Moors Ladies bounced back to winning ways on Sunday when they enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Wallsend Boys Club Women’s Reserves at EDC’s Houghall Campus in Durham.
Autumn Colledge, Hannah Knox and Sophie Farrugia were all on target during the emphatic victory as Billy Shackleton’s side offered a strong response to last weekend’s disappointing defeat at Gateshead.
It was Moors who settled quicker but, for all the good football they played, they couldn’t find the decisive pass in the final third and their attacks were often thwarted in part by a strong wind.
A stubborn Wallsend side, who have made a strong start to the new campaign, battled hard to restrict Moors to few clear-cut chances and the game was goalless as it reached the halfway stage.
Moors continued to dominate possession after the break, with Courtney Mole pulling the strings in midfield and combining well with forward Holly Middleton to cause problems for the visitors.
The breakthrough finally arrived on 50 minutes when Drew Seymour moved forward to find Courtney Mole and she cleverly slipped a ball through to Autumn Colledge who took a touch before driving a low finish under the keeper for 1-0.
It should have been 2-0 moments later when Courtney Mole again linked-up well with Middleton, but the attacker was denied by a good save from the Wallsend keeper.
The visitors could have got themselves back on level terms on the break when a strike from the edge of the area flashed just wide of Nicole Scott’s goal.
The result was made safe on 78 minutes when Knox continued her fine start to the campaign by getting on the end of Farrugia’s cross from the left to turn home the second goal.
Farrugia then added a third goal herself two minutes later when she got on the end of Courtney Mole’s inviting cross to head Moors into a three-goal lead.
“It’s testament to the hard work we’ve put in this week,” beamed boss Shackleton afterwards.
“Not only have we won the game, but we’ve kept a very good Wallsend side off the scoresheet.”
The victory moves Moors up to fourth in the North East Regional Women’s Football League Northern Division as they turn their attentions to County Cup action next Sunday when they host Gateshead at The Brewery Field (1.30pm kick-off).
Full Time: Moors 3 Wallsend Boys Club Reserves 0
Moors: Scott, C Colledge, Welch-Davison, O Mole, C Mole, Knox, Saunders, A Colledge, Middleton, Seymour, Whittle.
Subs: Foster, Salkeld, Farrugia.