With only two games on in their league Leek Town took advantage of their 4G playing surface and grabbed the opportunity to go top of the Pitching In Northern Premier League West with a convincing 3-0 home win over Hednesford Town.

After good back to back wins over Clitheroe and Witton the Blues continued with the same starting eleven but found themselves up against a hard working and well organised Hednesford side who belied their lowly league position particularly in an evenly matched first half.

The visitors main threat was from the lively Jai Verma down their left and the Pitmen were eager to get the ball to him as much as possible. The tricky winger put in a couple of dangerous low crosses and also fired in an 11th min shot that Dino Visser held above his head. However, in the main, Blues full back Liam Buckley had a fine game in containing Verma so much so that he faded out of the game in the second half.

Although there was little between the sides it was Leek who had the better chances of the half and could have gone into the break a goal up.

As early as the 4th minute Rob Stevenson drew a fine save from Kieran Boucher in the Pitmens goal. Buckley and Dan Trickett-Smith worked the ball down the Leek right before finding Tom Reilly just outside the area. He found Stevenson in the area with a pinpoint pass and the striker turned and hit the ball in one move but Boucher got down low to push it round the post for a corner.

And on 37mins Olly Harrison got up highest to meet a Louis Keenan corner but saw his header cleared off the goal line by a well placed Pitman defender to keep the score goalless.

LEEK TOWN 0 - HEDNESFORD TOWN 0 HT

The opening period of the second half remained tight with Leek skipper Marc Grocott having a shot blocked on 50mins whilst at the other end Hednesford had a header flash across the face of goal from a corner.

But after this scare the Blues would finally begin to assert themselves and go on to dominate and control the rest of the game, although it would take a fine individual goal from Stevenson to set them on their way.

There looked to be little danger as the ball was played down the channel to the striker on 54mins and he was being well shepherded by a Pitman defender. However Stevenson showed strength and neat footwork as he brought the ball under control, cut back across the defender and slide a low left footed shot inside the far post beyond the reach of Boucher to make it 1-0.

Five minutes later and it was nearly two. Grocott won a challenge in midfield and nodded the ball square to Trickett-Smith. He took one touch and unleashed a thunderbolt of a drive from a fully 30yds that smacked against the bar and had such power it actually lifted the goal frame slightly off the ground.

Trickett-Smith immediately had another opportunity as the Blues won back the ball and Tom Carr, who had been man marked by Michael Williams throughout the game was brought down by the defender on the edge of the area. Trickett-Smith took the free kick but a deflection off the wall meant it was an easy gather for Boucher.

Joe Morley had a rare second half opportunity for the visitors on 63mins as he found himself unmarked in the area but his left foot shot was well held by Visser, who was to go on and earn his first clean sheet for the Blues.

Leek then gave themselves breathing space and break the Hednesford resolve with a second goal on 67mins and it was all down to some great work by Carr. He did brilliantly to control a long ball forward whilst under pressure from the ever present Williams. Carr held off the defender as he cut back and took the ball along the edge of the area before sliding an intelligent forward pass through to Trickett-Smith who made no mistake lashing his shot past Boucher for 2-0.

Trickett-Smith nearly returned the compliment to Carr just a minute later as the Blues won the ball back from the restart and launched another attack. Trickett-Smith got to the by line and pulled the ball back for Carr but his first time effort was just the wrong side of the post.

The Blues were now in full flow with Grocott leading by example and driving the team forward with a strong midfield performance. His ball into the path of Stevenson on 75mins allowed the striker to move beyond his marker and hit a cross with the outside of his right foot that looked to give Carr a tap in until Boucher managed to take it off his toes with a diving save.

However, Carr was finally able to get the goal his overall play had deserved on 78mins and, for the second week running, ensured all of the Blues forwards got their names on the scoresheet. This time the goal was down to Fenton Green who also had had an assured game and gone quietly about his business.

The young midfielder showed great energy with a bursting run from half way, with the crowd encouraging him to shoot as he approached the area he instead slid the ball to Carr, and he showed quick feet to transfer the ball onto his left foot and cooly finish home to complete the scoring.

LEEK TOWN 3 - HEDNESFORD TOWN 0 FT

REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

Photo Gallery by Jim Booth HERE

So a good day at the F Ball Community Stadium as Leek took full advantage over close rivals in the league, Leek will use the week to prepare for the top of the table clash against Prescot Cables next Saturday away (1st vs 2nd) before a trip to Hednesford in the Staffordshire Senior Cup (Tuesday 12 December) and then a return to home on Saturday 16 December where we will play Chasetown FC.