Isaac Fletcher scored another two goals as Moors picked up their first away win of the season with a 4-2 triumph at Radcliffe on Tuesday night.
The in-form midfielder took his tally for the season to six, while loan starts Olly Dyson and Zanda Siziba were both on target during a breathless encounter at Neuven Stadium.
The win is Moors’ first in four after a surprise loss at, until then, pointless Rushall Olympic, followed by a 2-2 draw at home with Brackley Town on the August bank holiday Monday and a narrow 1-0 defeat in the local derby at Darlington last weekend.
Graeme Lee was forced into changes once again as Jonathan Mitchell was drafted in to start in place of the injured Brad James, while Dan Myers came in to replace Reece Staunton who was sidelined.
Dyson was moved into the centre of midfield and within seven minutes it looked a masterstroke when Fletcher drove inside from the left and fed a low ball across goal which was deflected out to the on-loan York City man who stroked a calm finish in off the post for 1-0.
However, Moors failed to build on the platform. Radcliffe crept back into the game and were level midway through the first half when a corner wasn’t dealt with, and Brad Roscoe forced the ball home from close range.
Things got worse just before the half-hour when Glen Taylor was forced off through injury and just minutes later the home side went in front when Roscoe again bundled in from inside the six-yard area.
The shock of going behind seemed to spur Lee’s men into action and on 36 minutes it was 2-2 when Fletcher curled a 25-yard free-kick around the wall into the corner of the net.
In first half injury time, Will Harris – on in place of Taylor – got space on the edge of the area and fired on goal. His shot squirmed from the grasp of keeper Mateusz Hewelt and Zanda Siziba pounced to score from close-range.
The home side put the visitors under pressure in the second half and came close from a corner when a downward header came back off the post, while Mitchell had to make a smart save to deny Radcliffe substitute Jamie Morgan.
However, Moors made sure of the points six minutes from time when a Radcliffe corner was hacked clear and freed Fletcher, who sprinted with the ball at his feet from inside his own half before showing great composure to dribble around the keeper to convert for 4-2.
With a record of three wins, three losses and one draw, Moors are 11th in the league, albeit just three points off second, going into the weekend, when they host Hereford at the Brewery Field.
They then travel to Belle View to face Durham FC Corinthians in midweek in the Durham County Cup before hosting Morpeth Town in the FA Cup on Saturday 14 September and travelling to Warrington the following weekend as they return to league duty.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
