Moors Ladies continued their fine form with a convincing win at Guisborough Town on Sunday to keep the pressure on the sides above them in the NERWFL Northern Division.
Billy Shackleton’s side now lie fourth in the table, but they still have a couple of games in hand on current leaders, Norton & Stockton Ancients Reserves as things start to take shape.
Winless Guisborough were the latest team to be swept aside by Moors as they extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 4-1 victory in the fog at The King George V Stadium.
It was the hosts who settled quicker into the game and Moors struggled to get a foothold during a tricky opening 20 minutes when Guisborough controlled possession.
However, any nerves were settled just after the midway point of the first half when 16-year-old debutant Lily Jackson raced on to a through ball from Hannah Knox to smash home a clinical finish for 1-0.
Moors then had to remain patient in their search for a second goal, though they were now the dominant force, causing problems down both flanks through attacking full-backs Olivia Mole and Loren Salkeld.
It took until the 55th minute for Shackleton’s side to double their advantage, when half time substitute Sophie Farrugia’s fierce strike was well blocked by a defender only for skipper Coral Colledge to be placed well to fire home the rebound for her third goal of the season.
It was 3-0 not long afterwards. Meg Foster drove beyond the Guisborough defence down the left before whipping a ball into the middle where it was met by Kira Whittle who sent a brilliant looping header over the keeper.
Farrugia and Knox both came close to adding to the lead before Guisborough were able to pull one back five minutes from time with a well struck shot which flew past Moors keeper Nicole Scott.
However, Moors had the final say when Courtney Mole’s incisive pass set Katy Hemmingway through on goal and the midfielder slotted a cool finish into the bottom corner to make it 4-1.
“It wasn’t a pretty victory, and it was a really tough game,” admitted Shackleton afterwards.
“We’ve come away from home and found a way to grind out a result; three points are three points and that’s what matters most, so whilst the performance wasn’t our best, we’ve achieved what we set out to do.”
Full Time: Guisborough Town 1 Moors 4
Moors: Scott, Salkeld, O Mole, Welch-Davison, C Colledge, Knox, Foster, C Mole, Hemmingway, Whittle, Jackson.
Subs: Farrugia, Butcher, Middleton.
