Autumn Colledge scored the only goal as Moors Ladies enjoyed a potentially crucial victory over Hartlepool United at The Brewery Field to move second in the NERWFL Northern Division.
The top scorer was, as usual, in the right place at the right time to convert the decisive strike early in the second half to see Moors leapfrog Pools in the table and move second behind Wallsend.
For the second day in succession, a fixture at The Brewery Field was brought to a halt for a medical emergency within the crowd and the thoughts of everyone at the Club are with the gentleman who received treatment and was then taken to hospital.
It was the visitors who started the brightest and the dangerous Robyn Foster got away down the left and into the Moors penalty area but could only drag her shot across goal and wide.
Moors responded with a teasing corner from Courtney Mole which dropped menacingly inside the Pools six-yard box where a scramble ensued before they were able to clear.
Lily Jackson’s pace was an issue for the visitors’ defence and when she chased in behind and cut back inside to shoot, Pools were thankful to Zara Johnson who got back to clear off the line.
Another corner from Courtney Mole was cleared back to the midfielder on the left and when she lifted it straight back into the box it looped over keeper Lauren Ranson and crashed the bar on its way over.
Courtney Mole’s set-pieces were becoming a feature and when another delivery dropped kindly for Autumn Colledge but her low drive flew just wide of the post.
Courtney Mole then brought a fine save out of Ranson with a long-range drive, while Autumn Colledge sent another effort just wide on the stroke of half time.
Following the stoppage, just three minutes after the break, the referee chose to restart the second half from scratch and it was just two minutes into that when the decisive moment arrived.
Meg Foster did brilliantly down the right to drive into the area and let fly with a shot across goal which was parried by Ranson, but only into the path of Colledge who gleefully slid it home.
Courtney Mole whipped a free-kick from the left just over the bar and then sent another effort just wide of the post after Pools had only half-cleared Hannah Knox’s free-kick.
Lily Jackson was next to find an opening when she stormed into the box on the right but couldn’t keep her shot down and Pools escaped.
The visitors came close to levelling when Foster released Jess Bage into the penalty area but he firm strike went flying into the side netting.
Moors saw the remainder of the game out in relative comfort to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games and play themselves right into the frame for the Northern Division title.
Full Time: Moors 1 Hartlepool United 0
Moors: Saunders, O Mole, C Colledge, Welch-Davison, Middleton, C Mole, Hemmingway, Knox, Foster, A Colledge, Jackson.
Subs: Doonan, Salkeld, Seymour, McGovern, Whittle.
Attendance: 261
