A HAT-TRICK from striker Lile Ashley spurred a well-earned Linnets Ladies victory, ending second-placed Altrincham's unbeaten run in the Cheshire Women's League Premier Division.

Manager John Pickering's first job was to put the decision of whether to play the game in the players' hands as the home manager announced there was no referee.

To have pulled out of the game would only have led to the home side claiming the points. So the game kicked off with an Altrincham Reserves official taking the whistle.

In the first minute, Runcorn were penalised on the edge of their area as the ball struck a Linnets hand as it reared up off the uneven surface.

The free-kick beat Megan Pickering high in the centre of goal.

The Linnets' response was almost immediate.

Ashley rattled the bar with a rasping shot before striking twice in as many minutes, after being played in by Tempany Carlson and Mandy Kennedy, for a 1-2 lead after 12 minutes.

The home side's first real shot from open play came on 19 minutes. As the Linnets appealed for offside, the referee had waved play on, but the Altrincham forward blazed high and wide.

Minutes later, again with a Robins forward clearly offside, the referee allowed an attack to continue. Tish Edwards made up ground to make a brilliant penalty-box tackle.

Marcia Jones-Sacharewicz skimmed the top of the Altincham bar - the last meaningful action of a half in which Runcorn had produced some great passing moves despite the bumpy surface.

At half-time, manager John Pickering urged his players to remain calm and try to finish the game before it reached the latter stages.

Linnets players were incensed as Becky Barker was pushed to the ground in the home penalty area, nothing being given.

Megan Pickering produced a superb one-handed save to deny Altrincham on 62 minutes.

At the other end, a Lucy Wieland cross struck an Altrincham hand in the box but the benefit of the doubt went with the home side.

Lile Ashley, well placed to seal victory on 69 minutes, shot over but made no mistake with her next chance. She seized on a mistake in the home defence on 78 minutes to find the corner of goal.

This was an excellent win all things considered - the Linnets defence deserving particular praise with subs Mary Rossiter-Gurrell and Jade Walton, the latter having replacing injured Jo Finnegan, aiding their efforts.

Runcorn Linnets Ladies: Pickering, Hyland (Rossiter-Gurrell 60), Finnegan (Walton 67), Edwards, Evans, Wieland, Barker, Kennedy, Carlson (Rogers 80), Jones-Sacharewicz (Isherwood 60), Ashley (Jones-Sacharewicz 80).

Linnets Ladies entertain Chester City Ladies at the Millbaank Linnets Stadium on Sunday, October 21st (ko 2pm).