SHREWTON United showcased their promotion credentials after a Craig Lewis hat-trick blew Supermarine Sports away.

The Shrews’ bid to join the Wessex League next season is on course, boosted by Lewis, pictured, the league’s top scorer with 19 goals, who scooped three of the goals in the hosts’ 4-2 triumph as they moved into fourth in Wiltshire League Premier.

The hosts, buoyed by the recent arrival of new manager Scott Young, started quickly and coasted ahead after a fortuitous opener from Dean Foot.

The goal lifted Shrewton and they continued to dominate, with the front pairing of Foot and Lewis causing all sorts of problems.

And, after 20 minutes, Lewis beat the offside trap before rounding the Supermarine keeper only to be unceremoniously dumped to the ground, for which the referee awarded a penalty. Somehow the visiting shot-stopper escaped what seemed like an inevitable red card but was duly beaten from the resultant penalty which Lewis tucked away.

United made it 3-0 after 30 minutes when Lewis again broke clear of the Supermarine defence before slotting home. He didn't have to wait long either for his next and, for his hat-trick, as moments later an almost identical goal saw him get the better of a hapless visiting defence.

With a rout looking likely, Supermarine, to their credit, kept going and reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time after a powerful volley from 20 yards gave Matt Cross in the Shrews’ goal no hope.

Then Supermarine pulled another back from a goalmouth scramble but that was their last of the afternoon as Shrews’ defence kept tight and held on.

Delighted Shrewton manager Young said: “We were superb and fully deserved the three points as we dominated most of the game – other than a 15- minute period after half-time.

“We have a good set of players here and, with the ability in the squad, we should be much higher up the table and have more points.

But we still have 16 league games remaining and, if we play to our potential, there's no reason why we can't get promoted and, maybe, even win the league."

League counterparts Sarum Youth Seniors didn’t have the same luck as lowly Westbury United hit three past them.

Shrewton take on table-toppers Ludgershall at home on Saturday, while Sarum go to Chippenham.

Both games start at 2.15pm.