Newport Town are in the driving seat in the Shropshire County league premier division after four Jez Harman goals guided them to a 5-1 win at third placed Wroxeter Rovers.
The resounding victory was not enough to lift second place Town above leaders Ketley Bank.
But the Shuker Fields men are now one point behind the pace-setters with a game in hand and a superior goal difference.
Town host fifth place FC Hodnet tomorrow - and chairman Phil Lewis has urged his players not to let the intensity drop.
He said: “We’re halfway through the season and I’m delighted with the way things have gone.
“The players’ effort and attitude has been superb. There is a strong team spirit developing and that is beginning to show on and off the pitch.
“We are, however, under no illusion that there is still a lot of hard work ahead of us and this good start will be worth nothing if promotion is not achieved.”
Last weekend’s game did not start well for visiting Town when skipper Steve Handley limped off after just 15 minutes with a groin strain.
Centre forward Martin Quinn stepped up the plate to fill the gap alongside Ben Henderson.
Town were denied three times by last ditch goal line clearances before Carlos Ratcliffe put his side in front with an excellent finish from 18 yards following good play by Nathan Holloway.
Harman made it 2-0 minutes after the restart with a rare header from a Ratcliffe cross.
Wroxeter refused to roll over, though, and pulled one back against the run of play.
The home side then had a chance to level the scores from the penalty spot after Quinn was adjudged to have fouled a Rovers’ forward, but goalkeeper Neil Hendy made a fine save to keep Town in front.
Veteran Harman then rolled back the years to complete a perfect hat-trick with a goal from either foot to settle the match at 4-1.
But the hitman was not finished and completed the rout with his fourth of the game after Christian Slade’s squared the ball for an easy tap-in.
Town have now scored 25 goals in their last four outings, a statistic that will send shivers down the spine of FC Hodnet, despite the North Shropshire side holding the best defensive record in the division.
Michael McCartney is missing through suspension while Handley and Quinn are injury doubts.
By Sean Wozencroft
