UNDERPINNED by a third hat-trick of the season from top striker Taylor Pearce, Petersfield Hurricanes U8s had another fruitful trip to Farnham on Saturday.

Having made hay while the sun shone against Bourne Blades Foxes two weeks earlier in the North East Hampshire Youth League, the improving Hurricanes were left singing in the rain at The Bourne on a wet and windy morning against the Badgers.

Pearce scored twice in the first half, the first when he latched onto a goal kick by James Port on halfway before beating his man and lashing in an unstoppable shot past the Badgers goalkeeper and the second with a sumptuous delivery direct from a corner.

After missing two one-on-ones with the goalkeeper, the first crashing against the post, Pearce deservedly completed his hat-trick in the second half when he hammered home in confident fashion to take his season’s tally to 14 goals.

Before that, Pearce had turned provider when his through ball found Alex Garlant who turned his man and sent a crisp right-footed shot past the Badgers goalkeeper for his eighth goal of the season.

Not to be outdone, the impressive Harry Timmons capped another fine all-round display all over the park with a wonderful solo goal while the ball cannoned off an unfortunate Badgers defender from a corner which topped off the Hurricanes scoring.

Shortly before that, determined Benjamin Oru, venturing further and further forward, almost opened his account for the season but his low effort trickled narrowly wide of the Badgers goalkeeper’s right-hand post.

Willing worker Oscar Walker was his usual industrious presence, largely operating to good effect in midfield and at the back, Connor Redpath saw more of the ball and showed some confident touches, and pacy Finlay Stafferton is clearly getting more used to the hustle and bustle of five-a-side football week by week.

Petersfield Hurricanes: Port, Oru, Redpath, Stafferton, Walker, Timmons, Garlant, Pearce.