IMPRESSIVE Petersfield Hurricanes U8s finished their debut North East Hampshire Youth League season with a flourish at a fittingly sunny Love Lane on Saturday.

The fast-improving Hurricanes found the net five times, including a terrific third hat-trick of the season from Albert Wheeler, to see off Manor Colts from Alton in a fast-paced game in which no quarter was asked and none given.

Further goals from the reliable Oscar Walker and Taylor Pearce, who put in a tremendous shift all over the park, meant the Hurrianes secured a sixth win on the bounce to end their season in style.

And it’s a measure of how far the Hurricanes have come after they lost six of their first eight games. Since then the Hurricanes have won 15 of their last 20 games, losing only twice.

Hard work on and off the pitch, ability, belief and a will to win have underpinned the Hurricanes on their upward curve as the season has progressed – and Saturday was no different.

Missing the influential Harry Timmons and the improving Connor Redpath, Walker set the ball rolling when his shot glanced in off a defender in a first quarter which saw the fast-starting Hurricanes firmly on the front foot, a trend which has developed as the season has gone on.

Pearce forced a corner after a smart save from the Manor Colts goalkeeper before seeing another bullocking run end with a firm shot against a post.

At the other end, James Port, who has developed into one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the league, made two good saves with Manor forwards looking to poach an equaliser.

Instead it was the Hurricanes who doubled their lead after a decent run by Alex Garlant saw the ball squirt across the penalty area to Wheeler who made no mistake.

Wheeler, who with Pearce was a constant threat to Manor Colts all game, twice threatened to return the favour, but Garlant, the Hurricanes’ top scorer with 29 goals, didn’t have his shooting boots on and was dismayed to see a couple of efforts go wide and another sail over the crossbar with the goal beckoning.

Port was on hand moments later to maintain the Hurricanes’ two-goal lead and it was from one of his long goal kicks that his side went three up, with Wheeler controlling the high ball before turning and firing an upstoppable shot past the despairing dive of the Manor Colts goalkeeper.

Manor Colts pulled a goal back direct from a free-kick after Garlant was adjudged to have fouled his marker but with Finlay Stafferton and Benjamin Oru working hard at both ends of the pitch and Luca Baragan having a great game as spoiler breaking up attacks the Hurricanes weren’t about to give up their hard-earned advantage.

And they restored their three-goal lead when Pearce deservedly got on the scoresheet, powerfully running at the Manor Colts defence before firing in a shot which bounced up and deceived the visiting goalkeeper for his 24th goal of the season.

Pearce then turned provider moments later as he raced into space before setting up Wheeler who gleefully thumped the ball home to complete his hat-trick and take his season’s tally to 22 since joining the team in January.

And not even an own goal from the unfortunate Port, who headed into his own net after coming out of goal in the fourth quarter, and a defensive mix up just before the final whistle could dampen the Hurricanes’ spirits.

Petersfield Hurricanes: Port, Walker, Stafferton, Oru, Baragan, Wheeler, Garlant, Pearce.