Neil Bakers side returned to friendly action on Tuesday evening in Shropshire against a Whitchurch Alport side who had strengthened their ranks over the summer with addition of many ex Evo-Stik South players.

Leek were without several players but this gave a chance to some of the younger members of the squad to impress.

Initially the game was scrappy with neither team able to gain the advantage, as time passed Leek began to pass the ball more effectively and it was Tim Grice who broke the deadlock midway in the first half, rising above Leon Ashman to flick past stranded keeper Dave Parton.

Grice was on the scoresheet again ten minutes later when a loose ball in the box was again contested by him and Ashman with Grice getting the last touch with his head.

Early in the second half Grice completed his hat trick when he reacted to a ball on the edge of the box and curled his shot past Parton.

The remainder of the game was an opportunity for both managers to give all the players on the bench a run out, which they did.

Leek will face a sterner test on Saturday when they travel to Sheffield FC in another pre-season friendly.