over an again flat-footed central defender to Megan Pickering. Last season’s league top scorer made no mistake for 2-0 on 23 minutes, giving Dunbebin no chance.

A couple of half-chances to both sides came and went; the home side denied by a great save from Dunbebin, thwarting Pickering, after good approach play.

Brilliant goalkeeping for the hosts by Nat Pinnington, advancing off her line, kept the score at 2-0 going into half-time.

Kennedy, Linnets’ Player of the Match Lorna Cairns, Sadie Bond and Anca had been outstanding in the first half - centre backs Cairns and Bond kept Jones-Sacharewicz quiet for virtually the full 90 minutes, restricting her to off-target snap shots.

It was obvious that the next goal would be crucial and Chester would have to throw the kitchen sink at Runcorn. The Linnets came under sustained pressure upon the restart but stood firm.

But for wayward finishing and solid defending from the back four of Evans, Bond, Ciarns and Rossiter-Gurrell, the visitors could have got back into the game sooner.

At the other end, the home side passed up gilt-edged chances to put the game to bed. On 62 minutes, Coppin attempted to chip the advancing ‘keeper from 18 yards but didn’t get the right purchase on the ball and put it wide.

Pickering missed a near open goal, after rounding the ‘keeper, from another Kennedy pass.

With 30 minutes remaining, Emma McLarney came on for Chelsea Gillies in midfield alongside Kennedy. Pickering picked up an injury on 67 minutes and Lucy Wieland came on for her debut.

Five minutes later Tempany Carlson, who had run the right wing all game, suffered severe cramp and was replaced by Frankie Valdez for a league debut.

Wieland had a great opportunity in the 78th minute, McLarney and Kennedy creating an opening for the makeshift striker, who cleared the upright with her effort when through on goal.

Credit to Chester. They kept going and looked the fitter towards the end. The hosts, despite instructions to push up, dropped deeper allowing Chester on to them.

On 85 minutes Chester’s Sam Pickup was allowed time on the ball to unleash a screamer that not many ‘keepers would have saved. On the balance of second-half play, it was a goal the visitors had deserved.

With time running out, Chester pressed every ball, not allowing the Linnets side to slow down the game.

As in the corresponding fixture last season, the Linnets were undone by an inability to defend a corner kick, this time leaving Chester’s captain Steph Oscroft free at the far post to head in an equaliser on 88 minutes.

Runcorn seemed shell shocked at throwing away a two-goal lead. Chester could have won it in the final seconds - after winning the ball in midfield and going directly on the attack - but for Pinnington’s terrific reactions in tipping over a superb long-range effort.

At the final whistle, Chester would have been happier with a point. Lack of that killer instinct to convert chances came back to haunt Runcorn.

On reflection, the draw between the two sides tipped to go all the way was a just result.

Linnets Ladies remain unbeaten at home in more than a year, but were at the end a little lucky to hold on to their record.

Runcorn Linnets Ladies: Pinnington (capt), Evans, Bond, Cairns, Anca, Ashley (Rossiter-Gurrell), Gillies (McLarney), Kennedy, Carlson (Valdez), Pickering (Wieland), Coppin. Sub (not used): Nichola Hyland