A HAT-TRICK from Danny Cates earned Hamilton Panthers a shock 4-2 victory at high-flying Poppleton Colts in the York FA Under-19s League.

Panthers had won only one of their previous five league games, but they raced into a 3-0 half-time lead at Millfield Lane.

Cates opened the scoring and Jack Condron should have made it two, but Poppleton goalkeeper Ash Nelson pulled off a fantastic save.

Adam Brookes made it 2-0 with a scrappy goal and Cates added a third just before the break.

Cates completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes, while Poppleton pulled two goals back late on through Luke Berridge and James Benford.

Panthers’ new-found form will be tested to the full tomorrow (1.30pm) when they travel to leaders Rawcliffe.

New Earswick surprised Rawcliffe by storming into a 2-0 lead with goals from Chris Purnell and Jonathon Moss.

Rawcliffe then woke up and hit back to make it 2-2 at half-time.

The leaders went on to win 5-2 – their eighth successive victory – with goals from Luke Hall (2), Eddy Clapham (2) and Dale Holding.

Easingwold Town and Tadcaster Albion shared the points in an end to end game which finished 3-3.

Easingwold took the lead when James Moverley shot past the advancing Albion ’keeper.

Taddy equalised with a deflected free-kick from Jack Crowley and it was 1-1 at the interval.

Easingwold scored again through a Charlie Magill header from a corner.

Ben Stirk almost made it three, but he was denied by a post and Albion made it 2-2 when Hugh Barlow latched on to a long ball.

Moverley made it 3-2 to Easingwold when he chested down a goal-kick and shot home from 20 yards.

However, Albion equalised a minute later when Barlow forced the ball home after a scramble in the area.

Heworth held Dunnington to 1-1 at half-time, but Dunnington upped the pace in the second half to run out 7-1 winners.

Alex Low scored a hat-trick and there were further goals from Mike Watson, Rob Chipps, Tim Lamb and Lewis Griffiths.

Huntington beat Wigginton 3-2 with goals from Sam Lowther, Daryl Robson and Jack Atkinson.

Jordan McGuigan and Jason Hogg replied for Wiggy.