Niall Short scored a hat-trick as Moors made safe passage into the Third Round of the Durham Challenge Cup with an emphatic win over Chester-le-Street United at The Brewery Field on Tuesday.

The youngster hit a stunning treble to lead Jason Ainsley’s side to an 8-0 victory over their young visitors and continue their interest in this year’s competition.

Moors made a fast start to the game with both Danny Greenfield and Niall Short coming close to opening the scoring inside five minutes against their youthful visitors.

However, the breakthrough did arrive on 13 minutes when a swift counterattack saw Riley Mouat slip a lovely through ball down the left from Elliot Foster and he squared for Short to turn home from close range.

It was 2-0 midway through the first half when Joe Wheatley spotted Reece Kendall’s run and sent a perfectly timed pass through for the full-back to finish first time.

Before long it was 3-0 to Moors as Kendall again found himself in the right place at the right time to convert his second of the night from close range after more good work from Short.

Michael Ledger then slipped a ball down the right of the area to free Owen Bray and his low cross was swept home at the first time of asking by Elliot Foster as Moors made it 4-0 on the half hour.

Short then helped himself to his second goal of the evening when he collected the ball back to goal on the edge of the area and cleverly turned into space to drill a right-footed finish beyond the keeper.

Ten minutes into the second half Short completed his hat-trick with a wonderful curling finish from the edge of the area as Moors increased their lead to 6-0.

The goal of the night arrived on 69 minutes when young Riley Mouat let fly from fully 30 yards with an unstoppable drive which flew past the keeper and into the top corner of the net for 7-0.

Foster then found some space on the left of the area, and he made no mistake, rifling a powerful shot across the goalkeeper and into the net for Moors’ eighth goal of the evening.

Full Time: Moors 8 Chester-le-Street United 0

Moors: Flatters, Short (Laviolette 74), Mason, Tait, Greenfield, Foster, Bray (Chandler 62), Mouat (Twinn 84), Wheatley (Wood 70), Kendall, Ledger.
Subs not used: Upperton.

Booked: Kendall.

Referee: Connor Scott

Attendance: 187