Unbeaten run comes to an end for Linnets
after that disappointment, and the next 10 minutes or so saw a distinct lull in proceedings, which also included the departure of Runcorn’s recent star performer Ally Brown after a 50-50 challenge with no obvious blame to attach.
Attacking threat from the right would always be diminished with Brown out of the picture, but it waned badly across the whole pitch as Clitheroe had far more of the ball and the scoring chances for the rest of the half.
Craig Ellison was required to pull off three or four tidy saves.
Wharton then received a yellow card for an innocuous-looking nudge, but in truth it was more likely payback for the centre-forward having given Mr Young a piece of his mind when penalised for another non-event a little earlier.
At half-time, Linnets boss Ellison would have been less occupied with tactical or motivational issues than with attempting to count the ablebodied.
His concerns would worsen, as captain Kyle Hamid played only eight minutes of the second half before being carried from the pitch.
Just after Dolan had put a free header wide from a cross from the right, a fearsome tackle added Hamid to Gemma Mooney’s rapidly-expanding workload.
Again Mr Young saw no cause to introduce anybody in burgundy to the colour yellow – Caddick had been booked a little earlier for a Runcorn foul.
Kyle left the arena heavily strapped just below the knee. It didn’t look as though we will be seeing him again any time soon.
He was replaced by the recently resigned Tony “Kaka” Donaldson.
Wharton had cause to believe the man in black had finally forgiven him, as he awarded a free-kick for a foul on the No9, 35 yards out, in the 66th minute.
The kick from deep found Hinnigan in the penalty area, and he got a firm head on it only to see it fly over the
HAT-TRICKS by Marcia JonesSacharewicz and Lile Ashley helped Linnets Ladies come out well on top in their Cheshire Women’s League Premier Division derby at Warrington.
With a 100% return from their eight games, the Premier Division leaders find themselves a point angle of post and bar.
Two minutes later Gibson won the ball well under pressure 20 yards out and found Caddick. He got in a firm shot, but had leaned back, and over it went.
More Clitheroe pressure was pushed out to the flanks, and more attempts on goal went high or wide, and then the last Runcorn chance until the dying moments came when Gibson slipped the ball right to Hayes in the area.
His cross/shot was a stride too late, into the side netting.
There were 13 minutes remaining when a Clitheroe corner from the right flew right through the penalty area to cries of “defend it!” from the home fans.
It was cleared, the next attempt deflected for another from the left. Three men in burgundy shirts were spoiled for choice, new boy Kieran Feeney sticking it away unchallenged.
With nine minutes remaining, there was a rare corner at the other end when Wharton’s cross from the right was blocked. In the middle of the six-yard line, Stanley’s head got there before Lindfield’s.
Gibson had two more chances to grab a point. Lindfield slipped a pass right to Hayes, whose cross found Ryan six yards out, but his header looped over the bar.
It was only the second home league defeat of the season, and the first since Droylsden won at The MLS in September by the only goal after Linnets had dominated.
The most pertinent comment on this one is that it was deserved, regardless of the dispiriting additions to the injury list.
It was a poor game, which would have knitted the brow of any neutral observer unaware that both sides were in the league’s top nine.
Linnets’ next four matches are all against teams in the top five.