Honley FC close the gap on Ovenden West Riding thanks to a slender 3-2 win over the second placed side in the West Riding County Division Two.

Honley’s rising star, Ben Lindley, is what made the difference between the two teams after he netted a first half hat-trick to put the home side in the ascendancy.

But it was Ovenden who took the early lead in the 10th minute after John Elliott and Dale Whiteley failed to deal with a cross from the right, which fell to Scott Carney whose shot was brilliantly placed into the far corner past a helpless Jordan Robinson in the Honley goal.

However, Honley replied quickly scoring the equaliser five minutes later through Lindley, who was first to react to a blocked shot and fired the lose ball in off the woodwork.

And ten minutes later Honley took the lead after Dyan Brett found Lindley unmarked in the box, setting the 16 year old striker up with a tap in to complete his brace.

But Ovenden weren’t giving up in the hard fought top of the table clash and almost equalised with a thunderous 25 yard strike that looked destined for the top corner, before Robinson’s outstretched arm tipped the ball around the post.

The hosts responded well after Robinson’s tremendous save and extended their lead further through Lindley in the 36th minute, who rounded off his hat-trick with a header from six yards after James Clapham’s ferocious strike rebounded off the cross bar.

But the home side couldn’t hold onto their 3-1 lead and on the brink of half time a long Ovenden clearance caught the Honley backline off guard, which allowed Carney to run onto the loose ball, round Robinson, and slide his shot into an open goal.

The second half was a much duller affair with Honley playing a more conservative game, brilliantly protecting their slender one goal advantage.

Ovenden had a shot cleared off the line by the alert James Cotterill, but as the visitors pushed for the equaliser they were left vulnerbale to the counter attack.

Brett and Clapham both had goal bound efforts well saved, which would have killed the game off in the final 15 minutes, but despite the missed opportunities Honley held on for the 3-2 win.

The victory means Honley remain third in Division Two, but now sit just a point behind Ovenden and six behind league leaders Gildersome Spurs, who have played two games more.