Golcar Con opened their 2015-16 Kirklees Sunday League campaign with a 2-1 win over Dalton at Longfield Avenue.

They immediately go joint second with four other sides in the embryonic table.

It was their first outing since lifting the Lockwood Private Hire Trophy at the end of last season and eight players from the final were in the team.

Defensively they looked solid with the back three of Sam Pinnick, James McAllister and Aaron Baxter giving Dalton no room.

Up front Danny Murray was running his socks off, linking up well with the midfield and creating chances for Golcar.

This pressure paid off in the 32nd minute when Iain McCaig swung in a near-post corner which was headed into his own goal by Dalton defender Liam McManus.

Nat Kelly made a fine save from Matt Anderson to prevent Golcar going two up and, in the second half, Dalton piled on the pressure for home keeper Paul Crossley.

Golcar were riding their luck but, in the 68th minute, neat play on the edge of the box resulted in striker Ben Brook being one-on-one with Crossley and he fired in the equaliser.

Both teams then had chances but the decider came 12 minutes from time when Connor Kaye was punished for handball in the box and Baxter stepped up to slot home the winning penalty.

Dalton had beaten Golcar Con 4-0 and 6-1 last season.

Meltham Victoria Park gained a surprise 3-0 victory over Walkers Hounds at Broadlands (both sides also sharing second place).

Hounds were missing several key players such as Craig Burns, Connor Woodruff, Chris Cornelly, Paul Swallow and long-term injury victim and influential player Ben Burnett (out all season with a torn ligament, requiring an operation), however Meltham showed the greater hunger.

Hounds looked lacklustre and played without their usual passion and suffered when Gary Hirst limped off early with a nasty leg injury.

It still looked good for Hounds after only two minutes when Lee Davies controlled a long ball on his chest, jinked passed two defenders with clever step overs and unleashed a 30-yard drive that rattled the bar.

The visitors had plenty of possession and took the game to Meltham, with Connor Sykes and Dan Stocker (probes down the wing) producing the biggest threats, and Meltham responding on the break.

Meltham’s rearguard were defiant in cutting out the threats on goal and their keeper Sam Phillpot stood firm when called upon.

Meltham made it 1-0 through Michael Dolan after 10 minutes, and then Adam Matthews saw a powerful shot fly over the Hounds bar.

The second half was still close, but after 52 minutes Darren Green scored an easy header, meeting a cross from Matthews for 2-0.

After 62 minutes Daniel Tindall dispatched a penalty for 3-0, after a Meltham attacker was hacked down.

Hounds’ Matty Blakely was unlucky in one of his side’s many attacks when he chipped a close-range shot onto the bar.

Man-of-the-match for Meltham was midfielder Joe Baum.

Leaders Linthwaite (six points) easily beat FC Nightingale 10-0 at Reinwood Rec.

Dean Siddiq led the way with a hat trick, Don Johnson and Steve Richards had two each and Daniel Walker, Paul Day and Rhys Wharam were also on target.

Wellington Westgate defeated Linthwaite Reserves 8-1 at Paddock.

Steven Marshall put Welly ahead and the very young Linthwaite side couldn’t match their pace and strength.

Further goals from Ben Roach (2), Paul Krol (with a powerful header), another from Marshall and a debut hat trick from Kyle Andrews completed Welly’s scoring.

Linthwaite did pull one back through Nicky Pike and their keeper Chris Wilkinson pulled off several good saves.

Credit to Linthwaite as they kept going and never gave up and the future looks bright for them if they stay together and keep going.