Autumn Colledge scored twice as Moors Ladies booked their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup with a brilliant win over Alnwick Town at New Ferens Park on Sunday.
Moors had already beaten their Northumberland visitors twice in the NERWFL Premier Division this season and they completed a treble after producing another dominant display.
It was Alnwick who got on the front foot during the opening stages, with dangerous left winger Chloe Young causing some problems for Holly Middleton.
However, the early pressure did not bring reward and Moors got into their stride as the half developed, coming close to going in front when Meg Foster’s goalbound strike was deflected wide.
As half time approached, Moors threatened again. This time Foster turned provider to find Lily Jackson in space, but the young forward’s shot was saved by the Alnwick goalkeeper.
Moors did get their noses in front just before the break though, when Abi Kisby brilliantly dribbled beyond her defender to pull the ball back for Autumn Colledge to smash home for 1-0.
Whilst Moors went in 1-0 up at the break, the first half was marred by a serious injury to influential defender Coral Colledge, which was later confirmed as a broken tibia.
After the break, Billy Shackleton’s side really got on top. Their pressure told just before the hour mark when Lily Jackson nodded the ball into the path of Autumn Colledge who bundled it home to double her tally and make it 2-0.
The visitors were forced to commit players forward in an attempt to get back into the game, but that left gaps for Moors to exploit and led to a third goal. The brilliant Kisby intercepted a sloppy pass, cut inside of the centre-back and whipped a lovely finish across the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.
Moors controlled the remainder of the tie, coming close to adding a fourth when Hannah Knox sent a free-kick just past the post after Lauren Gray had been upended on the edge of the area.
“It’s always nice to win, but to keep a clean sheet against a very dangerous side is even better,” said Shackleton afterwards.
“When Coral has come off in the first half, we had to put Caitlin Bates in there and she was absolutely fantastic stepping into the defensive position.
“It’s the work of that back four and Sophie Miller in goal which gave us the platform to go and express ourselves in the final third today.
“As a staff, we had circled this competition as one to target this year so to be within touching distance of the Final is testament to the hard work the girls have put in.”
Full Time: Moors 3 Alnwick Town 0
Moors: Miller, Middleton, Knox, C Colledge, N Jackson, Drinkald, Reed, A Colledge, L Jackson, Foster, Kisby.
Subs: Bates, Gray, Enguita, Hemmingway.
