A spirited performance from a youthful Moors side saw them run out deserved 3-0 winners over Chester-le-Street United in the Durham County Challenge Cup on Tuesday night.
A strong first half saw them waltz to a two-goal advantage courtesy of a beautiful Junior Mondal curler and a well worked, tidy finish from Joe Gibson before Will Harris’ added gloss with a last-minute penalty kick.
Ian Clark took the reins in the dugout, commanding a team packed with youthful talent as well as some more senior players from the sidelines. Nathan McGinley made his first full start since his move in the summer and was handed the captain’s armband, with First Teamers Dane Burlace, Will Harris, Junior Mondal and Dan Myers lining up alongside him.
The wet conditions posed problems for both sides, with the teams experiencing slips on the ball on many occasions. Yet Clark’s men dug deep and managed to get themselves comfortably in front.
Mondal’s first came within three minutes as he drove inside from the right before driving a low finish beyond the visiting keeper and into the bottom left corner of the net.
Gibson made it 2-0 on 21 minutes when he was freed on the right of the box before showing great composure to weave inside and send a low finish past the keeper.
Young keeper Ryan Johnson was called into action when he went full length to his right to parry a powerful shot around the post as the visitors looked for a route back into the game.
The second half began with much of the same, with Moors firmly in control, yet not able to grab a third in the opening stages. Some good defensive blocks from the visitors prevented any further damage as both sides rang the changes.
A final icing on the cake came in the form of a Harris penalty, awarded after some great play from substitute Kingston Butler who was tripped in the area. A composed finish into the bottom right corner from Harris put the game well and truly to bed, rounding off a successful evening and clinching a place in the Second Round of the competition.
Full Time: Moors 3 Chester-le-Street United 0
Moors: Johnson, Burlace (Dodds 88), Chapman, McGinley, Myers, Mondal, Toase (Cook 83), Atkinson (Rose 75), McMillan (Bayat 63), Gibson (Butler 74), Harris.
Booked: McGinley (51)
Chester-le-Street United: Hughes, Robinson, Barnett, Grimaud (Robson 75), Wilkinson, Everett, Conroy (Lawrence 66), Gallagher (Walton 80), Siyanbola (Anderson 66), Mallaburn, Loveday (Severin 66).
Booked: Conroy (38)
Referee: Matthew Davidson
Attendance: 203
Match Report by Noah Betts
