Lily Jackson fired a brilliant first half hat-trick as Moors Ladies stayed top of the NERWFL Premier Division with a superb 4-2 win at Hull United on Sunday.

Billy Shackleton’s side were beaten 3-1 by rivals South Shields last week and travelled to face a Hull side that had enjoyed an impressive 3-0 triumph over Wallsend in their previous outing.

However, Moors quickly proved too strong for their hosts and came close twice before opening the scoring on five minutes when Hannah Knox’s cross was headed home by Jackson.

Shackleton’s side had to be patient in searching for their second goal, but it arrived just after the half-hour mark when Jackson latched on to a pass from Alex Saunders and launched an unstoppable shot into the net from long-range.

With the celebrations still dying down, the irrepressible Jackson made it 3-0 and completed her treble. This time Caitlin Bates was the architect and her ball across was whipped into the net by the teenage forward.

Hull began the second half with a new determination, but Moors contained their hosts well before making it 4-0 on 53 minutes when Jackson burst down the left wing to set up Bates for an easy finish.

Moors keeper Sophie Miller was called into action to make a couple of tidy saves as Hull fought for a route back into the game, while Drew Seymour and Autumn Colledge both came close to extending the lead.

A lapse in concentration during the closing stages of the encounter led to the home side pulling two goals back during added time, though it had no real impact on the end result.

“I am a little bit annoyed by the conceding of two goals at the end, but, overall, it’s a good result for us following a poor one last weekend,” said Shackleton afterwards.

“We needed that after the South Shields defeat and it keeps us in the hunt at the to of the table. At this moment we can’t do anything other than just keep putting points on the board and hoping that other results go our way.”

Moors remain top of the pile on goal difference ahead of their final fixture away at Harrogate Town next weekend but know that the teams below them have games in hand which could see them overtaken in the race for the title.

Full Time: Hull United 2 Moors 4

Moors: Miller, Gray, Knox, McIntosh, Saunders, Mole, Reed, A Colledge, Bates, Hemmingway, L Jackson.
Subs: Enguita (55), Drinkald (55), Seymour (69), N Jackson (76), Middleton (85).