A LUKE Hopper hat-trick was enough to give Supermarine all three points and see them leap above yesterday’s opponents, AFC Totton, in the league table.

After a goalless first half the visitors to the Webb’s Wood Stadium took the lead through Stuart Mott against the run of play.

However Supermarine were not behind for long and nine minutes later Hopper beat off two defenders to get on the end of a long ball over the top from Taylor to poke the ball home.

Hopper’s second came two minutes from the end when there was a mix-up at the back for Totton between the defender and the goalkeeper and the forward was able to poke the ball past the stranded goalie before sliding it into an empty net.

The striker completed his hat-trick in time added on when he took charge of a free-kick on the edge of the box, on the left, and his daisy cutter nestled in the bottom corner to secure the points for the hosts.

“I was pleased with the first half performance. Everything was right until we got in the final third,” said manager Dave Webb after the match.

“I thought we deserved it over the 90 minutes. They came back into the game after taking the lead but I thought it was just going to be a 1-1 and then we nicked two late goals.

“That takes us up a spot and we continue to try and get into the top ten.

“We’re still trying to approach every game with the view to win it and I think that is important.

“When you are in the play-off positions and every game is a final because you need to win them to stay in the play-off position it is easier, my job at the moment is a little bit different.

“This year we have had a difficult season with a lot of injuries but they are working hard for each other.

“We know the play-offs are beyond us but that is all I have asked for and that is what they are giving me.

“Anybody watching the team can see they are working hard.”

Hopper’s hat-trick saw him take his tally for the season to 21 goals and Webb has set him the target of 25 before the end of the season.

“He has had his critics, with people saying he couldn’t score goals, but he is on fire at the moment,” added Webb.

“That is confidence but it is not just that it is ability. He is a good player and his overall performance today was first class. Every ball that came into him in the first half he held the ball up and created opportunities for other people and in the second half he has gone on and done what you want every striker to do and scored goals.

“Twenty-one goals is not a bad return and I have told him he can easily get 25 and if he does that you can’t ask for no more.”

With Sam Warrell away, Shrivenham’s Keiron Shail stepped in between the sticks, and the game also saw a long awaited return from injury for Kyle Lapham.

“It is brilliant for Kyle I am really pleased to have him back,” said Webb.

“He has been a great servant to this club over the years and he has been out five months with injury so we were only ever going to give him 25 minutes today, under strict orders from the physio.

“He has just got to regain his match fitness but it is a first step in his rehab and every minute he gets between now and the end of the season will hold him in good stead for next season.”