Wellington Colts 1 Tenbury United 8

A MAIDEN senior hat-trick from Kurt Pardoe has kept unbeaten Tenbury United on course for the Herefordshire League Division One title.

Nick Stocker bagged a brace, while Lee Millichip, Dan Ridley and Dec Flynn also netted for United, who are nine points clear at the top of the table.

United player-manager Aaron Morris is hoping his side will continue their excellent form at placed Holme Lacy this Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Jock Handley Cup.

“I think that was Kurt’s first hat-trick for us and his movement in the game was outstanding,” said Morris.

“We have some very good young players and Jack Moran played at centre-half with me and he did very well.

“It was our first league game for 10 weeks and, after all the rain and bad weather interruptions, it was nice to play a league match.”

United, who were without key duo Dale Withers and skipper Mike Foster, led just 2-1 at the interval before overpowering Colts in the second period.

Morris said: “Dale Withers did not play because his partner had just given birth to a baby boy and Mike Foster was also missing.

“Wellington hadn’t played since early January and it was a good run-out for us and I think that our better fitness told in the end.

“Wellington Colt got back into things at 1-1 but we regained the lead just before the break.

“We have been training hard each week but nothing compares to playing a match and it was great to get out there.

“I used to play for Wellington and was really nice to go back to Wellington and to see some old faces.”

United have arranged a midweek friendly against Clee Hill United which will be played on the AGP Pitch at Ludlow’s Showtime Stadium.

United travel to Holme Lacy this Saturday and Lacy spokesman Ben Hince is confident the tie should go ahead.

“The pitch played very well last weekend – it was soft but fine.

“W are a bit short of first team players because six are away on a stag partty but we have enough in the squad to play.”

Meanwhile, Darren Worthington’s Tenbury Town are scheduled to travel to Ewyas Harold Reserves in the HFA Junior Cup quarter-finals this Saturday.

Town were scheduled to face Brimfield last weekend in the Jock Handley Cup quarter-final but the tie was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

And Tenbury Colts will travel to Dore Valley in Herefordshire League Division Three.