Goalkeeper Paul Greenhalgh was on target to help Wittering Premiair maintain their superb start to the Peterborough League Division One campaign on Saturday.

Greenhalgh scored the fourth goal for the Harriers with a wind-assisted kick in their 4-1 away success at Whittlesey United Reserves to seal an eighth successive league victory for the table-toppers.

Top scorer Lee Croft bagged a brace with Andrew Moss also finding the target to defeat their third-placed hosts in what was the clash of the day in Division One.

The match took place on the second pitch at Feldale Field which, combined with Saturday's high winds, didn't favour a ball-playing contest.

Wittering Premiair looked self-assured and got off to a steady start against a Whittlesey side who had only dropped points to Stamford Bels and Eunice Huntingdon.

They played into the wind in the first half and enjoyed success from driving runs rather than neat passing with Grant Tippett joining in the attacks early and clocking up a lot of distance with his box-to-box efforts.

Wittering Premiair broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when a strong surge from deep by Moss saw him gain significant ground before playing in Croft when he entered the 18-yard box and he struck home his effort with venom.

The Whittlesey attacks were repelled brilliantly by the Harriers' defence with great aerial surety from James Savage, Sam Cayley and Jamie McFee.

The hosts had a couple of half chances before creating their best opening with some good football which forced Greenhalgh to make an excellent stop at full stretch up high to his left hand side.

Harriers doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark with an almost carbon-copy of their first goal.

Moss and Croft again combined superbly and, after a couple of passes between the strike duo, Croft applied a perfect finish.

Wittering Premiair were now at full throttle and added a third goal just four minutes later.

Good build-up play down the right saw Jack Travers and Tippett produce some intricate football before the latter released his pass to Luke Smith who struck it beautifully from 25 yards.

The shot was blocked by the defender but it fell nicely to Moss who, on the swivel, finished into the bottom left hand corner of the goal to make it 3-0 at the break.

Whittlesey upped the tempo after the break and a penetrative drive down the left hand side was halted by a cynical foul by Stevie Snelling which resulted in the only booking of the game.

After gathering the ball from the resultant free-kick, Greenhalgh tried to play in yet another run from Wittering skipper Tippett.

The bounce from the goalkeeper's kick was out of reach of Tippett, but his run added confusion to the home custodian who was then beaten by the second bounce to give Greenhalgh his goal.

Wittering Premiair then made some changes to get good minutes for the substitutes and both new signing Dean Giglio and Josh Watson showed that they have plenty of strength in depth in a squad that will be needed if the promotion drive is to be successful.

The game had somewhat fizzled out by now with both sides trading possession and Harriers not being as clinical as in the early stages.

Whittlesey showed little threat until a flurry of corners brought them their consolation goal.

The initial shot was deflected to their unmarked striker who was denied by Greenhalgh, but the Wittering Premiair goalkeeper was powerless to prevent Paul Hibbins heading home the rebound.

Harriers boss Sam Cayley said: "We arrived at Whittlesey missing some key players in Lee Booker and Ashley Middleton and we knew this was going to be a battle as they were sitting third in the table.

"The pitch was far from ideal and the weather was blowing, but we defended well in the first half while Paul made some vital saves to keep it goalless.

"In spells in the first half we were class and the link up play was very good.

"We also defended well in the second half and felt very hard done by at not getting the clean sheet which the boys deserved after a very dubious offside but there were no complaints because we got a very good job done in the conditions and have put three more points on the board."

Assistant boss Booker added: "It was an unusual feeling watching the game from the sidelines, but the lads were excellent and there was not one weak performance among them.

"The team really do graft for each other, doing the ugly stuff excellently, while the chat and structured press is excellent and it is a team effort to force mistakes out of the opposition.

"The game was never going to be a spectacular display given the conditions and the pitch but, as Sam mentioned, we took three points off a team that will takes points off a lot of sides this season.

"It's not often you see a keeper score, but the most pleasing thing for me was the way the team celebrated it. There is such a feel-good factor about the first team squad and the club as whole.

"It's great to be part of it and the games can't come quick enough for us at the minute."

Chris Ward hit four goals as Wittering Premiair Reserves recorded back-to-back wins in Division Two after a 5-2 home success over Polonia on Saturday.

Billy Wright was also on target for the Harriers' second string who have won three of their last four league games.

Wittering Premiair A became the first side to take points off Casterton after a 1-1 draw in Saturday's Division Three encounter.

Jack Raynor's goal secured a share of the spoils for the Harriers against a Casterton side who had recorded six successive victories. Ryan Brown was on target for the hosts.

Wittering Premiair B completed an excellent day for the club with a 2-1 home success over Ramsey Reserves in Division Five. Sam Allan and Brandon Williams were their goalscorers.

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Wittering Premiair's A team became the first side to take points off Casterton this season in Saturday's Division Three clash. Photo: Alan Walters (42860840)