Lichfield City made it nine wins from nine at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium, with a 4-0 win over Atherstone Town.
A Dan “Wonder” Smith hat-trick sealed all three points for the hosts, before Callum Griffin netted the fourth.
The City starting 11 was unchanged from Tuesday night’s loss to Congleton Town. Keeper, James Beeson, kept his spot in the lineup, much to the delight of the Lichfield faithful - despite seeing red against the Bears in the league cup semi-final.
The first opportunity of the game went Lichfield’s way, as a powerful effort from Jack Edwards whistled just over the cross bar.
However, it was Lichfield’s star centre forward who took the lead for the hosts after 16 minutes. The ball broke into the path of Smith inside the area for him to fire into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.
Smith came close again with an effort from distance while Jude Taylor continued to probe the Adders’ defence out on the left flank.
The visitors then had a few opportunities of their own to level the score line. Beeson was called into action on several occasion before shots from Jamie Spires and James Mathews went wide – neither side could further impact the score line before the half-time whistle.
A fantastic manoeuvre by Smith and Dom Lewis set Haines free inside the area, but the Atherstone keeper produced an incredible stop to keep the deficit to a single goal.
There was little he could do about Smith’s second, however. Substitute and new signing Demetri Brown played a looping ball into the area from the right side into the path of Wonder, who slotted his effort home from close range.
Smith was then denied in a one-on-one before he sealed his hat-trick. Lewi Burnside did well out on the right to keep the ball in play. He managed to hit Wonder on the edge of the box, who rifled his shot into the bottom left-hand corner to make it 3-0.
A sizzling late winner from Griffin then made it four before the referee’s final whistle confirmed all three points for city.
Ivor Green’s men will be back in action on Tuesday night as they head to Wolverhampton Casuals to continue their promotion push.
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