Its anyones division in the Midlands with two sides picking up their first wins of the season in matchweek three.
ESPFA West Yorkshire (Brighouse Town) showed fantastic attitude and determination after a difficult matchweek two in their home game against ESPFA Lancashire (Skelmersdale United).
The away side are this years set piece kings and their opener added to their rising tally with a close range James Carney finish from a corner. Leyton Baines then doubled the advantage with a smart turn and finish from 18 yards before half time.
Ciaran Broadbent took advantage of a small mix up in defence to get ESPFA West Yorkshire (Brighouse Town) back into the game with a smart finish before Harvey Adatsi secured the points for the visitors with a long range chip from 30 yards.
The Cheshire derby between Runcorn Linnets and Witton Albion was expected to be a tight affair and the predictions came true to form with the away side maintaining their 100% start to the season.
Bill McNay's finish on 18 minutes put the home side ahead and they looked to take their lead into half time but Emanuel Hickson had other ideas with a close range volley to send both sides level at the break.
Some fantastic one touch football finished off from Isaac Shaw turned the game around for the visitors and with 10 minutes left, Zach Billinge extended the lead with a neat finish for his sides third and his sixth of the season. A late Mohamed Soumah goal gave the hosts hope but ESPFA Cheshire (Witton Albion) held on for the three points.
In the Midlands division it was a battle of hat-tricks in the ESPFA Derbyshire derby between Belper Town and Mickleover (Black).
Chris Bitshuangu's neat footwork gave the visiting team the lead after 15 minutes before Dylan Tomlinson's left footed finish brought the hosts back into the game.
Ewan Sutherill then gave the home side the lead racing ahead to smartly finish not long after.
Sutherill then added his second showing fantastic strength to bring down a ball on his chest and hold of the defender to slot the ball home to extend the lead.
It was now a game between the two strikers with Bitshuangu also showing strength after his shirt was pulled to play a one two and dink the ball over the on rushing goalkeeper
Bitshuangu then weaved his way through the Belper defence brilliantly to draw his side level at 3-3 and secure his hat-trick.
Sutherill not long after was given the chance to get his hat-trick and put his side in the lead, which he did with a superb penalty after Tom Barton was pulled down before Barton put the game beyond doubt with a well deserved goal late on.
ESPFA Staffordshire (Stafford Town) got their first ever win in the ESPFA making the short trip to ESPFA West Midlands (Rushall Olympic Black).
Hot shot Lee Mayne put the hosts ahead with a superb penalty early on before adding to his tally heading home from a corner 20 minutes later.
James Adey brought the away side back into the game from a similar play before the break and they pulled level in the second half thanks to a Jaydon Brown long range effort.
The comeback was complete when a superb lofting free kick from Pa Trawally was met by the run and the head of Tyler Watson to give the Staffordshire side their first maximum points of the season.
In the final game of matchweek three, last seasons champions ESPFA West Midlands (Rushall Olympic Amber) travelled to ESPFA Derbyshire (Mickleover Black) and both sides played their part in an exciting six goal game.
The home side took the lead through Francisco Santos who reacted quickest to tap the ball home but were pegged back when Cobie Hodgkiss got on the end of a wonderful deep cross to draw his side level.
Carson Jarman finished well from 8 yards to give the side from Walsall the half time lead.
In the second half, the home side's comeback began when Dylan Samaringa raced ahead and dinked his shot over the keeper to bring the scores level at 2-2.
They went ahead not long after when a determined run from Charlie Price presented him with a one on one and came out the winner, slotting the ball in the corner to restore his sides lead.
The comeback was complete and the points secured when Price got his brace with a cool finish after rounding the goalkeeper.
League Tables after Matchweek Three
Post Match Interviews
Team of the Week - #MatchweekThree
Well done to all the students who were nominated by their coaches for this week’s edition of #TeamOfTheWeek and also a special mention to #ESPFADerbyshire student Ewan Sutherill who's hat-trick for ESPFA Derbyshire (Belper Town) secured the derby win over ESPFA Derbyshire (Mickleover).
The Highlights Show
You can catch all the North and Midlands Division goals and match highlights in #MatchweekThree edition of The Highlights Show.
Team lineups (scroll left)
