Walshaw Sports 1 Hindsford 3

HINDSFORD came away from Walshaw with three points thanks to a Chris Hopwood hat-trick.

The hard-fought victory over a side that had lost only one of their last seven matches took the Tonics six points clear at the top of the Manchester Football League Premier Division.

The visitors built up a 2-0 lead in the first half and settled matters 20 minutes from time when Hopwood converted a penalty after Goldrick had been scythed down as he attempted to fire the trigger.

A response two minutes later meant the leaders needed to stand strong for the final period.

They had gone ahead after 15 minutes.

An in-swinging Rico Stewart corner was acrobatically flicked to the back post by Chilton where the unmarked Hopwood fired his left footed drive into the back of the net.

After securing an early goal, something which has eluded the Tonics over recent weeks, things were to get even better on 30 minutes when another corner, this time from Dixon, was bundled home after some suspect goal keeping.

Hindsford travel to Avro on Saturday.