Eccleshill United 2 Handsworth 5

 The Eagles had their wings clipped as they turned in one of their worst displays of the season to lose to one of their Northern Counties East League promotion rivals for a second successive Saturday.

Ian Banks was hoping his squad would react positively after a contentious defeat at Pontefract Collieries but Handsworth came to the Rapid Solicitors Stadium with a greater desire than the home side.

A defeat was not on the cards when Andy Howland put the Eagles in front very early on, the striker turning right back Matthew Thorn-ton’s cross in with a diving header at the near post.

The visitors soon replied, Scott Bates netting in the seventh minute, and went on to dominate the first half.

Bates grabbed his second when he rammed the ball in from close range following a corner on the half-hour and completed his hat-trick with a crisp shot from just inside the area two minutes before the interval.

Scott Price and Victor Balis were introduced by Banks early in the second half but it was late substitute Charlie Flaherty who almost turned the tide.

Price had a long-range effort that was well off target just after the hour and from the counter-attack Bates turned provider for Sam Smith to make it 4-1.

In the 79th minute, Handsworth keeper Rob Poulter raced out of his area to reach a through ball but, with Howland and Marcus Edwards closing in he had to make a hurried clearance. The ball fell to Flaherty 35 yards from goal and, with no keeper in the area. he lashed a shot at the gaping target.

Two defenders threw themselves at the ball and left back Wes Hill was dismissed by the female referee amid claims of handball.

Centre back James Colliver voiced his dissatisfaction with the decision and was shown a yellow card before Edwards drilled the spot-kick home.

At 4-2 and against ten men with ten minutes plus stoppage time to go, the Eagles were back in it but they couldn’t force home their numerical advantage.

Eccleshill’s day was summed up just into stoppage time when an angled drive from Edwards was palmed onto the post by Poulter and from the rebound Handsworth broke to turn in a nap hand as Smith added their fifth.