ELLIOT Edwards scored a 12-minute hat-trick as Earlswood Town claimed a thrilling 4-3 win against bottom club Lane Head.
Edwards netted a quickfire treble after Keelan Reilly’s scissor kick finish put the Earls ahead of the stroke of half time at Somerfield Road.
However, Lane Head staged a remarkable fightback as Luke Woodward put through his own net before Adam Shorto netted a brace as the Earls held on to secure a vital victory.
And the result means Earlswood sit 12th in the Midland Football League Division Two table.
Lane Head goalkeeper Chris Adamson pulled off a string of saves in the first half before Reilly’s overhead kick from just inside the penalty area put the Earls ahead.
And Edwards doubled the away side’s lead five minutes after half time when he drilled an unstoppable effort into the right corner of the goal.
Edwards doubled his tally for the game four minutes later with a low drive into the bottom left corner after drifting across the edge of the penalty area.
And a defensive mix-up allowed Edwards to complete his hat-trick on 62 minutes with a finish through the legs of Adamson.
However, a bizarre own goal on 67 minutes kept Lane Head in the contest when a corner from the left hit the crossbar and ricocheted into the net off of Woodward’s head.
And a long range free-kick from Shorto further reduced the deficit on 75 minutes before the same player bundled home his second of the game six minutes later.
However, despite late pressure from Lane Head, the Earls held on to register a first league win since the end of November.
Earlswood are next in action against Coventrians on Saturday, March 8 with kick-off at 3pm at Bennetts Road.
