Moors tasted victory in their first outing of pre-season as they overcame Crook Town at the Sir Tom Cowie Millfield Ground.
The hosts opened the scoring early on through an inventive near post effort, before Alfie Doherty sensationally levelled things less than five minutes later. Olly Dyson’s second half brace sealed the deal as his goals ensured a win for Graeme Lee’s men.
Crook hit the front in just the fourth minute, as their number 10 fired home from the edge of the area. He found space on the left edge of the penalty area, before smashing a shot into the left post, beating Brad James.
Moors were not behind for long however, as summer signing, Alfie Doherty, equalised in incredible fashion just four minutes later. The midfielder struck a half volley on the turn from 20 yards out, which soared into the top left of James Barron’s goal.
Both sides saw half chances come and go as the first half ticked on. Cam Salkeld saw an effort go wide of the mark, before Crook’s number 7 couldn’t quite get the purchase needed on a headed effort.
The home side almost found themselves in front just before half time but an angled drive from the left corner of the penalty area cannoned back off the inside of the post and stayed out.
Dyson went close after the restart as his strike from the edge of the area trickled wide, before an ambitious effort from the hosts flew high over the crossbar.
Moors almost went ahead in unorthodox fashion as a trialist got away down the left-hand side. His ball across ricocheted off of a Crook defender and back towards his own goal, going narrowly wide of the right post.
Just after the hour mark, Rob Ramshaw found Junior Mondal in acres of space in the area after pulling away from his man. The winger got on the end of the inviting, low cross, only to have his shot well saved by Barron.
Substitute keeper Ryan Johnson was called into his first action of the afternoon on the 64th minute, as he got down low to stop an effort from the edge of the area.
Under a minute later, Moors found their way into the lead. A defensive mix-up at the back allowed Dyson enough time to get in behind and sneak a prodded effort beneath Barron.
Dyson wasn’t keen to stop there, and he doubled his tally on the 67th minute. This time, the newly signed man drove into the box on the right-hand side before dispatching an effort across goal and into the back of the net to give Moors a commanding lead.
Crook looked to try and get themselves back into the game and they could have set up a tense finish had a free kick from 20 yards dipped enough to find the net instead of crashing back off the bar and out.
Two of Moors’ summer recruits combined on the 84th minute as Salkeld slipped Doherty in behind the host’s defence. However, Doherty couldn’t quite get the right angle on it, as his shot blazed over the bar.
Full Time: Crook Town 1 Moors 3
Moors: James (Johnson 45) Dyson (Luck 68), Luck (Rowe 46), Beals (Pollock 46), Hancox (Trialist 46), Dolan (Hancox 68) , Trialist ((Atkinson 46) Trialist 65), Salkeld, Mondal (Doherty 68), Ramshaw (Trialist 68), Doherty (Trialist 46).
Report written by Noah Betts
