BARRY Gargett scored a hat-trick as Leeper Hare York and District League premier division table-toppers Pocklington Town gave Huntington Rovers their first defeat of the year.

The visitors took the lead after only six minutes when a poor clearance gifted Gargett with the opening goal. Mike Murr made it 2-0 ten minutes later direct from a corner.

Only the crossbar and a post separated Huntington from a bigger deficit before Gargett coolly lobbed the ball over Huntington's goalkeeper for Pocklington's third goal as half-time approached.

Huntington stepped up their game in the second half and the introduction of Iain Dunn made a difference as they took the game to Pocklington, who were content to sit on their lead.

Graham MacDonald rounded off a good move to reduce the arrears, but any hopes the home side had of salvaging something from the game were dashed when Brent Terry outpaced the home defence and crossed for Gargett to complete his hat-trick.

Wigginton came away from Crayke with a 3-0 win that should see them safely out of the relegation zone. Tom Matthews bagged the only goal of the first half in an evenly-contested game in which the home side could not take their chances. It was another Matthews goal and one from Tom Coates which secured the win for Grasshoppers.

Club secretary Wayne Read hit the winner for Malton Bacon Factory at home to Kartiers. Tom Oxtoby opened the Factory's account after 12 minutes. There were no further goals until 15 minutes from time when Kartiers equalised but Reed produced the goods two minutes later to ensure that there were no upsets in the form book.

Dunnington's goalkeeper performed heroics to keep the rampant Dringhouses forwards at bay, but he made one crucial error and that presented the only goal of the game to Mark Woodward and Dringhouses went home with the points.

Phil Hill set Old Malton on their way with a first half goal against Bishopthorpe and Dave Bradshaw added two in the second half as the visitors failed to find the net.

A Mark Flood penalty three minutes from the end gave division one promotion chasers Copmanthorpe a 1-0 win at home to Thorpe United.

Wigginton Black Horse went five points clear at the top with a 6-1 romp over lowly Fulford. Wigginton's Selby Town contingent played a big part in the victory.

Steve Ward opened the scoring and Jamie Seal made it 2-0. Glen Featherstone pulled one back for Fulford, but Ward bagged another before half-time and went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half. Matty Wain and James Luck added a goal each.

Norwich Union gained three valuable points in their fight against relegation as they defeated Haxby Town 2-0, both goals coming from James Hutt. Haxby's keeper was sent off after only five minutes and they had another player dismissed in the second half.

T&L Selby are still in the promotion pack after a 3-2 home win over Haxby & Wigginton. The Selby side raced into a three-goal lead with strikes by Craig Hewitt, John Ginty and Chris Harkin inside the first 20 minutes and were three-up at the break.

The visitors dominated the second half and pulled two goals back through Mark Grewer.

Post Office slipped a place after being held to a scoreless draw by New Earswick. St John's College returned to winning ways with a 3-2 home win over Civil Service, who are now in deep relegation trouble. Rob Ellis (2) and Chris Walker scored for St John's.

Updated: 09:09 Monday, March 24, 2003