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Sheffield FC Women regained top spot in the league with a comfortable 3-0 win over Stamford AFC at The Home of Football Stadium.

A game largely controlled by Club had its breakthrough five minutes before the break when Moriah McIntosh raced clean through to calmly tuck home. 

More Sheffield dominance came in the second half as Nicole Cooper then arrived on cue to tap in from close-range for 2-0 on 52 minutes. 

The hosts were in the groove to grab another and did so with eight minutes to go when Stacey Buxton collected Lucy Cook’s pass to bury home a third, ensuring a fifth straight league win. 

In their first home fixture of the month, Club started with intent and settled with the game’s first chance when Halima Essa teed up Stacey Buxton, whose powerful drive flew just over early on. 

While Sheffield pushed forwards, they still had to stay alert as the visitors crafted an opportunity through Laura Dodwell’s curled strike before Leah Kellogg pulled a timely low save to deny the winger on 26 minutes.

The hosts soon threatened again by the half-hour when Essa manufactured a low effort before teeing up McIntosh to hit a powerful drive from range seconds later.

Graham Abercrombie’s side were getting closer but had to thank Kellogg once more when she produced a brilliant save at point-blank range from the oncoming Eva Fowler on 37 minutes.

That save became more vital when Club took the lead three minutes later as McIntosh raced in behind to tuck away her first of the season.

The hosts started the second-half quickly and eventually doubled the lead seven minutes in, Cooper arriving to tap home on the rebound after visiting keeper Maisie Thompson tipped Tilly Hallas-Potts’ strike onto the woodwork.

From then, Sheffield continued to craft the openings as Essa narrowly missed the chance to head home a third from Cooper’s inviting cross on the hour.

Another one came via the set-piece route this time as a clever short corner routine allowed Nicole Kemp to race towards goal and test Thompson with a powerful drive on 70 minutes.

Buxton then saw a curling effort fly just past the post, following some neat combination play between McIntosh and Essa. The striker eventually wrapped up victory with eight minutes to go, courtesy of a cool finish into the far corner after substitute Cook picked her out.

It was almost a fourth seconds later as Buxton won possession back and nearly caught out Thompson with a low effort at the near post.

Jacey Haynes was then denied from close-range in stoppage-time as Club saw out their 13th win from the last 15 games to now focus onto next Sunday’s fixture against Basford United.