Wat a display Crusaders hit hapless Harrow for six
Elis blasts hat-trick to keep Hungerford in the race for the play-offs
ELIS Watts bagged a hattrick as Hungerford put six past Harrow Borough to keep their Southern League Premier playoff hopes alive.
It was a threadbare Hungerford side with suspensions to Ramarni Medford-Smith, Matt Berry-Hargreaves and Jacob Gardiner-Smith and injuries to Jack Wright, Adulai Sambu and Rhys Tyler seeing recalls for Luke Softley and Owain Wheeler and Josiah Bridgeman making his debut
Watts had the ball in the net in the first five minutes, but it was ruled out offside and Conor McDonagh also had an early chance when he met a Louis Paget cross but it was stopped by Borough keeper Tyler Tobin.
New signing Bridgeman was causing issues and he too tested Tobin after 20 minutes.
Midway through the half as the rain started to pour down Harrow started to pressure with a string of set-pieces and just before the half hour Reece Deakin managed to convert one of these past Ryan Clarke.
Just before half-time, however, Hungerford equalised when McDonagh crossed and Watts powered home to level the scores at the break.
The second half started with the sun coming out but challenges raining in.
Sam De St Croix and Brad Hooper were both on the end of some hard challenges before finally the referee had seen enough with a challenge on Bridgeman by Harry Seabrook and the Borough defender received a red card.
On the hour Hungerford took the lead, when Shepherd swept in a corner.
McDonagh had the ball in the net again moments later but was ruled offside.
By now the Crusaders were dominant, especially with some lovely switches in play testing the 10 men of Harrow.
On 77 minutes the lead was increased from another corner, Babs Jarra firstly heading the ball against the bar before Softley nodded in the rebound for his first goal for Hungerford.
Ten minutes later the lead was increased again by Watts with a brilliant solo run and finish.
By now the fight had gone from the home side and Hungerford were rampant.
Wheeler was now on for his league debut and he produced two brilliant crosses in injury time, first for Watts to complete his hat trick and then for Elliott Dugan with a diving header for his first Hungerford goal.
It was a ruthless end to the game from Hungerford who will have tougher games in their playoff push but were clinical on the day.
■ Hungerford pressed their claims for a play-off with a 2-1 win at mid-table Poole on Tuesday night.
The Crusaders looked to be heading for defeat after Toby Holmes put the hosts ahead on 18 minutes.
But Elliott Dugan levelled 12 minutes from time and five minutes later he grabbed a crucial winner.