YORK City Ladies moved to the top of the North-East Regional Women's Premier League following a 6-1 victory over Castleford White Rose.

Ali Smith hit a hat-trick during the impressive win with Katie Duckworth, Lauren Shuttleworth and Jazz Whitwell also on target.

Castleford had earlier been on top for the first ten minutes before a quickly-taken throw-in by Megan Bramham saw Smith find the net with a great strike.

Another fine Smith finish four minutes later, following right-back Josie Hewson's superb through ball, then doubled the Minster ladies' advantage and striker Duckworth made it 3-0, staying calm in a one-on-one situation after collecting a long goal kick from keeper Chloe Precious.

Bramham also went close twice prior to the interval, heading off target after great play from Beth Clayton and Whitwell before volleying against a post following Duckworth's perfect pass.

After the break, Bramham and Shuttleworth were both denied in quick succession by the Castleford keeper.

Whitwell went close next but Smith went on to claim the match ball after following up another Bramham attempt.

At the other end of the pitch, York's back four of Sara Renfrew, Jess Barnes, Abbi Webster and Ashleigh Brack remained switched on and cleared anything coming their way, but White Rose did get on the scoresheet with a long-range effort just past the halfway line.

Shuttleworth responded with a tap-in from Smith's left-wing cross six minutes later and, after Renfrew had hit the bar from the halfway line, Bramham, player/manager Kayleigh Davies, Clayton and Whitwell had further chances, before the latter completed the scoring after raiding down the left wing.