If The Weavers are going to make a late title push, you can’t help but feel that Joe Clegg will be instrumental in that effort. The January signing from Emley has been one of the main reasons Golcar seems to have gotten over their recent slump in form.

The addition of Clegg has raised the physicality levels in the middle of the park whilst also giving the side an extra goal threat. Clegg and Oli Russon, his midfield partner in the last 2 games, have dominated the midfield right from the beginning of both games.

So, it was only fitting that the two combined for the opening goal in the 18th minute. A short free-kick reached Russon, and he found his midfield partner with a perfectly weighted through ball and Clegg blasted his effort past Handsworth keeper Dylan Parkin and into the bottom corner.

Soon after, George Doyle doubled Golcar's lead. He got his 20th league goal of the season by capitalising on a sliced clearance by The Ambers captain, Jonathan Williams, and a slip from the keeper Parkin allowed our number 9 to score one of the easiest goals of his career.

By the time the game was 30 minutes in, Golcar were three up. Nicky Clee carried on his creative exploits from midweek by going on a driving run down the left channel, dribbling past multiple players, which culminated in a clever ball to Ryan Hall, and he put it away for his first goal since September.

Despite what the scoreline suggested, it was not an easy half for The Village. Harry Stead made a couple of fine stops from the Handsworth attackers whilst their number 7, Alfie Dodsworth caused problems. As the half progressed, it was a regular occurrence that one of the midfield two came and helped out Clee, whenever Dodsworth was on the ball.

Handsworth did deserve a goal from the game, and they found it just after the hour mark. Scott Ruthven made an instinctive shot on the turn following a set-piece situation to score his 22nd league goal of the season.

Within 5 minutes, the three-goal cushion was restored. Once again, Clegg was the finisher, tapping in from within 6 yards after a scramble in the box to score his third goal in five appearances for The Village.

A chaotic first half was juxtaposed by a quiet second as the referee regularly blew his whistle against Golcar. That perfectly suited Handsworth’s long-ball-centric play, however, Kiero Lawrence and Sam Pashley, who filled in for Shane Killock after he went off in the first half, coped admirably with the physical Ruthven and Handsworth barely got a sniff of a chance in the final stages of the game.

Silsden’s loss at home to Winterton Rangers and our comfortable win leaves the gap between the top two at just 6 points, with each side having 8 league games left in their campaigns.

Next up for Ashley and Gavin Connor's men is a trip to the bottom of the table, Goole AFC, next Saturday (1st March).

Golcar: Stead, Pashley, Lawrence, Killock (North, 38), Clee, Russon (Calvert, 87), Clegg, Wilkinson, Hall (Kilbourn, 90), Doyle (Naidole, 79), Petch (Phillip, 83).

Scorers: Clegg (18, 65), Doyle (26), Hall (30).

Attendance: 202.