EDDIE Perrett blasted a hattrick as Amesbury Town destroyed Ringwood Town in the Wessex Division One derby to remain on the tails of the leading two.

The Blues maintained the pressure on table-topping Fleet Spurs and secondplaced Tadley Calleva with a superb 5-0 victory.

The comprehensive rout started off nicely for Blues who found themselves defending a two-goal cushion inside ten minutes, both coming from goal-finder Perrett.

And an angled drive from Perrett completed his hattrick just before the halfhour mark at Bonnymead Park.

Amesbury, who were torturing Ringwood with their high-speed tempo and fluent passing, grabbed two more in the second 45 minutes. Sam Matthews made it four before Luke Greenway knocked in a fifth.

Manager Gareth Horner was left more than content by watching his Amesbury make it three wins on the spin in the league.

“The overall performance on Saturday was probably our best so far this year,” he said.

“We played with great intensity and everything we tried came off.

“Take nothing away from Ringwood they gave us a proper test and battled right to the end. Our quality on the ball at times was pleasing to watch. The aim after our home defeat to Cowes was to win the next five and we are not far away from that.”

Amesbury travel to Hamworthy United in the Sydenhams Football League Cup on Saturday (3pm).

Horner added: “We obviously have a tough test on Saturday at Hamworthy but can go there and enjoy ourselves.

We then have current leaders Fleet before our derby games against Shrewton and Downton, so we have a lot to look forward to.

“Hopefully we can keep the squad together and keep pushing forward.”