Moors enjoyed an emphatic Non-League Day victory as they shrugged off struggling Farsley Celtic in National League North at The Brewery Field.
Corey McKeown opened the scoring on the 24th minute, tapping home an easy finish, before Matty Dolan thumped a freekick in off the post for Moors’ second of the afternoon.
Glen Taylor got in on the action as he headed home for 3-0 just before half time. His replacement, Aidan Rutledge, found the net 20 minutes from time, prodding home from a Junior Mondal cross.
Moors got on top of the fixture from minute one, as Rob Ramshaw smashed an effort low from the edge of the penalty area.
Visiting keeper Will Brook was forced into early action just a minute later, producing a fine save as he had to claw Dolan’s cleanly struck effort out of the top left-hand corner.
Isaac Abankwah had to intercept a dangerous cross from Nathan Simpson on the 12th minute to prevent striker Taylor, who was lurking at the back post, from heading home.
Moors finally broke the deadlock midway through the half as McKeown tapped home for an easy opener. Loanee, Nathan Simpson jinked his way into the area from the left-hand side, before smashing an effort at Brook in the Celts net. Brooks parried the ball away from goal, only for McKeown to run in and convert for 1-0.
Graeme Lee’s side had started the game in fine fashion and showed real confidence moving forward. Dolan tried his luck from range yet again, although, this time not requiring a great save, as Brook’s comfortably claimed.
Half chances presented themselves as the game progressed, with Ramshaw getting his head on a corner at the near post, which the midfielder couldn’t direct goalward, before Olly Dyson drilled a low effort on goal from 30 yards out, which made for a relatively easy save for the Celts keeper.
David Stockdale’s side had been completely nullified in the first half, with their first real sign of any danger coming through a promising looking cross from skipper Cole Hyde. Hyde’s ball in however was headed clear.
Moors found their second of the afternoon through Dolan, as he rifled home a brilliant freekick past Brook from 25 yards. The midfielder lifted his effort over the three-man wall and into the back of the net via the inside of the right post.
Taylor made it three just one minute from half time as he headed home from close range. Reece Staunton’s precise ball in found the head of the big number 9, who made no mistake, powerfully heading home past Brook to effectively kill the game before the break.
Graeme Lee will have been pleased with his sides first half display, as Moors took the driving seat going into the second 45 and that allowed him to make three changes.
Substitute Junior Mondal tried to get his name on the scoresheet as he struck a venomous effort goalward, which Brook was equal to, parrying the shot wide and out of danger, before another of the substitutes, James Huntley hit a curled strike just wide of the right post.
Will Harris and Fin Shrimpton came close to adding to Moors lead between just two minutes of each other. Brook had to come out to smother Harris’ shot from close range, whereas Shrimpton’s well hit effort flew just wide of the upright.
It was Aidan Rutledge who eventually grabbed Moors’ fourth of the afternoon as he got on the end of Mondal’s whipped ball toward the back post, as the Gateshead loanee stuck a leg out and prodded the ball home from just a few yards out.
Brook had to intervene again as he tipped Harris’ outside of the foot shot wide of the mark. Harris went close again less than 60 seconds later as the ball deflected into his feet, giving the substitute no time to react as it looped up and over the bar.
Mondal almost found a fifth for Moors as he got away from two Celts men on the edge of the penalty area, only to see his strike fly just wide of the left post.
Harris yet again saw an opportunity go by as he got onto a loose ball in the area. The ball bobbled around in the box, before landing at the feet of the number 7, who saw his low strike brilliantly save from point blank by Brook.
A routine yet dominant display from Graeme Lee’s men saw Moors gain their second home win of the week. Moors now six just six points from the playoff spots as they welcome Radcliffe to The Brewery Field on Tuesday evening.
Full Time: Moors 4 Farsley Celtic 0
Moors: James, Dyson, Ledger, Pollock, Staunton, Dolan (Myers 72), Shrimpton, Simpson (Harris 63), Ramshaw (Huntley 46), McKeown (Mondal 46), Taylor (Rutledge 46).
Farsley Celtic: Brook, Abankwah, Janneh, Polwarth, Bumkira (Newsome 61), Kondolo, Monteiro, Hyde, Mampala, Youmbi (Krubally 78), Iwobi
Subs not used: Edmondson, Priestley-Standing
Referee: Mark Bell
Attendance: 1,235
Written by Noah Betts
