Uppingham Town defeat Cardea in the Peterborough League Cup
Teenager Josh Sennett struck a hat-trick as Uppingham Town made it two wins out of two in the Peterborough League Cup on Saturday.
The 16-year-old's treble - which came after he had scored three goals the previous midweek for Rothwell Corinthians Development Under 18s - helped secure a 5-3 away win at Division One side Cardea.
Rob Forster and Jordan Neil were also on target for Town who are the early pacesetters in Group C.
Boss Paul Sheehan said: "It was really good for Josh because he is doing well for us this season.
"We have got three 16-year-olds in the side with Harley Pridmore and Will Lewin as well who have been excellent for us in their first season of men's football."
It was Sennett who gave Town the advantage inside the opening 10 minutes as he collected possession and dribbled goalwards before firing in a shot from outside the box which deceived the Cardea keeper in the swirling wind.
However, the lead was short-lived as a long clearance was collected by Tyler Munns who lofted a superb finish over Town goalkeeper Tom Hubbard.
Robbie Pearce and Jordan Neil both went close to putting Town back in front before they regained the lead on the half-hour mark.
Ollie Lewin's cross picked out Forster who chested the ball down before applying a fine finish to make it 2-1.
Forster was then denied by a brilliant save from the Cardea keeper on the stroke of half-time following another Lewin cross to ensure just one goal separated the sides at the break.
However, Town added a third early in the second half when Sennett cut in from the right and skipped past a couple of challenges before drilling home a well-executed shot into the roof of the home net.
The youngster then completed his hat-trick as substitute Rob Montgomery chested a long ball into his path for Sennett to shoot home into the bottom corner and make it 4-1.
Cardea were then awarded a penalty following a foul by Cam Cleaver after a breakaway but Hubbard saved the spot kick to maintain Town's three-goal advantage.
A smart finish from John Reddell with 20 minutes remaining did reduce the arrears but Town soon added their fifth as Montgomery and Forster linked well to set up Neil for a close range finish.
A second penalty for the hosts following a hand-ball was then converted by Brooklyn Gray with Town missing some late chances to increase their tally.
Sheehan added: "We did well again because we mixed it up a bit with the roll-on, roll-off substitutes so that everyone got a decent run-out.
"We were always in control but it is difficult when you're swapping and changing because the intensity does go out of the game."
Town resume their Premier Division campaign this weekend with a home derby against Stamford Bels.
They are currently five points clear at the top of the table with five league matches of the season remaining.
Uppingham Reserves continued their impressive form with a 4-1 victory against third-placed Sutton Bridge in Saturday's Division Four match at Tods Piece.
The success secured back-to-back home wins for Town who beat a tough Oundle Reserves team 5-2 the previous week.
On a very windy afternoon, the first 10 minutes were a scrappy affair with neither team taking hold in the tricky conditions.
Sutton Bridge, however, went 1-0 up on the 15-minute mark with a long distance drive which beat Town’s new keeper Josh Knight.
Going 1-0 down actually kicked Town into life and they began dominating possession, even while playing against the strong wind.
Despite the domination, and some impressive football being played across the park, they failed to capitalise and closed the first half off rarely troubling the Bridge keeper and it remained 1-0 to the visitors.
The second half continued in the same way as Town, with the wind advantage, had complete control of the match.
Bridge rarely entered Town’s half but they were still managing to hold their one goal advantage with a resolute back line.
The Bridge keeper also made some impressive saves and the frustration from Town's players was evident that they could come away with nothing after such a dominant display.
However, Town’s deadlock was broken in the 80th minute when Liam Mullineux hit a shot from just inside the 18 yard box which deflected in off a Sutton Bridge defender.
Spurred on from this, Town made it 2-1 just a minute later when James Cory - Town’s central midfielder who has been instrumental in their recent form - took a cute touch in the box and scored with a composed finish.
Just a few minutes later Town made it three with Jack Salt scoring his fourth goal in two matches.
A Dean Willis cross found Salt unmarked in the box and on his second attempt beat the keeper at close range.
The match was secured in the 90th minute with a superb individual effort by Mullineux for his second of the day.
A Danny Dumford cross was met by Mullineaux who headed over the last defender and then ran on to beat the keeper one-on-one with a superb, composed finish in the bottom corner.
Manager Joe Harley said: "Admittedly, with 10 minutes to go, I started thinking it was going to be one of those days, but the lads got what they deserved in the end.
"They were superb and, despite trailing for so long, it was one of our best performances all season."
Oakham's scheduled home match against Pinchbeck Reserves on Saturday was postponed.
