A SECOND half hat trick from Richard Walsh secured a valuable three points for Golcar United in a thrilling 5-4 win at Westwood Park, home of defending league champions Wibsey FC.

West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division outfit United fell behind on 10 minutes when a cross from the left was met by Wibsey striker Wood, who got in front of the United defenders to head home.

Golcar played themselves back into the game and on 25 minutes a cross-field pass found Ben Powis in space inside the penalty area, and he made no mistake to level the scores.

Ten minutes later United striker Kieran Ryan received the ball in the area then, with his back to goal, he showed great skill to control the ball before turning and firing a cracking left-foot strike into the top corner.

At the start of the second half two early mistakes proved costly and United went 3-2 down.

On 46 minutes a mix up in the United defence allowed Wibsey’s Pedder to tap home and five minutes later United lost the ball in the midfield, Wibsey broke swiftly and a cross fell between two defenders allowing Wood to head Wibsey into the lead.

The game looked to have gone beyond Golcar’s reach when they went 4-2 down with Brooksbank on target after a corner.

But United refused to lie down and were driven on by an industrious Ben Powis and captain Wayne Dyson.

On 60 minutes Walsh broke through and pulled a goal back from close range which spurred on United who sensed there was still something in this game for them.

On 75 minutes Walsh made it 4-4 to leave Wibsey on the rack.

United could see the three points beckoning and with five minutes remaining Walsh again stepped up to fire in a stinging shot and give United a 5-4 victory after a thrilling match.

United’s second string, promoted last season, continued their unbeaten run in Division II, when they held Yeadon-Ventus to a 2-2 draw at Longfield Avenue.

Premier Division debutants Meltham moved to second place after a comfortable 4-0 win against lowly Hall Green United.

The damage was done in the first half when the Mathews brothers, Tom (2) and Adam (1), put the home team in control.

Meltham coasted the second half although Hall Green had two chances cleared off the line but they never looked like mounting a serious challenge.

Chris Brammall made sure of the points on 50 minutes as Meltham ran out worthy winners. Adam Mathews twas man-of-the-match again.

Dion Smith slammed home a late goal to give Storthes Hall a 2-1 victory against Hemsworth.

Pardeep Singh and Michael Tunnacliffe linked well to create an opening for Rob Morris who saw his drive go just too high.

At the other end, Hall keeper John Sykes reacted brilliantly to keep out a header from John Sykes and then Hemsworth stopper Ian McHarg got down well to turn Chris Drew’s 20-yard effort around a post but he was unable to stop Drew’s fierce 25-yard shot minutes later which fired Hall into a 1-0 lead.

On 33 minutes Hall, now in the ascendancy, should have increased their lead after Singh’s square ball found Steve Slack five yards out but McHarg produced a superb block and just before the break McHarg came to Hemsworth’s rescue when he tipped a Chris Margis header around a post from Morris’s cross.

Tunnacliffe and Matt Mulvihill were also denied after the break by the keeper and with Hemsworth looking increasingly dangerous on the break, they equalised on 78 minutes when Nigel Beardow deflected the ball into the net from six yards out after a couple of ricochets.

It seemed two points had been thrown away but Hall grabbed a late winner on 85 minutes when Morris’s cross from the right was headed across goal by Drew and left-back Smith appeared from nowhere to beat McHarg and fire home.

Premier Division leaders Bay Athletic went down to a shock 2-1 defeat at basement club Keighley Shamrocks when a Paul Pyke strike was not enough to prevent only a second defeat in nine games.