Newport Town scorched open a 10 point lead at the top of the Shropshire County first division with a stunning 6-0 away win at third place Oakengates Athletic.
With Ketley Bank United - their only contenders for the crown - not in action, Newport took full advantage with a performance that oozed class.
Steamrolling Town look to continue their unbeaten season at lowly Meole Brace tomorrow - and boss Richard Priest has challenged his players to keep their foot on the gas.
He said: “The other sides are all raising their game against us so we need to be at our best every week.
“We’re looking solid at the back and our ‘keeper has had one save to make in the last two games.
“We had some lads missing but we have a strong squad and the lads that came in have given me a selection headache.
“That’s a good problem to have with some big games coming up this month.
“To be honest, 6-0 probably flattered Oakengates last week.
“On another day it could have been double figures.”
Goals from Paul Quinn, Steve Handley, Jeremy Harman and a sublime hat-trick from Nathan Holloway did the damage for Town against shell-shocked Oakengates.
Playmaker Quinn opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a freekick straight into the top corner after Harman was fouled by the on-rushing ‘Gates ‘keeper.
Just five minutes later Holloway latched onto a Christian Slade pass to double the advantage for the away side.
Holloway got his second and Town’s third on the hour following a driving run from midfielder Callum Muir set up the pacey hotshot.
And Holloway completed his treble on 70 minutes with his 18th goal of the campaign after racing onto the end of Martin Quinn’s pass and rounding the ‘keeper for 4-0.
Handley made it five from the penalty spot just 10 minutes later - and Harman made it six of the best in the final minute with an emphatic finish from closerange.
It is a big three weeks for Priest’s side, who follow tomorrow’s match in Meole Brace with a Insight Ron Jones Memorial Cup clash against Ellesmere Rangers Reserves and that long-awaited Williams & Picken Shropshire Junior Cup semi-final against HQ Sports & Social.
Seven days later is a top of the table clash against second place Ketley Bank United.
If all results went in Newport’s favour, it is mathematically possible that the Shuker Fields outfit could tie up the title on that afternoon - with five games remaining.
By Sean Wozencroft
