Young Dan Palmer had a day to remember as his hat-trick helped Worsbrough Bridge earn their first win of the Toolstation NCEL Division One season and an impressive 5-1 victory at Parkgate.
The win at one of the league’s fancied sides ensures a positive start to the campaign for Bridge who have taken four points from three matches.
The three points were also a big reward for the club, who have been receiving a barrage of tweets from ‘outraged’ people determined to start some kind of moral panic over floodlight failure that could happen at any ground in the country.
So after a difficult week, it was like Club Tropicana for Worsbrough – fun in the sunshine, just without the free drinks.
Palmer finished low into the bottom left corner for the opener on 12 minutes before a deflected Brandon Bagley levelled proceedings.
The returning Billy Rhodes fired Worsbrough back ahead before former Parkgate midfielder Ash Emmett struck a goal-of-the-season contender.
After the break, Parkgate’s task was made harder as Ash Simpson received a straight red card.
Palmer completed his treble with a 67 minute goal and a late one.
The win moves Worsbrough above Hallam who lost 2-1 at Retford FC.
Richard Tootle brought Hallam level with a 30-yard half volley, but a Will Tomlinson penalty won it for new-boys Retford.
Jake Squires’ second half penalty earned Swallownest a 1-1 draw at home to Ollerton Town.
The point was a good considering they played with ten men for the last 20 minutes as Jay Atkin went off injured when all three substitutions had been used.
Ollerton themselves ended up with ten men late-on as Sean Dickinson was sin-binned at the same time their assistant manager was sent off.