NORTH Leigh moved three points clear at the top of Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West after a 1-0 win over fellow high-fliers Taunton Town on Saturday.

It followed their 4-2 victory over Slimbridge last Wednesday, when they hit four goals for the second game running.

Against Taunton, who were also on maximum points going into it, Morgan Williams was the hero with a 63rd-minute winner.

Although the margin of victory was slender, Millers had the majority of play and deserved the three points to make it five wins from their first five league games.

They started brightly and from Aaron Woodley’s cross, Williams shot just wide.

The game became open with both sides attacking at every opportunity, and Callum McNish, Woodley and Kieran Sanders gave Taunton’s defence a hard time with surging runs.

In the second half, North Leigh upped their pace and began to dominate.

But Taunton came fighting back and Ben Carter hit a stunning shot against the bar.

Moments later, North Leigh grabbed the winner.

Elliott Osborne-Ricketts slipped the ball through to Williams 10 yards out and he turned and fired past keeper Lloyd Irish.

Taunton pressed for an equaliser, but the hosts defended well and held on for victory.

North Leigh: Foster, Welch-Hayes, Hopkins, Turk, White, Hole, Woodley, Osborne-Ricketts, Sanders, McNish, Williams (Seacole 89). Subs not used: Liford-Pill, Cook.

On a rain-sodden Eynsham Park pitch last Wednesday, it took North Leigh 76 minutes to go in front against Slimbridge – after they again missed a penalty.

But Osborne-Ricketts made amends for his saved spot kick early in the game – the fourth time in a row Millers had missed a penalty – by sending a fizzing left-footed shot into the net to make it 3-2.

North Leigh had twice come from behind through Sanders, who levelled just before half-time after Paul Fahy had given Slimbridge a 27th-minute lead, and then Sanders equalised on 69 after Alex Hoyle had put the visitors 2-1 in front.

With nine minutes to go George Seacole finished it off, after a Sanders shot was parried, to earn North Leigh an exciting 4-2 victory.

North Leigh: Foster, Welch-Hayes, Williams, Turk, White, Sanders, Woodley, Osborne-Ricketts, Cook (Hole 55), McNish, Seacole Subs not used: Fullerton, Liford-Pill.

North Leigh travel to Combined Counties Premier Division side Cove in the Emirates FA Cup this Saturday, with the winners away to Hythe Town or Chessington & Hook United in the first qualifying round.