It takes a special performance to take the spotlight away from a team who won 8-0 but 15-year-old Luke Kennedy did just that with a stunning hat-trick for St Albans Hockey Club away to Blueharts.
The midfielder had only managed one goal to his name prior to Saturday’s trip to Hitchin but he showed a clinical touch in front of goal to keep the Tangerines’ men’s promotion hopes alive.
The victory means Saints are still second in the East League Premier Division, four points behind City of Peterborough but with a game extra to play than the leaders.
They are still going to need them to slip up at some point in their final two matches but this eye-catching success will certainly crank up the pressure.
However, head coach Andy Bowskill dubbed the match a classic game of two halves.
He said: “It was an indifferent first half where possession was squandered far too easily but that was followed by a quality second, full of penetrating combination play that resulted in the emphatic scoreline.”
The visitors took the lead early on when skipper Matt Davey fired in from a short corner.
But despite a number of half chances the visitors were met with a resolute Blueharts defence and were unable to add to the score before half time.
However, the half time pep talk worked wonders as the Tangerines fired out of the blocks in the second half.
Goals flowed at regular intervals during a half in which the side played some of their best hockey of the season.
Kennedy may have stole the show but he was closely followed by Tariq Marcano, who slotted home two drag flicks from short corners.
Charlie Bowskill and George Scott bagged further goals to complete the rout.
St Albans host Harleston Magpies on Saturday before travelling to Ipswich on Sunday.
Should CoP falter in their final two games this weekend, against Bedford and Chelmsford, the Tangerines will have their shot at the title when they play Spalding on Sunday, March 25, in their final game.
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