Moors Ladies thrashed rivals South Shields at The Brewery Field on Sunday to continue their encouraging start to the new NERWFL Premier Division campaign.

After the opening day draw at fancied Ponteland United, Moors were in irresistible form as they played on home soil for the first time in 2024/25.

Under the watch of interim boss Nikita Hemmingway, they went at their visitors from the first whistle and were ahead inside two minutes when Holly Doogan broke clear down the flank and slotted a lovely finish across the keeper and into the bottom corner.

Moors continued to press and finally got their second of the game on the quarter-hour mark when another Doogan foray saw her deliver into the box where the ball fell loose for Shannon Reed to smash home.

On 21 minutes it was 3-0. An indirect free kick was awarded inside the Shields box for a back-pass and Amy Richardson teed it up for Meg Elliott to thrash in a goal on her home debut.

The fourth arrived 10 minutes before the break when Richardson’s free kick into the box was flicked into the bottom corner of the net by Sophie Hodgson.

Shields did pull one back before half time, but the one-way traffic continued in the second half, and it was 5-1 on 50 minutes when Katy Hemmingway sent Jenny Priestley through, and she unselfishly picked out Ellie Smtih in the middle who converted.

Priestley came close to making it six when he powerful shot was tipped over the bar, while Shields could have pulled another goal back when an effort cannoned back off the post.

On 88 minutes it was 6-1 though as this time Hodgson’s cross to the far post was nodded into the net by the arriving Kelly Garcia.

The rout was completed at the death when Richardson crowned the victory with a wonderful free kick which found the top corner.

“The girls understand our objectives, they know what we have to do going forward, and they always give 100%,” said Hemmingway afterwards.

“I couldn’t be prouder of them all today and I’m so happy they have got that result because it shows they are good footballers, individually and as a team.

“It was fantastic to watch at times, I’m not sure I’ve seen a Spennymoor team play like that – I loved it and I’m delighted that seven different players got goals too.”

Full Time: Moors 7 South Shields 1

Moors: Hunter, A Elliott, M Elliott, McIntosh, Hodgson, White-Mellish, Richardson, Hemmingway, Reed, Doogan, Garcia.
Subs: Zapata, Priestley, Smith, Robinson, Rackstraw.