Nathan Jenkins’ sweeping hattrick boosted Hartpury FC to a resounding 5-0 victory over Larkhall Athletic at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium, on Saturday.
Noah Coates and Billy Osborn completed the scoring in an impressive Southern League Div One South performance, extending the Acorns unbeaten home streak to seven games.
It was the Acorns who started the game on the front foot, in an opening 15 minutes that saw very little on target, with Coates bending an effort wide on 14 minutes, after dispossessing Liam Armstrong in the Larks goal.
That great start was rewarded on 19 minutes when Jenkins bought down a Coates cross superbly, before rolling the ball underneath the onrushing goalkeeper.
One became two three minutes later when Armstrong misjudged a cross leaving Coates free to head the ball home at the back post.
Billy Osborn saw an effort well blocked on 25 minutes before Vanylson Silva struck wide from 25-yards, on 32 minutes.
Jenkins made it 3-0 on 35 minutes when he fired an effort from 18-yards into the bottom corner, after Louis Manning had picked him out with a cross.
Acorns shot stopper, Seth Locke, made sure the scoreline stayed this way at the break with a smothering one-on-one save deep in stoppage time.
HALF TIME – HARTPURY FC 3-0 LARKHALL ATHLETIC
It took until the 67th minute for a shot on goal, which came from Osborn when he met a delicious Jenkins cross, but saw his headed effort go the wrong side of the post.
But Osborn didn’t have to wait long for another chance as, on 72 minutes, he was slotted through by Renato Prifti before sending his marker to the floor and rolling the ball into the bottom corner.
The afternoon was rounded off in style when, in the 94th minute, Jenkins completed his hattrick with a driven effort from 18-yards, after picking up a loose ball in the middle of the park.
The Acorns will look to carry this momentum into Tuesday night, when we welcome Didcot Town to the 4ED Hartpury Stadium.
FULL TIME – HARTPURY FC 5-0 LARKHALL ATHLETIC
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent, Robinson, Machisa, Callow, Jenkins, Aldridge (Prifti 51’), Manning (Sanniola 85’), Silva, Coates, Osborn © (Shyamapant 80’)
