Moors Academy fell to eighth in the FA Youth League Northern Division One after suffering a heavy defeat to Hebburn Town on Wednesday afternoon.
Matty Dolan’s side ended up on the wrong side of a 5-1 loss against a talented Hebburn outfit who now sit joint top of the formative league table having won five from seven.
Moors had started the game brightly and an early chance was passed up by Oli Griffiths before Ethan Docherty then broke in behind the visiting defence only to be denied by a wonderful save from the Hebburn keeper.
The home side continued to enjoy the larger share of possession during the first 20 minutes but struggled to find a way to break down an organised and resilient Hebburn defence.
Moors were then caught out on the counter when some wonderful play by the Hebburn striker to unlock the home defence and give them a 1-0 lead.
The visiting team doubled their advantage on 37 minutes when another fast breakaway led to the Hebburn front man going one on one with Moors keeper James Brown and finishing well for 2-0.
It went from bad to worse for Moors before the half time break when a wonderful striker from the edge of the box found the bottom corner and gave Hebburn a 3-0 lead.
Dolan’s youngsters tried to regroup and come out fighting for the second half – and they got their reward when Leighton Hope pulled a goal back from a well-worked set-piece.
However, it was Hebburn who finished the game stronger, and they punished Moors with some more clinical finishing and helped themselves to two more goals to clinch the three points.
“Naturally, the lads were disappointed after that,” admitted Dolan.
“I’ve told them they need to keep their heads up because every opposition we come up against will pose a different threat, and they have to learn that.
“The good thing about football is that there is always a chance to put things right next week but it’s certainly not the kind of result we want to be on the wrong side of again this season.”
Full Time: Moors 1 Hebburn Town 5
Moors: Brown (Saine 75), Yates, Stapleton, Neely, Blair (K Dodds 55), A Dodds, Griffiths, Oakes, Hope, Docherty, Atkinson (Fulton 46).
