Dale Women were 5-1 winners over second-placed Hyde United on Sunday.
A hat-trick from Shannon Gill, as well as a goal each for Emma Flynn and Hannah Murray saw Dale take all three points in the Greater Manchester Women’s Football League Premier Division.
Dale went into the game with minimal numbers available against a Hyde side playing their final match of the season, hoping to cement second place in the table.
But Lee Atkinson’s side started the brighter of the two sides, with Gill opening the scoring early on, finishing a one-on-one chance coolly.
Ten minutes later Dale doubled the lead from the penalty spot. Murray beat two players on the right wing before cutting into the area and being fouled. Flynn stepped up and made no mistake, finding the bottom left corner.
Hyde created a few chances but Dale were holding firm, with goalkeeper Leah Jackson in fine form once again.
However, a defensive error allowed Hyde to cut the deficit in half, picking up a short back pass and converting.
Dale responded instantly though, restoring the two-goal cushion through Gill. Neat football led to her receiving the ball on the edge of the area, and she beat two players before finding the bottom corner to make it 3-1.
Just before the break, it was four. Georgia Cocking hit a stunning effort off the crossbar, which bounced back into the area, with Murray the quickest to react as she turned home.
In the second half, Gill grabbed her hat-trick and Dale’s fifth when she was played through on goal and chipped the onrushing goalkeeper, to round off the scoring.
Manager Lee Atkinson commented: “We went into it with a gameplan which we had to stick to for the full 90 minutes, as Hyde are a side that don’t give up and have players that can change games quickly.
“At half-time, after a great first half, we spoke about how we have games slip that we have been in control of. It was important today that we didn’t let that happen and continued to play the same way and work tirelessly in and out of possession.
“That’s exactly what we did. We played some very good football and limited Hyde to very little.
“Shannon was brilliant again getting her hat-trick, but we might be without her for three games now after the red card last week. We’re hoping to get that overturned.
“We face West Didsbury Reserves on Wednesday night which will be another tough game. They will want to finish their season on a high, so we have to go into the game with the same mentality and give everything to get three points.”
The match against West Didsbury Reserves will take place at Hardy Farm Complex, M21 8DP, with kick-off at 7pm.
