A second-half Gareth Williams hat-trick gave Croydon Athletic a hard-fought 3-2 win over Leatherhead on Saturday.

The former Crystal Palace struck the winner five minutes from time as the Rams moved back up to third place in Ryman League Division One South.

The match started brightly with Williams through on goal as early as the third minutes but his shot ended up over the crossbar.

At the other end, Matt Francis had a close range chance in the penalty box that went wide of the far post.

Some good work by Tom Bolarinwa and Tom Davis appeared to have set up Ben Godfrey, but the Leatherhead keeper got down well to keep his shot out.

With the Tanners getting more of the play in the opening exchanges, the first goal came in the 33rd minute when Francis got on the end of a ball in the six yard box to put the away team one-up and the score stayed the same until half time.

The game came to lift after the break with three goals in seven minutes.

Williams did bring the Rams level in the 56th minute though when Rory Hill's corner found its way through to him and poked the ball home from close range.

Two minutes later he put the home side ahead when Godfrey's shot came off the crossbar and the post and Williams was waiting to pounce and get his second goal of the game.

In the 63rd minute, Leatherhead’s Tommy Hutchings had a run through on goal and he crossed the ball in to the waiting Elliott Thompson to level the scores at 2-2. Hutchings had another chance three minutes later but his long range drive went just wide.

 With both teams pushing for the winner, it was Williams again with a lovely 20-yard strike to win the game for the Rams and continue their challenge at the top of the division.

Croydon Athletic: Nicky Morgan, Joe Howe, Chris Bourne, Tom Davis, Daniel Sintim (Gary Noel, 67), Ben Lewis, Tom Bolarinwa (Danny Waldren, 77), Chris Piper, Ben Godfrey, Gareth Williams (Jeremy Williams, 87), Rory Hill Subs not used: Bentley Graham, Charlie Sharman