The Kirklees Sunday League programme served up a close encounter at Broadlands Rec.
The visitors, the fast improving Linthwaite Reserves side, gained a 4-3 success against Meltham Victoria Park.
The game started with both sides having some good chances.
Meltham attacked down the right and played a low ball across the area, which Linthwaite right back Jamie Plumbly tried to clear but unfortunately knocked the ball into his own net.
Plumbly then made amends when he went straight into attack immediately after the kick-off and levelled the score with a sweet right-foot half-volley into the Meltham goal.
Linthwaite went into the break 2-1 up through Nicky Pike and started the second half well with some good midfield play from Ben Boulton and Adam Holt.
However it was the home side‘s Steven Shepherd who scored next to make it 2-2.
Some good work from Hughie Friell in the heart of the Linthwaite defence kept Meltham from adding to their score.
Dominic Moorhouse ran the Linthwaite midfield brilliantly and was Linthwaite’s man of the match.
The score soon got to 3-3 (Pike for Linthwaite & Lee Wood for Meltham) and it looked like being a draw.
However just outside the Meltham goal area Linthwaite’s Daniel Garton played the ball up in the air with his left foot, spooned around and volleyed with his right to score what can only be described as a world class goal – worthy to win any game.
Linthwaite Reserves Manager Chris Wilkinson considered his side fully deserved the three points and are proving they can be a match for any team in the league.
Wilkinson also praised the 16-year-old referee Tom Dickens, in his first season at this level, who he thought had the game under his full control and refereed the game to a very high standard.
Dalton earned a 3-0 victory over FC Nightingale in an entertaining game at Standiforth Rec, but the away side are proving to be a much tougher opposition this season.
Nightingale have shown improved performances this season and they battled well in this game, with the visitors probably just edging the first half missed chances from Matt Cumiskey and Michael Pell.
Either team could have scored in the first half, but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping kept the scores at 0-0 at half-time.
Three goals in a 10 minute spell in the second half gave Dalton a 3-0 victory.
The game became an even contest again after the break, but whatever Dalton manager Chris Auckland said at half-time did the trick though.
From the restart the home team upped the tempo and Nathan Large headed them in front after meeting a long ball over the top from captain Andy Mellor.
Ben Brook doubled the scoreline two minutes later after a fortuitous through ball from Harry Walker, before Walker got on the scoresheet himself five minutes later.
Both teams pressed for further goals but the game ended 3-0.
Michael Pell and MOM Nathan Gallagher were Nightingale’s outstanding performers
FC Walkers Hounds beat Foresters 9-0 at Golcar, where Sam Ansell netted a hat trick.
There were two goals from Max Leonard, and one apiece for Matthew Blakely, Connor Woodruff, Carl Sykes and Pierce Walker as Hounds pressed home their advantage.
