CRAIG Duff netted his first hat-trick for the club as Holsworthy maintained their unbeaten start with an 8-0 thrashing of Truro City Reserves at a packed Upcott Field on Saturday.

With it being the club’s mayor’s charity match day, more than 250 supporters were hand on to see the Magpies make it 19 points from a possible 27.

Boss Kevin Squire named the same side that had won 4-2 at Crediton United in midweek in the Devon St Luke’s Bowl, and after a scrappy opening 20 minutes where the visitors missed a decent chance, Holsworthy responded, albeit in fortuitous style as wing-back Gavin Carter’s speculative shot from distance found its way in.

On the half-hour it was 2-0 as Carter’s superb ball across the box was prodded in from close-range by Ben Sharpe.

It was all but game over on 44 minutes as Duff headed home from 12 yards following a cross in from Sam Hill.

With the points all but secure, Holsworthy could afford to relax and went on to score five more.

Within two minutes of the restart it was 4-0 as Carter’s throw-in was flicked on by skipper Jedd Peschke to Duff who brilliantly sent in an overhead-kick from six yards.

Duff, who opened his account at Crediton in midweek, nailed his hat-trick by the hour as Carter’s cross was swept in from 12 yards.

Squire unloaded the bench and it was Ben Grech who grabbed his first goal for the club 20 minutes from time, and in some style.

Picking the ball up on the left, he cut inside two defenders before finding the far corner.

Sharpe grabbed his second from the edge of the box after a scuffed shot from Josh Down turned into an excellent assist, while the scoring was rounded off five minutes from the end.

Sub Chris Wildern sent Jay Thomas through before the midfielder made no mistake to cap off a superb afternoon for the majority of those inside Upcott Field and leave Squire delighted.

He said: “It was a really good day.

“We were a bit sloppy in the first 20 minutes but once we got started we were really good with seven of the eight goals being either fine team moves or excellent individual efforts.

“All 16 players contributed well and worked hard and we got our rewards.

“Yes they’re struggling, but I didn’t think they were too bad, it was just a case of our hard work and quality on the ball, and it was a great end to what was a really good week for us.”

He continued: “It was also fantastic to see so many people in the ground, and hopefully after that we’ll get a few of them to come back more often.”

Holsworthy welcome second-placed Elburton Villa on Wednesday night (7.30pm), and Squire concluded: “We’ve played them once already and it was a very even contest, so we’re really looking forward to it.

“They obviously have some very good players, but so do we, so we can’t wait.”

HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick; Sam Hill, Jedd Peschke (capt), Callum Martyn; Gavin Carter, Aiden Slade, Elis Aldrich, Jay Thomas, Will Harris; Craig Duff, Ben Sharpe. Subs (all used): Kieran Jollow, Josh Down, Chris Wildern, Rob Pearce, Ben Grech.

Magpies’ man-of-the-match: Craig Duff.