Moors suffered their first defeat of pre-season as Hebburn Town produced some efficient finishing to run out 4-1 winners at Hebburn Sports Ground on Tuesday night.

Graeme Lee was without Glen Taylor and Rob Ramshaw for the trip to South Tyneside, while Brad James was also unavailable to face The Hornets.

Hebburn looked keen to set the tone in the opening stages and could have been in front inside two minutes as Gary Martin escaped in behind and rounded keeper Ryan Johnson only to see Michael Ledger clear his effort off the line.

It was only brief respite for Moors though as the hosts did take the lead from the resultant corner which was cleared to the edge of the box from where Ethan Wood lashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner for 1-0.

Graeme Lee’s men took a little time to clear their heads after the early setback but got back on level terms on eight minutes when Mitch Hancox was allowed time and space 25 yards out and punished The Hornets with a stinging drive into the bottom left corner.

Cam Salkeld could have put Moors in front two minutes later when he cleverly wriggled inside from the right and struck a powerful shot on goal which was excellently pushed away by the keeper.

Johnson had to produce similar heroics at the other end on the half-hour when he dived full length to his left to parry a drive from Ollie Martin as Hebburn threatened to restore their advantage.

The hosts came out firing at the start of the second half and it was 2-1 on 50 minutes when Gary Martin whipped an inviting cross in from the left and Jack Foley met it with a perfect glancing header into the far corner.

Things got worse two minutes later when Foley got in behind the Moors defence and was tripped by half time substitute goalkeeper James Barron and the referee pointed to the spot. Gary Martin confidently tucked the spot-kick home to give Hebburn breathing space.

Foley was causing all sorts of problems, and he burrowed his way in behind the Moors defence again to make it 4-1 just after the hour with a clever lofted finish over the advancing Barron.

Full Time: Hebburn Town 4 Moors 1

Moors: Johnson (Barron 46), Luck (Dyson 46), Ledger, Pollock, Trialist A (Trialist B 62), Dolan (Mondal 46), Hancox (Trialist D 64), Doherty (Trialist C 64), Salkeld, McKeown, Heaney (Butler 78).

Referee: Mark Bell

Attendance: 208