Autumn Colledge marked her return from injury with a hat-trick as Moors Ladies extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a powerful 5-2 win at Pools Youth on Sunday.

The midfield ace underlined her position as this season’s top scorer with a clinical treble to help Billy Shackleton’s side to move within three points of top spot in the NERWFL Northern Division table with a game in hand.

Colledge opened the scoring within a quarter of an hour when she took up possession from Courtney Mole and let fly with a spectacular strike from 30 yards to make it 1-0.

The home side recovered well from the setback though and drew level when a ball over the top released the striker and she finished with a neat strike beyond keeper Nicole Scott.

However, on 33 minutes Moors restored their lead when Courtney Mole’s teasing corner evaded everyone as it flashed across the face of goal before bouncing off a luckless defender and crossing the line.

Moors were on the front foot early in the second half and increased their advantage on 48 minutes when Autumn Colledge was put through by Courtney Mole to double her tally for the afternoon and make it 3-1.

Moors continued to press, with Olivia Mole and Loren Salkeld causing their hosts all sorts of problems down the flanks as Shackleton’s in-form side went in search of more goals.

It wasn’t long before the pressure told as Coral Colledge’s throw-in from the right found her twin sister Autumn Colledge at the front post and she tucked the ball home to complete her hat-trick.

Pools Youth came back fighting and reduced the deficit with a wonderful goal before Moors secured the three points when good work out wide from Hannah Knox gave Kira Whittle the opportunity to fire home for 5-2.

“We’re happy with the three points,” Shackleton admitted.

“I felt we were able to get into the right areas, but it would have been nice to come away with a few more goals.

“I think we played some of the best football we have all season and that shows that what we’re trying to do here is having the desired effect.”

Full Time: Pools Youth 2 Moors 5

Moors: Scott, C Colledge, Saunders, Salkeld, O Mole, C Mole, Hemmingway, A Colledge, Jackson, Knox, Whittle.
Subs: Doonan, Hopps, Foster, Welch-Davison, Walker.