Moors Ladies bounced back from their opening day defeat in style as they thrashed West Allotment Celtic 8-1 in the first home game of the 2022/23 campaign on Sunday.

Coral Colledge and Hannah Knox both scored twice in the rout to thrill supporters who had turned up to cheer them on at EDC’s Houghall Campus at Durham.

It took just 12 minutes for Moors to open the scoring when Kira Whittle was brought down in the penalty area and skipper Autumn Colledge coolly converted from the spot.

Just before the half-hour point it was 2-0. A corner from the left fell kindly for Knox and she rifled the loose ball home to double Moors’ lead.

The visitors pulled one back shortly afterwards but that was to prove mere consolation as Billy Shackleton’s side took control in the closing stage of the first half as Katy Hemmingway nodded in her second of the season following Whittle’s long throw from the left.

It was 4-1 just two minutes into the second half when Coral Colledge’s teasing corner was lashed home by Whittle, before Whittle then returned to the favour to slip Coral Colledge through on goal to score the fifth on 51 minutes.

The onslaught from a rampant Moors side continued when they made it 6-1 on 54 minutes; Holly Middleton was brough down on the edge of the area and Knox stepped up to smash an unstoppable free kick past the keeper.

Star performer Courtney Mole then grabbed a goal that her display had deserved, showing excellent footwork on the edge of the box to glide around two players before tucking a left-foot shot away into the far corner of the net.

There was still time for Coral Colledge to grab her second of the afternoon near the end as she met a corner to plant a fine header past the keeper and complete the rout.

“We executed what we’ve been working on really well.” said Shackleton afterwards.

“It’s always pleasing to see our hard work in training paying off on a match day.

“Having looked back at the Hartlepool game, we knew how important today’s game was in terms of getting points on the board.

“Of course, it’s only early in the season, but it gives us something to build on. We know it’s a long season but it’s a step closer to where we want to be.”

Full Time: Moors 8 West Allotment Celtic 1

Moors: Doonan, Mole, C Colledge, Hemmingway, Mole, Salkeld, Knox, A Colledge, Whittle, Middleton, McGovern.
Subs: Scott, Farrugia, Welch-Davison, Butcher.