JOE Rawcliffe plundered a hat-trick as the York Minster Engineering League under-21 side beat their Yorkshire Amateur League counterparts 6-2.

The Dringhouses ace was joined on the scoresheet by team-mate Rob Hutton and two-goal Tom Hoggard, of Old Malton St Mary’s, as the Minster youngsters lifted the Northern Inter-League Challenge Cup at Pocklington Town.

York opened the scoring early on when Hutton was released down the left following a great pass from Matty Mulhearn, before firing across the face of goal into the far corner.

From the kick-off, York regained possession and a Mulhearn cross found Hoggard, but his shot was saved, which prompted an immediate response from the YAL, who levelled following a great run down the left and cross by Tavead Ahmed for Reece Ohare to tap in.

Good link up play between both Mulhearns - Matty and man-of-the-match Cameron - then resulted in the latter finding George Brown on the right.

His cross was subsequently met by Rawcliffe who, after his first effort was saved and a second came back off the bar, scrambled a third attempt in on 12 minutes.

The YAL again responded well, but York’s back three of Owen Marshall, Dan Clubley and Joe Milner were well organised and, with the help of Cameron Mulhearn in midfield, restricted them to long-range efforts which keeper Josh Archer dealt with comfortably.

Cameron Mulhearn was also a constant threat with his ball-winning and willingness to receive a pass and, after 30 minutes, he found Rawcliffe just outside the penalty area and his shot beat keeper Tom Thornton with the aid of a bobble.

Just before half time, it was 4-1 when Hoggard won a penalty that Rawcliffe converted for his hat-trick.

After the break, York’s midfield five of Hutton, the Mulhearns, Sam Drake and Brown worked hard on their defensive duties, while Rawcliffe had the ball in the net again, only to be flagged offside.

The YAL reduced the deficit on 65 minutes when Archer’s punch from a free kick dropped to Nick Maxwell, who found an unguarded goal from ten yards.

At the other end, Matty Mulhearn curled narrowly wide, while Hoggard was causing havoc, cutting in on his favoured left foot from the right.

The pressure resulted in Cameron Mulhearn, who had been switched to the centre of defence following a red card to a team-mate, sending Hoggard on a driving run to score with an 85th-minute screamer and he completed the scoring at the death following a Matty Mulhearn through ball.

Elsewhere, York U11 schoolboys drew 1-1 at fierce rivals Leeds after Liam Mainprize’s second-half strike was cancelled out swiftly by a contentious home penalty.

The visitors’ central-midfield pairing of Adam Clarkson and Mainprize were magnificent all game, while the defensive line of Ryan Evans, Paul Iggulden and Ben Myers also performed very well as a unit.