North Leigh looked like ending their losing run when they took an early 2-0 lead in their Calor League Division 1 South & West clash at Merthyr on Saturday.

But the Welsh hosts hit back to win with a hat-trick from Kerry Morgan – completed with a disputed penalty – to go top of the table.

The result also condemned the Millers to their fifth successive defeat on a day when all other fixtures in the division was postponed due to the bad weather.

However, Merthyr’s 3G pitch was in perfect shape and seemed to suit North Leigh’s smooth passing game early on.

With former player Michael Hopkins, re-signed from Hun-gerford Town in the line-up, the visitors started well and went ahead on nine minutes.

A long ball out of defence found Morgan Williams.

Merthyr keeper Giles Cut-lan came out to narrow the angle, but Williams beat him with a sweet left-foot shot.

The visitors’ goal came under constant pressure, but keeper Adam McHugh – who made his debut after signing on loan from Forest Green Rovers – stopped everything.

On 25 minutes, Merthyr were stunned again as Willi-ams put in a deep cross from the right, and Aaron Woodley slipped in behind the home defence to make it 2-0 But seven minutes later, Morgan headed past McHugh from a corner to cut their lead.

Before half-time, the scores were level as Morgan scored again with a 12-yard shot.

After the break, the Millers coped well with Merthyr’s bombardment and it needed a controversial penalty decision by referee Kevin Morris, awarded for a push on Ryan Charles for Merthyr to go ahe-ad.

Morgan hammered the pen-alty past McHugh in the 63rd minute to seal his treble.

The visitors’ best chance came five minutes from time when Conor McDonagh’s long-range shot was fumbled by Cutlan, but Turk headed wide.

North Leigh: McHugh, Hole, Hopkins, Osborne-Ricketts (Turk 72), Gunn, Westlake, Else (Walcott 80), Bowles, McDonagh, Woodley (Dobson 72), Williams. Subs not used: Organ, Caton.

Attendance: 435.